A one-off cup clash or a familiar foe; that’s always the question we’re asking if you can remember a club. So, where do Dudley Town stand then? We all know that Dudley is a town tucked up in the imposing shadow of Wolverhampton and Birmingham. But did you even know they had a football team – let alone one that we’ve come up against in times past?
It’s probably fair to say that you’ll only remember The Robins if you’re of a certain vintage. Nowt wrong with that, of course, but it might make for a fuzzier recollection. Boro’ have only played them once before so far; us winning our FA Cup Second Qualifying Round encounter in September 1986.
At that time and into the 1990s, the Robins were playing in the Southern League. But cash worries forced it to shut down in 1997; brought back to life a year later in the West Midlands (Regional) League.
Dudley Town: The Facts
The Dell Stadium
Bryce Road, Brierley Hill, Dudley, West Midlands, DY5 4NE
One of the oldest non-league sides in the West Midlands, Dudley Town formed way back in 1888. This is a bit contentious, however; Wikipedia claims the club was dormant after the First World War and didn’t come back to life until 1928. It’s a technicality we’re not all that fussed about. But it does give us a marker for when The Robins start appearing on the radar of the Football Club History Database. First, it was into the Worcestershire Combination for a successful few seasons. After that, it was Birmingham & District League.
But, again, we have a situation where the club seems to go under just before the Second World War; reappearing in 1946 as a member of the Birmingham Combination. After eight seasons finding their feet again, it was back to the Birmingham & District League. Things now start to calm down, even though the competition changes name to the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1962. In the early 1980s, however, The Robins take arguably their biggest step yet by joining the Southern League Midlands Division for the 1982-3 campaign.
Why do we know Dudley Town?
Of course, the Southern League isn’t a path we’ve ever taken ourselves. Sure, Stevenage Athletic did it. But, in 1982, we were still in the United Counties League. And we opted for the Isthmian ladder when we did take that step up. Four years on, however, we did cross paths with The Robins. The 1986-7 FA Cup Second Qualifying Round draw pitted us and Dudley Town against each other for the first-ever time. For them, it was another chance to try and relive their epic 1976-7 run to the First Round Proper. For us, it was as far as we’d ever been.
How to get to Dudley Town – Travel Information – Distance: 106 miles
By Road
Like most trips to the Midlands, this is a job for the M1 and M6. Continue on the old M6, however, because you need Junction 8 for the M5 and then Junction 2 of the M5. This’ll put you on the A4123.
Take the fourth exit at the roundabout after coming off the M5 – and then the fourth exit at the next roundabout almost right away. After two-and-a-half miles (and as you approach a Tesco superstore), turn left for the A461 and left again for Duncan Edwards Way.
Stay on this road until a roundabout that gives you the chance to take the A4101. It’ll come as no surprise that you’ll want this road. Just over a mile later, turn left onto the B4179 and then right after 0.7 miles for Bryce Road.
