Hednesford Town. Now that’s a blast from the not-so-distant past. For a while, the Pitmen were right in our faces. But then what? As fast as they came along, they went away again. And it’s not as if the Staffordshire side were keeping quiet about it either. So, it’s only right (we think) that we look at what became a rollercoaster rise and fall for them in the mid-to-late 1990s. We’d say it’s all we think about. But we’d be lying.
The Pitmen finished a lofty third in their first-ever campaign in the Conference; two spots behind us as it turns out. Five seasons later, the Pitmen were relegated; ending up bottom of the 2000-1 Conference table. In more recent times, an aborted takeover attempt left the club unable to compete in the 2023-4 campaign. The news meant that fears started to grow over the long-term future of the club – and whether it’d return in 2024.
Hednesford Town: The Facts
Keys Park Stadium
Keys Park Road, Hednesford, Staffordshire, WS12 2DZ
In 1880, two teams – the Red and Whites (also called West Hill) and Hill Top – decided to join forces. And that’s where the story of the Pitmen starts. But it also seems to come to a premature end during the 1937-8 campaign; the club resigning from the Brum and District League and folding. At the same time, a new club – plain ol’Hednesford – came into being and took the old club’s place. So, maybe the story didn’t end after all. Just stalled, maybe.
With Town back in their name from 1974, the Pitmen started to have an eye on the future; lifting the West Midlands League title for the first time in 1978 and putting together a run of decent finishes over the next few seasons. After going close again to the title in 1984, the club decided to take the next step up and join the Southern League Midland Division. Like us in the Isthmian League, that wasn’t enough for them – so they didn’t settle for it.
Why do we know Hednesford Town?
Us being in the Isthmian and them being in the Southern meant our paths could only cross with good reason. And it didn’t happen right away. While we had our literal ups and downs, the Pitmen’s path was more, let’s say, stable. After eight years in the Midland Division, the club were promoted to the Premier Division. The same year we made the Diadora League Premier Division, as it goes.
In the end, we almost marched into the GM Vauxhall Conference together. But the Pitmen took a season longer than we did; winning the Southern League title in 1995.
How to get to Hednesford Town – Travel Information – Distance: 108 miles
By Road
Hednesford is to the north of Birmingham and the West Midlands cluster, so the M1 and M6 is the order of the day. And the M6 Toll too, unless you’d rather save those pennies. But we’re not sure how worth it that will be.
Exit the M6 Toll at T6 for the A5195 to Brownhills and Burntwood. Take the third exit at the roundabout for the A5195 (Walsall Burial Park on the right). After a mile, take the second exit at the roundabout for the A5190 and go over one roundabout by Bidulph’s Pool.
At the Five Ways Inn, take the third exit at the roundabout for the B4154 to Hednesford and continue up here for just over a mile. You want the third exit at the next roundabout for Keys Park Road and the ground is down here.
A large car park at the ground will set you back a couple of quid at last look.
By Rail
Station: HEDNESFORD
Services to: BIRMINGHAM NEW STREET
At just over a mile, the walk from the station will take about 25 minutes if you don’t mind that. Leave the station down Market Street, with a Tesco on the left providing a potential reference point. At a junction where Woody’s Music Bar is, turn right for Uxbridge Street.
Continue down and bear left for Hill Street; passing Kingsmead Technology College on your left. At the first roundabout you come to, Keys Park Road should be the first exit.
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