TODAY marks the 120th Anniversary of Walsall FC after Walsall Town and Walsall Swifts amalgamated to form the present club.

The first game took place on April 9th 1888 and was a Birmingham Cup Final against Aston Villa, which was played at Villa's old ground in Perry Barr.

Around 500 supporters from Walsall travelled to see this historic game, which drew a crowd of over 12,000 and ended goalless as we put up a sterling display against our more illustrious opponents who had beaten some of the leading sides in both England and Scotland that season. The scoreline remained the same ten minutes into extra-time when bad light stopped play.

There was, however, an unfortunate sequel to the Final as The Birmingham Association ordered the replayed game to be played at either Perry Barr or Small Heath. Walsall insisted that they had earned the right to have a second chance on their own ground and duly withdrew from the competition.

We may not have got our hands on the star prize, but the morale victory was ours nevertheless!

The first team to represent the new club featured five players from Walsall Town and six players from Walsall Swifts. Jack Tracey (Swifts) was the goalkeeper, Alf Jones and 'Sammy' Reynolds (both Town) were at full-back, Jack Morely (Swifts), Billy Lee (Town) and George Morris (Swifts) were half-backs, whilst forwards were David Wykes (Swifts), George Cope (Town), Tommy Athersmith (Swifts - and brother of the more famous Charlie Athersmith of Aston Villa and England fame), Charlie 'Shiner' Shaw (Town) and George Tapper (Swifts). The Holmes brothers, Charlie and Sammy (both Swifts), were also in the party, with the latter going onto give the club outstanding service.

At a meeting of members and friends later that year it was decided that the club should continue to utilise the Chuckery as its home ground and the clubs colours would be red and white striped shirts.

It was to be the start of a long and colourful adventure for Walsall Football Club which has taken many twists and turns over the past 120 years.

Here's to the next 120!