The Directors and committee of Darlaston Town (1874) are delighted to confirm that the work on the floodlights has been completed and they are now operational.

Shortly after the club was re-formed nearly 6 years ago the Committee and Directors had the foresight to create a Development Account and redirect funds and profits into that account for future club and ground development. When we first returned to competitive football we rented a ground and it was not until January 2015 when we moved to Bentley Leisure Pavilion that we were in a position to improve our facilities. The Directors and Committee agreed that our aim was to improve the facilities to a minimum of Step 6 level in the National League System. This is the equivalent of the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division. In doing so, that when the first team were ready for promotion the club could return to the same level as it was in 2013 when it "folded". We continued our Affiliation to the Birmingham County FA so whilst the club did not play in the 2013/14 season the club's 140+ year FA affiliation was uninterrupted.

Over the last 4 years or so the club has through investing its own Development funds and with the help of some grant funding spending nearly £200,000 on improving the 8 dressing rooms, 2 match officials rooms and showers. laying hard standing, erecting post and rails around the main pitch along with, a stand and covered terracing, new goal posts, new dug outs, new boiler room, refurbished toilets, new equipment as well as significantly improving all four football pitches. Our facilities exceed Step 6 requirements by some distance now and we are well placed to meet Step 5 requirements as and when required.

Following the announcement in May 2019 of our promotion to the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division the club set about the installation of floodlights so that our goal of achieving the minimum Step 6 grading for our facilities. We originally anticipated spending £75,000 but the actual cost was significantly less, in the region of £65,000, with the club contributing approx £20,000 from its Development Fund, the balance funded by the Football Foundation.

We are currently preparing arrangements for the "official opening" of the floodlights and will announce details as soon as they are finalised.

We have at least two midweek cup fixtures to arrange against Walsall Town Swifts in the J W Hunt Cup and the Premier Division League Cup tie against Worcester Raiders.

A few pictures are available and can be seen by clicking Floodlight Album

Our first home League fixture under floodlights will be on Tuesday November 12th when Wolverhampton Casuals will visit The Paycare Ground 7.45pm kick off.