Oldbury United are returning home after more than a decade away

United welcome Dudley Athletic to their York Road ground on Saturday (3pm) - ending a wait of 18 years to play a competitive game back at the ground they called home from 1973 until their eviction in 2007.

The former West Midlands League champions have been down on their luck for some time, having folded at the end of the 2008/09 season and then again during the 2018/19 campaign.

But they rejoined the league again in 2022 and have won back-to-back promotions to return to the West Midlands Premier.

Club chairman Keith Thompson said: “All the staff from top to bottom of the club are ecstatic and really excited to be back home.

“Many people of the local community came to watch our friendly against Wednesfield and said it was great to be back, we used to come here as children, and it upset many when Oldbury lost the venue.”

Oldbury have enjoyed such highs as reaching the final qualifying round of the FA Cup in 1986/87 - narrowly losing to Halesowen Town in a replay - and winning the West Midlands League title in 1992/93.

But returning the club home to the community may yet turn out to be the biggest moment in the club's rollercoaster history.

Thompson said: "The purchase was on and off for two years and even up to the penultimate day we weren't sure the contracts would be signed.

"We can now concentrate on building Oldbury United FC to a place it once was. And for it to be the community's club of choice.”

The club boasts more than 35 teams, ranging from children’s teams starting at four years old and expanding to an adult women's first and reserve teams.

“We are building a community of South Sandwell to be proud of," Thompson added.