Pre-Season Part 2 - Hednesford and Tividale

By Simon Wright

Hednesford Town

The Pitmen are the first Saturday visitors to the Grove and are a club with a mission.  Russ Penn’s team can expect a proper workout.

The visitors have retained 20 players from last season, added more and contracted their management team for two years,. Beyond that, they are splashing out on a high-tech grass pitch, a surface only previously laid by Everton.  This is an ambitious club with money, and determined to go places.  Their spending power will stand out in a Northern Premier League otherwise without such wild wealth.

There are serious names within their already very large squad of 25 players. A lot of EFL experience isn’t that common in Step 3.  Their new signings for instance – Kieran Freeman is a 33 year old right back with a full Welsh cap and over 100 appearances for Sheffield United.  Also new is Joss Labadie, a former Baggie of course, with over 340 appearances as a full-time pro.  New striker Jonathan Edwards scored 13 goals in 30 for Kettering in 24/25.  Plus of course former Halesowen skipper Ryan Wynter. One benefit of such a large signed squad is – we hope - the absence of lots of triallists.

I should mention that the Pitmen’’s manager Gavin Hurren is a former Halesowen player. Blink though and you missed him. He was signed to the Yeltz for one whole week in September 2010.  Talk about whistle stop.  Hurren signed for 21 clubs in just 7 years. Heck of a way to build up a contact book.  Since then, he slowed right down to earn a degree in Sports Management and now combines management with being an account exec at Midland Metro.

Following on from Pond at Chasetown, Hednesford also have a very large goalkeeper. Tony Breedon is now 36 and more well-rounded than tall. Breedon’s been around the west midlands non-league scene for a very long time.  He used to have a reputation for being a sweeper keeper, charging forward even before there was any danger. Literally a stand out on any football pitch.

I saw Breedon perform in both Hednesford’s play-off games. He stayed inside his box.  Their opponents Vauxhall Motors and Congleton did their absolute best to compete. Their best was not nearly enough as the home side had so much know-how and experience all over the pitch they were always going to finish on top.

Be good to see lots of supporters back at the Grove. Be there if you can. Nothing like live football.  Your second-best option will be listening to live commentary on Radio Halesowen Town.

Tividale

Here’s a novelty - a Tuesday night in Tividale. It’s especially novel for the broadcasting team with a few new tech challenges.

Tivvy had a grim 24/25 season in the Midland League with only 5 wins in their 34 League games and they only just avoided relegation.  I’m not sure their kit helped. Think Japanese rising sun design but in bright yellow.  Young Yeltz wide man Luke Postle made 14 appearances on loan, that’s proper experience for an 18-year-old and you would assume that arrangement led to this game.

We are the big name in Tivvy’s friendly schedule and will be their first home match as they had ground works in early July.

I have time for Tivvy. There was a stage during covid when only step 5 clubs were allowed to play. I watched Tivvy 7 times back then and saw lots of other familiar people behind their masks.  Many folks needed their football fix.  Crazy time. I remember having to be inside Lye’s ground for the Boxing Day game with Tividale 90 minutes before kick off. Officially Lye cold only admit 300 spectators so it was first come first served. No bar, no refreshments so a long dull socially distanced wait.

Also having time for Tividale is Scott Hayward of the Pace Group, trumpeted as the club’s new investor.  This is the big story around the club though details are thin. Why Tividale isn’t clear either.  Shades of the Jamaica Bob sleigh team here. Will be interesting to follow developments.

Our hosts have at least two claims to fame.  They gave Ian Long his first managers job and he did too good a job getting them promoted to a level way beyond their means. They nearly collapsed.

 Secondly, they are name checked in what remains one of the best football books of all time “Journey to Wembley – a football odyssey from Tividale to Wembley.”  It’s a 1976 title written by Brian James of the Sunday Times.  He followed the winners of each round in the FA Cup from the Qualifying Round at Tividale right to the Final.  That’s common now. Back then it was revolutionary.  This is a classic periods piece publication. Amazon have copies if you fancy one.

Platty has a particular reason to remember Tividale. During a pre-season game in 2015, he ended up in a sickening collision with the home sides Joel Ayetti.   His opponent was knocked out and taken to hospital while our favourite keeper sustained a fractured upper jaw bone causing 3 front teeth to fall out.  The dental bill was £6,500.  The PFA paid nearly half while supporters fundraised via Go Fund Me.  The campaign was called “Put a Smile on Platty”

Tivvy are simply a small friendly club who deserve our support. For a step 5 club their X feed is very busy with down to earth vocabulary, imagine a written version of Radio Halesowen’s Tom Cartwright’s more memorable phrases.   Tividale also produce a very creditable programme for league games though may not do so pre-season. Do visit the bar as it’s the smartest part of the ground.  Car parking is limited here so its nearby streets for everyone without a blue badge.