Fellows Park, Walsall. You might get a rotten view, and you might get wet even in the stand. Ah, fond memories of Walsall FC of yesteryear and its characterful home, which is now long gone.
Fellows Park, which until the mid-1960s only had three sides, the fourth being occupied by Orgills laundry, was eventually sold off to make way for a Morrisons supermarket.
The final league game played there was against Rotherham, on May 1, 1990, and was a 1-1 draw.
The replacement £3 million Bescot stadium beside the M6 hosted its first league clash against Torquay on August 25, 1990.
There is now a new generation of supporters of The Saddlers who just don’t know what it was like all those years ago. So for those who do, let’s revisit those times and relive some memories, and for those who don’t, prepare to have your eyes opened to a disappeared era.
5. Stars of the 1930s
"The Walsall team that beat Lincoln City in the League and hopes to repeat the performance in the FA Cup next Saturday. Back row: Bennett, Richmond, McSevich, Morgan, Bradford, Wilmot. Sitting: Woolhouse, Collins, Evans, Pearson, Bate." If none of those names are familiar it's because this is November 1935. | Express & Star archive
6. Preparing for the 1938-39 season
Some more Saddlers' stars from the 1930s. Simpson, Morgan, Payne and Tewkesbury interchange the ball as they trot down the pitch, in August 1938, no doubt in pre-season training. | Express & Star archive
7. Here's Johnny
Johnny Hancocks' part in the Walsall story goes back to before the war. Here we are in January 1939. The original caption was: "The players on whom Walsall will rely in the cup tie with Notts County and will (we hope) put a different complexion on the club's league position. Back row, left to right: Beeson, Mr T Lowes (manager), Payne, Tewkesbury, Bambrick, H Waite (trainer) and Male. Front row: Hancocks, Simpson, Morgan, Bulger, Alsop and Woodward." | Express & Star archive
8. Post-war Walsall
Walsall FC line-up from 1946. Not long afterwards Johnny Hancocks would join Wolves and become one of their all-time greats, as well as playing for England of course. Back row: Harry Wait (trainer), Ron Crutchley, Irvine Methley, Jack Lewis, Norman Male, Albert Newman. Front row: Johnny Hancocks, Albert Mullard, Denis Wilshaw, Les Talbot, Alan Evans, R Foulkes. | Express & Star archive