Bilston Town becomes first WM Supporter Owned Club

19th August 2023

History in the making: Bilston Town supporters vote to become the first West Midlands Supporter Owned Club

Supporters of Bilston Town Community Football Club have voted in principle to become the first ‘fan owned’ football club in the West Midlands. A well-attended supporters club meeting held on Friday 4th August unanimously voted to form a Community Benefit Society (CBS).

Under the CBS model, the club will be run as a ‘one member – one vote’ offering every supporter the chance to own their club, is able to participate and able to contribute to its successful future.

Bilston are being assisted to be become a supporter owned co-operative by the Football Supporters Association (FSA) who attended the meeting held at Queen Street to support the project. 

Bilston aim to join a growing number of football clubs who are deciding to become owned and run by their supporters including AFC Wimbledon, Exeter City and Newport County, Chester FC, Scarborough Athletic, AFC Rushden & Diamonds, Bury FC and FC United of Manchester.  

The vote to form a CBS is part of a wider project underway at Bilston to improve facilities and to open the club to all sections of the community. In addition to the men’s first team, Bilston also has a women’s team and an extensive youth development structure. Under the plan being developed Bilston aims to provide opportunity for everyone to be able to play sport and will play an integral role in supporting the wider public health strategy for Bilston and Wolverhampton. 

Denise Frankham, Bilston Town Community FC Chair said,
“I am delighted that our supporters are so supportive of our plans for the club. Whilst Bilston wants to be as successful as we can on the pitch, we also recognise our wider responsibilities off it. Our club has been part of the community since 1894 and creating a Community Benefit Society aims to secure our future for the next generation and beyond. Under our plans the club will be owned by our supporters and together we can all ensure that the club goes from strength to strength and plays an integral role in the future of Bilston”. 

Under the plans endorsed by supporters the fan owned club will: 

Obtain an asset lock to legally prevent Bilston’s ground and the stadium at Queens Street from being used for private gain. The space will be used for football and to promote public health in Bilston. 

Seek funding for a new pitch and improvements to the stadium.  

Fans will work together to protect the history, legacy and future of the club. Every supporter can own part of the club by becoming a member.  

Adopt a democratic model of ownership. 

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We look forward to sharing more information as the process moves forward in what we believe are exciting times, not only for the football club but also the people of Bilston.

More information on Bilston Town Community Football Club can be found here: 
https://www.bilstontown.co.uk/ 

More information on the Football Supporters Association can be found here: 
 https://thefsa.org.uk/

Honours Correction.

Previous information gathered from an old Bilston Town game programme suggested that Bilston had won the Wednesbury charity cup in 1980-81 but that year it was won by Tipton Town. But it has been uncovered that Bilston reserves were runners up in the same competition in 1975-76. The previous claim can only be put down to a typo. Apologies. The record below is accurate.

2020-21 Season.

Covid-19 has claimed a 2nd non-league season. Other latest news from Queen Street below.

March 6th 2021 – Bilston get new WELCOME TO QUEEN STREET signage. Thank you to PayCare.

(C) Bilston Town Community FC Facebook page.

March 17th 2021 – WM(R)L Announces plans for end of season ‘Saturday Cup’ competition.

“After our meeting the league have applied to the FA to run a Saturday cup competition starting on Apr 17 with the final being on May 29 The format will be 8 groups of 3 (24 clubs entered) with sides playing home and away in their group with group winners going forward to quarter finals.”

March 19th 2021 – Dean Gill resigns as manager of Bilston Town CFC.

STATEMENT: The club are disappointed to confirm that first team manager Dean Gill resigned from his position earlier this week. The club worked hard to provide the management team with all their reasonable requests and in return we were rewarded with some fantastic results and performances – we wish Dean and the players well with their new ventures. Having committed to play in the WMRL end of season cup competition and with a fast approaching signing deadline of 31st March, we are finalising plans to announce a new management team to cover this competition and ensure Bilston Town are properly represented and our volunteers and supporters have the opportunity to enjoy some football once restrictions are eased. We appreciate there will be rumours and speculation on this matter but we ask that our supporters show their respect to everyone involved as we work to prepare the Steelmen for another chapter in its history.”

March 21st 2021 – Wayne Spicer returns to Queen Street as first team manager.

STATEMENT: NEW MANAGER APPOINTED The club are delighted to welcome back Wayne Spicer as first team manager with immediate effect. Wayne is well known to the Steelmen following a short and promising spell during the 2019/20 season that ended with the null and void decision and we look forward to working with him as we look towards the end of season cup and the 2021/22 season. Mark Habbershaw and Hayden Foote are also confirmed as returning to Queen Street in Spicer’s backroom team, both familiar faces to the Steelmen supporters, and we are sure that all three will be given the usual warm welcome. We will have further updates on the backroom team and words from the management team in the coming days. Welcome back Wayne, Mark and Hayden!

2019-20 Pre-season Friendlies.

2018-19

After starting with seven straight defeats, huge changes to the squad saw a turnaround in fortunes, game to game. The 21 points dropped in those early games certainly cost Bilston Town a top ten finish but the correction early in the season did cut the rot and avoid a much worse outcome meaning the team eventually managed a steady and respectable mid-table finish.

HOME

P          W        D         L          F          A         PTS

19        7          3          9          34        46        24

 

AWAY

P          W        D         L          F          A         PTS

19        5          3          11        25        45        18

 

TOTAL

P          W        D         L          F          A         PTS

38        12        6          20        59        91        42

 

Biggest league win – 6-2 vs Shawbury United

Biggest league defeat – 7-0 Vs Haughmond, Wellington

Biggest cup win – 5-2 Vs Alvechurch

Biggest cup defeat – 3-0 Vs Newcastle Town, Sporting Khalsa

Notable: Bilston were presented with the “Fair Play Award” and the “Respect Award” at the West Midlands Regional League Awards in June 2019. This year is now the 125^th year of Bilston Town Football club and the 100^th year at Queen Street. Look out for the pre-season fixture against Tamworth, Tamworth Castle were the first team to play a competitive game versus Bilston at Queen Street in 1919.

Onward and upward in 2019-20.

#bilstontownonefamily

1897 Annual Athletic Sports Event.

During my continued research into Bilston Town Community FC I have found another newspaper clipping, further to the ones already published in the 2015 history book. That clipping is presented here:

(C) Sporting Life.

Players Wanted – 1963.

During my continued research into Bilston Town Community FC I have found another newspaper clipping, further to the ones already published in the 2015 history book. That clipping is presented here:

With the 2018-19 season now completed, this advert from 23rd March 1963 is still relevant today. 

(C) Sports Argus.

Birmingham City Benefit Invitation.

During my continued research into Bilston Town Community FC I have found another newspaper clipping, further to the ones already published in the 2015 history book. That clipping is presented here:

February 1968 – (C) Sports Argus

Camkin Cup – 1972/73.

During my continued research into Bilston Town Community FC I have found several more newspaper clippings, further to the ones already published in the 2015 history book. These clippings are presented here:

During all of the research I have carried out since May 2013 I have never come across a mention of the Camkin Cup until earlier this year. I still have not found out if Bilston did take part in this competition or what any of the results may have been. If anyone has any information about this competition please get in touch. 

 

Hicklin Gets Five Versus Bloxwich.

During my continued research into Bilston Town Community FC I have found another newspaper clipping, further to the ones already published in the 2015 history book. That clipping is presented here:

September 1954 – (C) Birmingham Daily Gazette.