Midland Combination Premier Division
At The Old Police Sports Ground, Silkmore Lane, Stafford
Kick-off: 7-45 pm
Attendance: 52
Weather: Showers
Duration: first half: 47:40; second half: 48:48
Brocton twice took the lead in the first half but ended up needing a last-minute equaliser to gain a point.
Some time in my dim and distant past, 1975 I think, I saw a game at the Police Sports Ground between Staffs Police and Bilston but I don't think I watched it that keenly. I recollect a railed off pitch with a blue-painted stand near to the entrance. The Police side were in the West Midlands League at the time and ended up being members of the Staffordshire Senior League from 1984 until the 1995/96 season. Some 30+ years after my visit, Brocton took over the lease of the ground and have developed a first-class facility.
he ground is accessed via a drive off Silkmore Lane to the south of Stafford town centre. At the end of the drive is a pay box where the programme (£1) is available. There is plenty of car parking inside the ground with a stand containing about 100 dark green seats on the nearside touchline. Behind the left-hand goal are various buildings containg chaning rooms, hospitality room and a tea bar. On the far side of the ground is a second pitch. The flat playing surface was a superb condition and must drain well as Brocton's home game at the begining of the month survived a huge amount of rain.
The village of Brocton is a few miles south of Stafford on the A34 towards Cannock and is were the club has its roots. Back in 1937, Arthur Mayer owner of the Chetwynd Arms at the time gave a football to the boys of Brocton and neighbouring Bednall and asked them to form a team. The club played home games on a pitch next to the 'Chet' before moving first team games first Rowley Park in Stafford, Cannock Stadium and Heath Hayes FC. The club moved into their new home at the start of the current season.
The programme (28 pages) tells the history of the club in more details. There was also a history of opponents Continental Star, match reports, a league table, player profile and a look back to Brocton's fortunes in 1956/57.
Teams were displayed on window of the hospitality room and there were quite a few names familiar to me in the Brocton starting line-up who had had a previous connection with Stafford Rangers.
