Tomorrow sees the first local derby of the season against our near neighbours Willenhall Town, as everyone is aware, both clubs have a long history in non-league football.

Willenhall’s Chairman and Committee have endured a very difficult summer, having received notice from Bilston Town that the ground share agreement which had been running for three years was to end in May of this year.

Having found a new home at Wednesfield, Willenhall then got caught up in the well-publicised ground grading issue between West Midlands (Regional) League and their hosts, which after a successful appeal to the FA, Willenhall must have thought everything was finally settled, not the case, which resulted in Willenhall been given a fait accompli, find another groundshare, which was impossible, accept relegation or fold. As we all know Black Country folk never give in or roll over, so relegation it was, that’s why we are meeting tomorrow.

Last season for the Lockmen was a good one under the management of the evergreen Mark Habbershaw finishing 14th after promising much more earlier in the season. Habbershaw resigned at the end of last season and the majority if not all of the squad have drifted away to pastures new .

Willenhall appointed previous player Joe Ball as their new manager who returns to the club following a spell at Wolverhampton Sporting Community, Joe is also the manager of the University of Wolverhampton team, so one would assume the squad will have a number of younger players, an ideal opportunity to build and mould a squad to provide the foundation to develop the club for the future.

The season has not started well for manager Ball and his squad two defeats, against Allscott and Bustleholme conceding sixteen goals. This will be short-lived, it takes time to build a team let alone a squad, to get to know the players and the best formation and method of play and I am sure things will change very quickly.

This is a local derby and footballing history tells us, no one can take anything for granted, there will be no assumptions from Manger Parkes and his squad, everyone will be prepared and ready as they normally are.

We hope tomorrow will see the usual highly contested game, with quality football being played from both sides.

Kick off is at 3pm so why not come down to the Paycare Ground and see what Darlaston Town (1874) and Willenhall Town are all about.