Adventures in Football #119: Beeches View Avenue (Cradley Town) 

 

March 11, 2025 

 

CRADLEY TOWN vs. GORNAL COLTS (JW Hunt Cup QF) 

 

 

Having recently watched football in Malta, and had a lovely time doing so, the urge to visit a local ground came on strong one Tuesday afternoon. So, here we go; to Halesowen (after dark) for some JW Hunt Cup action! What is the JW Hunt Cup, I hear you ask? Well, I’m glad you did. It’s a charity competition, which benefits local blind folk. Seeing as one of my best friends is currently losing his eyesight, it feels like the kind of charity I’d like to support.  

 

After finishing work, Maria and I headed to Beeches View Avenue (no beach was in sight). Around a 35 minute drive into Birmingham on the M5. Going just after rush hour into Birmingham, as opposed to out or around Birmingham, is a best case scenario. There’s parking at the ground, which is free. There were a lot of cars in the car park considering the level. The car park is uneven gravel and grey dirt. A classic.  

 

While parking one of the club’s officials strolls down and I thought he was going to tell us off for not leaving enough space but instead he tells us “ah, it’s fine”. He’s incredibly chill. The most relaxed parking guy I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.  

I didn’t go back to the road to take a photo, so here’s one from Google Maps. The entrance is between two houses but there’s loads of space up there. As you can see from the sign they do walking football here and also have a small 3G pitch which the kids play on. When we arrive an U12’s game is in is session. Grass roots football is about engaging people of all ages into the world of football and tying together communities. It’s great to see it in effect here. 

 

We arrive so early (around 18:30) that we’ve got time to check out the facilities. The clubhouse is a nicely modern area. Plenty of space in there and they’ve put effort into the way it looks. The bar is small but packed with goodies including hot food and a decent range of beers. I had a Theakston’s smooth dark, which you don’t see every day. They had the Champions League on the TVs, so we sat watching Barcelona vs Benfica until it was time to brave the elements.  

Also of note was a signed Jude Bellingham England shirt, which adorns the wall. Bellingham is a local hero to this part of the world and has probably played on tonight’s grass. They must have had some astroturf left over from doing the boys pitch because it is everywhere. On verges in the car park, between buildings and hilariously on this step.

The turnstile was nearly organised by the lady in the high-vis jacket. She made a point of making sure everyone was where they were supposed to be. Terrific steward at this level. Really helpful. I do love the little turnstile we have here too. Entry price was £7 for tonight’s game. Maria decided to linger in the clubhouse until kick-off, while I went and explored a bit. 

And here it is! Beeches View Avenue. Most of the fans are down the sideline with this area being reserved for the noisiest of the locals. The shed end, at the top of the picture, was not open this evening. Off to our left is where the dugouts are and there are no fans that side at all.  

COME ON YOU, IRONS! Hammering stuff since 1948. Incidentally the JW Hunt Cup has been around since 1926. Centenary year next season. Cradley have a tidy little ground. The railing is decent for the level, the area around the field is maintained and all the amenities are in the same area.  

There’s a snack bar in the corner. I wasn’t hungry so I didn’t peruse their board of fare. It did look pretty basic. You can also get pints from the clubhouse, and they’ll do plastic glasses so you can bring them outside. Shelter, food, toilets, booze. What more do you need at the football? (Well, football, ideally).  

This is what I mean when I say it’s tidy here. Wood chips on the side, planks to cover potential mud in the second line of standing and a rail that’s almost straight! For the level, this is bang on.  

I strolled down to the end to get a better look at the shed end. It’s a beauty but the corner is fenced off and there’s no one allowed down there tonight. IRONS!  

Maria emerges as the players do and we settle into some seats around the halfway line. Initially I thought there were no Gornal fans in but as soon as the game started it became apparent, they were all off to my right. About 10-15 of them. The crowd, when I went out there, was about 40 but it swelled to around 60-70 for kick off. For a cold night in Halesowen, these brave souls are here for the charity. 

 

Cradley, as you can see, play in red and black. The visitors tonight have a two-tone blue kit. The one blue is so light it looks white on the pictures. The referee is overweight. I’m never thrilled to get a fat ref. I’m not fat shaming him but there’s a reason you don’t see fat refs at the highest level of the game. To be fair to him, he did keep up all game and only occasionally got in the way. 

 

The game kicks off and the opening 15:00 is scrappy but entertaining. Both teams are happy to leave a boot in and the referee has clearly forgotten to bring his cards with him. Most tackles that would see yellow, or maybe red, in higher divisions result in a stern talking to from the man in the middle. 

 

Gornal Colts start the better of the two sides to the delight of the Colts fans near me. They create a few decent chances, and one is cleared off the line with the keeper beaten. A nippy winger called “Ely” by the Gornal fans with the chance. 25’ in and it all comes undone for Gornal with Jordan Crump being fouled in the box and the home team has a penalty. The loudest Gornal fan, a lady with a lot of opinions about football, does not agree with the decision claiming it should have gone the other way. I didn’t see it clearly enough to argue with her but anyway, penalty. 1-0 Cradley. Brad Ward the taker. 

“You don’t deserve it” the lady yells as Cradley celebrate. “It should be 3-1 us” she explains to her neighbour. I have no idea where she’s plucked that number from. Boosted by the goal, Cradley take over and play really well for about 10 minutes. The Colts keeper makes two fantastic saves in quick succession. One a from a header, from point blank range. The second from the resulting corner. Another close range effort. Cradley should be out of sight.  

 

With half-time approaching Cradley hit the post with a lovely curling effort from outside the box. Again, it should be game over. The lady next to me is now explaining to a late arrival that Cradley have “only had the ball in the box once and that was the penalty”. The POV has become entirely skewed to the point of extreme delusion. Colts do finish the half strong though and hit the bar from a free kick. Presumably that effort was worth at least five goals. The first half ebbed and flowed and sometimes it was bad, sometimes it was good. For the level, I had a good time. 

A quick trip to the car at half time so I can snack on a Ginsters Hunter’s Chicken slice I bought earlier and we’re back! Gornal start the second half with renewed vigour and have an effort cleared off the line before the other winger curls one in top bins. Beautiful strike. Around 55’ and it’s 1-1. Game on!  

Tensions become frayed and the Colts manager gets into a full blown verbal scrap with the Cradley goalkeeper. Both of them have been talking loudly all game so it was inevitable. About an hour in Cradley get a free kick and while Taylor Homer’s effort strikes the crossbar Charlie Aston follows in and slots home into an empty net for 2-1. When a keeper dives at this level, they stay dived a lot longer than your David Raya’s of the world.  

 

Cradley are somewhat complacent in the lead and don’t play well for at least 10:00 after the goal. Colts come forward and should really have an equaliser based on the balance of play. However, the finishing isn’t there and chances go begging. A few come close but most just go way over the bar. The composure isn’t there. They put mulitple balls into the woods behind the home goal.  

Drama at the end though as Gornal’s #8 receives a straight red card (the ref brought that card with him at least) for something he said. I didn’t hear it but the reaction from Cradley players was; “you can’t say that”. Colts still press forward looking for something and are punished with a long ball over the top. Sub Traevay Wright runs onto it and finishes with aplomb. It’s a well taken goal and I thought Wright and fellow sub Harrold did really well after coming on. About a minute later, it’s all over. Cradley Town advance in the JW Hunt Cup.  

 

FINAL SCORE: CRADLEY TOWN 3 GORNAL COLTS 1 

 

Gornal Colts will think themselves unlucky to not get anything here, but the game could have gone either way and both teams had good spells in charge of the game. Cradley just took their chances. I’m sure the lady I was next to will blame the referee for a penalty, a red card and other contentious decisions. I thought he was fine. Before we leave Halesowen, let’s give this ground some scores, shall we?  

 

 

ATMOSPHERE: 

Normally, when you have these low crowd numbers, you don’t get noise. That wasn’t true here. It was raucous and both sets of fans were into it. Nothing approaching chanting (other than “you’ve only got one card” at the ref) but boisterous behaviour. I dig it. *** 

 

COST: 

Although Cradley’s website claims the games cost £5, we were charged £7. That said, it’s a charity cup. We’re doing good work here lads. ***½ 

 

QUALITY: 

While the game lacked in real genuine moments of class, both teams had a go and tried to play football. For the level, it was a good, competitive game with two teams trying to score goals. I’ll take it. *** 

 

EASE OF ACCESS: 

There’s no public transport out here at all*. You definitely need to drive to this one, unless you live locally. The nearest rail link is either Lye or Cradley Heath. Around two miles away. It would be easier to do on the weekend. ** 

 

*I don’t do buses. Also, it would take two hours, and I could walk from my house in four. 

 

MISC:  

Bonus points for a good clubhouse and a tidy pitch area. There was a bit of character about the place too with club badges and paint work around the ground. Fair play for making the effort to maintain the ground and make it look nice. *** 

 

OVERALL: 14.5 

Just behind Newport and Hull but honestly, a better experience than either of those. For the level, Cradley Town can be very happy about what kind of football club they are and what they represent. I loved they still had grass, and it was in good condition. I loved how quirky the ground was. The way they’ve cut the soil away at the sides looks borderline dangerous. I dig it.  

 

So, that’s it for Cradley Town. For a place better known for speedway than football, they’re doing alright here. I respect their efforts. Hopefully the club remains at the heart of the community for many years to come.