Football team back at base

Bilston's football club was today looking forward to a new era back in the town – complete with an upgraded stand and clubhouse, delighted bosses revealed today.

The club, which since last summer has been known as Bilston Town 2007, had to give up its Queen Street ground in October after it was targeted by vandals more than 120 times in five years.

The team used to regularly attract attendances of several hundred at its peak, and has been playing its fixtures on a public pitch at Bantock Park in Finchfield.

This is after the council declared its ground unsafe for spectators. Club chairman Alan Owen today revealed plans for a renovation of the ground, meaning the players could be back on the pitch by March.

The grandstand, dressing rooms, board room and clubhouse are set to be spruced up as part of the work.

"In two months it will be ready to play on and the players are definitely looking forward to it," Mr Owen went on to say.

Bilston councillor Bert Turner said a new short-term lease had been hand-delivered by the council's legal department.

"The people of Bilston will be really pleased to be able to get back into the clubhouse and watch football on the best amateur pitch in the West Midlands again," added the councillor.

The club, formerly known as Bilston Town, was saved by a consortium last summer after a player walkout and mounting debts.

The council then declared it unsafe due to the of attacks including graffiti, burglaries and arson.

The pitch was also ruined by youths sneaking on to play football and kicking up the turf, and the ground was flooded when yobs broke in and left taps running.

Security guards are now being employed to patrol the site in a bid to prevent any more attacks.

The latest development has come as a welcome relief to the club, which has been hit in the pocket since being forced out to Bantock Park where it cannot charge fans admission.

It has survived on money from a shirt sponsorship deal and donations from a charitable trust.