It must be great being a supporter of Stourbridge, or at least you would certainly think so.
Headlines have been made this season due to a fantastic FA Cup run that saw a replay victory against Whitehawk, a memorable home win over League One Northampton Town, before an agonising Third Round defeat at Wycombe Wanderers.
This hasn't been a one off though, twice in the previous three seasons the Second Round has been reached, while in 2011 the Glassboys pulled off a huge scalp with a replay victory over Plymouth Argyle in the First Round after a draw at Home Park.
2009 wasn't a bad year either, a narrow home defeat to Walsall in the First Round swelled the coffers somewhat. But overall, five of the past eight seasons has seen the Stour men reach the competition proper, and for a Step 3 club that's a hugely impressive achievement.
It hasn't been all about the Cup though, after being promoted to Step 3 in 2008 they've reached the Play Off's twice but not quite been able to make the jump to the Conference North. This season the Play Off's look a very strong possibility, but the rest will once again come down to nerve, experience, luck, astronomical configurations and the way the wind blows.
It's not always been like this.
The Seventies saw them yo-yo between the divisions of the Southern League, while the Eighties and Nineties were remarkable for being unremarkable. The War Memorial Ground was a problem though, it denied them promotion in 1991, and then after ignominiously falling into the Midland Alliance in 2000, they won the league twice and were refused re-admission to the Southern League.
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| Atmospheric Amblecote |
Eventually though, they returned, and now, having moved North, things are looking very good. Crowds are up hugely, with gates over 600 commonplace. When I made my one and only previous trip in 1999 to see Belper Town in the FA Cup, I would guess maybe 150 turned out for it.
There is a buzz and a vibrancy around Stourbridge Football Club, and upon arriving at the Amblecote ground it was clearly evident. The crowds arrive early, the officials are friendly and helpful, and the banter in the bar and on the terraces is exactly what you would expect at a thriving football club.
The ground has been tidied up since my visit nearly 18 years ago. Both the main stand and the covered terrace behind the goal have been re-clad, while the terracing that sits between the structures is modern and tidy. The ground is still three sided, but that is a less of an issue compared to the draconian eras that prevented the clubs progress.
The game against struggling Ilkeston, who are a story in itself, was one I expected to see Stourbridge win comfortably. But it didn't quite shape up that way. Backed by a vociferous support, it was the Glassboys who started in positive fashion, and for the first half hour they poured forward but didn't really stretch the visiting goalkeeper. The young visitors started to gain confidence and after a spell of pressure they took the lead almost on the stroke of half time when Anthony Dwyer headed home unmarked.
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| The Spion Kop |
Stourbridge continued to labour in the early stages of the second period, with their play becoming somewhat predictable. Ilkeston to their credit defended resolutely, but you did feel that if Stour could find the net, it could lead to an opening of the floodgates.
It took until the 75th minute, a clear penalty lead to Luke Benbow finding the target, only for Luke Rodgers to net from close range three minutes later to make it 2-1.
Stour were now dominant and it came as no surprise in the 82nd minute when Dan Preston found the net after a shot had bounced down off the crossbar and seemed destined not to cross the line.
It was a strange victory, that for long periods looked unlikely, but, to win when not at your best is the sign of a good side, so someone who claimed to know what they are talking about once said!
Talking to a long standing Stourbridge fan before the game, I asked him what his thoughts were about the play off's...,
"I don't want to go up, the Conference North is a no mans land....."
I then talked about the clubs profile and significant leap in support (632 tonight)....
"That's great, but the new breed have been spoiled, we beat Northampton and suddenly if we lose a league game the side get slated, but football doesn't work like that...."
Glass half full or Glass half empty? Who'd be a Glassboy.......
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| Packed Stand - Halcyon Days |
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