Last season Wednesfield won the competition beating Coton Green (who we played in a pre-season friendly) 1-0 at County FA’s headquarters. This season’s first round sees 64 clubs trying to progress in the prestigious competition which includes teams from as far away as Rugby, Nuneaton, Leamington, Alcester and Coventry so a true Midlands Cup Competition at our level on the footballing ladder.

Darlaston Town have a rich history in this cup, being the only club to lift the cup in consecutive seasons 90/91 and 91/92. This seasons management and squad will have to play in front of members of the victorious squads and management teams that lifted the trophy, with a reunion taking place before this weekend’s first round tie with A.E.I. Rugby. We are hoping to see as many of the names, visit our new Paycare Ground, we have been successful in contacting some of the players, but if anyone knows of or can contact any of the players or officials of the Club from the 1990 to 1992 period, please ask them to get in touch with the Club by contacting either Chairman Neil Chambers on 07976752698 or the Club by email to general@darlastontown1874fc.com

A section of Chairman’s Neil Chambers excellent book The History of Darlaston Town refers to the success of the 90/91 and 91/92 seasons, not only in the Vase, but also the league as well because the 90/91 team had their best finish in the West Midlands League Premier Division in twenty years by finishing fourth. The relevant sections of the book have been reproduced with Neil’s permission.

1990/1991 Season
After an absence of eight seasons they were promoted back to the Premier Division in 1990/91. With more top-class signings and confidence high they more than held their own with their best Premier Division finish since 1972/73 finishing 4th on 71 points: P42 W20 D11 L11 Goals For 89 Goals Against 67 Pts 71. Gresley Rovers became the first team to reach 100 points in the WMRL eventually amassing 101 points winning the league by 16 points from runners - up Chasetown.

Birmingham FA Vase winners
As well as having a fantastic league season they also picked up silverware winning the Birmingham County FA Vase. On the way to the final they beat Hams Hall (7-1), Wilmcote (2-1), Kenilworth (8-2), Cradley Town (3-2) and Boldmere St Michaels Reserves (3-2). The final at Boldmere against Midland Combination Premier Division Chelmsley Wood resulted in a comprehensive 6-2 win. Dean Walters gave them an early lead, Picken equalising before half time. Peter Frain made it 2-1 early in the 2nd half and again Chelmsley equalised this time through Wakelin. However, The Blues were in superb form and further second half goals from Walters, Reg Priest, Simon Turpin and a hat trick goal from Walters secured a comfortable 6-2 victory.

Squad: Fred Whitehouse, Neil Jones, Lee Beresford, John Gill, Trevor Campbell, Phil Wood, Ian Hughes, Mick Rawlins, John Chapman, Nigel Dicken, Kevin Fletcher, Simon Turpin, Mark Bates, Damien Kearns, Mick Roberts, Peter Stone, Peter Frain, Reg Priest, Dean Walters, Neil Hesson, Vince Bayley, Simon Sutor, Paul Brown, Jimmy Walker, Phil Burgess, Ian Cotterill, S. Tuffnell, D. Reaney, David Rose, Dave Mead, John Cole, Dennis Fry, M. Walker, Clive Walker.

Relegation Bombshell
By 1991/92 Jim McMorran had returned to the managerial hotseat. After such a fantastic first season back in the Premier Division and victory in the prestigious Birmingham FA Vase they were looking forward to mounting a serious Premier Division challenge. Despite finishing 4th the League dropped a bombshell at their AGM by announcing that due to the facilities not reaching the required standard Darlaston were relegated to Division 1.

Following the unexpected relegation leading goal scorers Reg Priest and Dean Walters left for Pelsall Villa and several other players moved to Premier Division clubs. McMorran had the unenviable task of creating a new look team and called upon all of his contacts bringing in influential players like defender Musajee Patel, midfielder Iqbal Patel and powerhouse forwards Colin Johnson and Simon Archer.

Despite putting together an impressive squad league newcomers Ilkeston Town were far too strong for the Division winning the league by twenty-two points from McMorran’s men:
1. Ilkeston Town 38 31 6 1 Goals For 121 Goals Against 30 Pts 99
2. Darlaston 38 22 11 5 Goals For 83 Goals Against 34 Pts 77

Birmingham County FA Vase History
For the third successive season silverware arrived at the City Ground when they became the first club in history to retain the Birmingham County FA Vase. After receiving a 1st Round bye victories against Swifts PP (4-0), Alvechurch Reserves (3-1), Enville Athletic (6-0) and a 5-0 semi final win away at Becketts Sporting set up an intriguing final against fellow West Midlands League side Gornal Athletic. Darlaston picked up the coveted trophy winning 1-0 in a replay after the two teams had drawn the original tie 1-1.

Squads for the final were:
Darlaston: Neil Jones, Phil Wood, Kevin Fletcher, John Chapman, Mick Rawlins, Mark Bates, Iggy Patel, Adam Smith, Les Tonks, Simon Turpin, Simon Archer, Neil Hesson, Colin Johnson, Paul Brown, Mick Roberts, Robert Gavin.

Gornal Athletic: Lee Beresford, P. Wells, K. Delahy, I Farrington, C. Biddulph, M. Barrowcliffe, S. Worley, P. Jackson, S. Hulston, C. Myatt, G. Lynch, J. Fellows, J. McLaren, D .Lowe, N .Lunn, K. O’Sullivan.