BIRMINGHAM MAIL - A WEST MIDLAND ROUND-UP BY ALAN TOWE - 20.03.24

The end of the season is now fast approaching for the Sheldon and District Winter League and week fifteen results had no effect on the premier league or division one tables whatsoever. In the premier league Langley Arrows, with only two more games to play are leading the way and well on course for the title after adding their latest 6-3 win at Yardley Ex Colts to give them a six points lead on second placed Sheldon Marlborough Arrows who now have a game in hand on the leaders after having a bye this week.

In division one Brian’s Flights top the table with twenty-six points from fourteen games, the latest of which saw them win 7-2 at home against Hollywood Social Club. Second in the division Willclare Sports and Social Club beat Maggies 6-3 to keep within two points of the leaders but from fifteen games. Third placed Trident Spears lost ground on the top two when they went down 5-4 at Smithswood Social Club leaving them on twenty points from fourteen games, four short of Willclare.

Sheldon Marlborough Ridge suffered a setback to their division two title hopes this week losing their home game with The Hornet 5-4, their victors replacing them at the top of the division with eighteen points, two more than their hosts but from one game more than they have played, a win in their game in hand would see Sheldon Marlborough Ridge return to pole position.

Just the one maximum this week which was supplied by premier league side Dingle’s Lee Hodges in his team’s 7-2 home win over Sheldon Dukes.

Full Results:Week 15:Premier League:- Yardley Ex Colts 3 Langley Arrows 6, Langley Flights 5 Highwood 4, The Dingle 7 (Lee Hodges 180) Sheldon Dukes 2, Raven Arrows v The Banbury Club was potstponed, Sheldon Marlborough Arrows had a bye, Division One:- Willclare Sports and Social Club 6 Maggies 3, Brian’s Flights 7 Hollywood Social Club 2. The Bell Inn 3 Kingshurst Labour Club 6, Smithswood Social Club 5 Trident Spears 4 (Tom Cupkovic 9 darts game), Iron Horse Rebels v Shirley Misfits was a late result, Division Two:- Sheldon Marlborough Flights 5 Moseley Rugby Club 4, Sheldon Marlborough Ridge 4 The Hornet 5, The College Arms Flights v Lyndon Old Boys was postponed, The Raven had a bye.

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It was cup week in the South West Birmingham Clubs League, first the semi-finals of the Percy Hinton Cup which saw league leaders Longbridge United win 6-3 at E57 and joining them in the final will be Bournbrook who had a close 5-4 win over Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’.

The quarter-finals were played off for the Consolation Cup and second in the league West Heath CEM with a nine darts game from their K.Webb had a somewhat comfortable 7-2 win over Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’, Stirchley United and Bartley Green FC not far behind West Heath with their 6-3 wins over respepctive opponents Quarry Club and Moseley All Services Club. Also winning through to the last four was Northfield Town who won 5-4 at Perfection.

Full Results:Percy Hinton Cup:Semi-Finals:- Northfield Conservative Club ‘B’ 4 (Russell Higgins 160b) Bournbrook 5, E57 3 Longbridge United 6, Consolation Cup:Quarter-Finals:- Perfection 4 Northfield Town 5, West Heath CEM 7 (K.Webb 9 darts game) Northfield Conservative Club ‘A’ 2, Stirchley United 6 Quarry Club 3, Moseley All Services Club 3 Bartley Green FC 6.

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Week nine in the Kings Norton League saw no change in the top six positions of the table with leaders Northfield adding a 6-1 win away to Stirchley to their account to give them a total of sixteen points and a lead of two over second and third placed Copper Fox and Thurlestone. With no result for Copper Fox this week they could go level on points with Northfield with a win while Thurlestone won 4-3 at Cock Inn to go level with Copper Fox but from one game more, Bournebrook, Coppice and Rubery Social Club are all two points further adrift on twelve points.

There were no fewer than three 160 breaks this week supplied by T.Atkins (Stirchley), T.Cullen and K.Mason (Bournebrook) with the single maximum of the week going to A.Ward from Coppice.

Full Results:Game 9:-Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 2 (C.Davenport 112b, M.Cushing 140) Kings Norton Flights 5 (J.Fisher 2x100, R.Foxhall 112b, M.Hanley 125, A.Fenton 140, E.Dearn 120, G.Saad 2x100), Cock Inn 3 (P.Hughes 140, S.Cartwright 100,121, A.Vaughan 103b, R.Allcott 100) Thurlestone 4 (T.Garfield 2x100,101b, J.Downer 112b, R.Waldron 100), Dingle 1 (A.O'Sullivan 121, M.Poolton 2x100, S.Poolton 121, D.Burns 100b) Rubery Social Club 6 (J.Higgins 2x100, R.Higgins 100, J.O'Neill 100, A.Faulkner 100,125, J.Grainger 101b,128), Stirchley 1 (L.Rooney 2x100, M.Welsh 105b, T.Atkins 100,105b,160b, S.Lilley 122b, M.Heath 101b, A.Wynne 100,117b,10 and 11 darts ganes, J.Allen 116,128) Northfield 6 (L.Allen 125,130b, M.Lloyd 103b,12 darts game, A.Busby 114,128,140,10 darts game, R.Hitchmough 2x100,137, S.Busby 100,11 darts game, N.Steventon 137), Coppice 5 (A.Aindow 100, A.Ward 105b, R.Packer 111, B.Heath 100,140, A.Chidley 100,120b, M.Mooney 121, J.Garghan 100, A.Ward 180) Perfection 2 (A.McGowan 100, P.Taylor 120b, M.Kearney 112), Bournebrook 5 (T.Cullen 135,139,160b, K.Mason 160b, T.Jeffs 100, C.Ryan 100,140) Longbridge 2 (R.Broadhurst 115b, D.Watts 101b, J.Wood 100).

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Northfield Conservative Club stretched their unbeaten run to seven games in the Harborne and District League when they returned from Weoley Castle WMC on the right side of the 7-2 result plus maximums from their T.Garfield and D.Hill. Second in the league Copper Fox ‘R’ with a maximum from T.Hamilton kept the pressure on the leaders by handing their visitors Windsor a 9-0 whitewash, Windsor bottom of the table and the only team in the league without a win in the seven games so far. Copper Fox ‘M’, Northfield Town and Cock Inn are all on ten points, four off the top after Copper Fox ‘M’, with 180’s from their D.Kent and G.Dews won 8-1 at Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club, Northfield Town beat Smethwick Cricket Club 5-4 and Cock Inn won 7-2 away to Avenue Social.

Full Results:Game 7:- Kings Norton Ex Serviceman’s Club 1 (N.Reynolds 100, R.Foxhall 2x100, A.Fenton 2x100, J.Butcher 100, R.Fisher 100,123, J.Fisher 2x100, G.Saad 100) Copper Fox ‘M’ 8 (K.Jukes 100,105,140, D.Kent 121,140,180, A.Harvey 100,140, J.Loughran 100,2x125, J.Downer 100, G.Dews 3x100,180, M.Davies 100), Lion Bar 3 (D.Windsor 2x100,121, C.Millward 100, E.Scullion 121, F.Goldsby 100, D.Horden 100, D.McConomy 4x100) The MIll 6 (O.Gough 140, A.Beagrie 2x100,120, J.Goulding 4x100, N.Davis 2x100), Copper Fox ‘R’ 9 (E.Simpson 2x100,121, J.Hykin 3x100,139,140,16 darts game, A.Hykin 126,138, T.Hamilton 3x100,180, N.Porter 2x100, R.Mann 100, T.Hykin 100,140) Windsor 0, Avenue Social 2 (A.Girling 100, E.Spencer 100, V.Gilliland 116,2x121, J.Taylor 100, C.Morgan 125) Cock Inn 7 (N.Hurst 100, L.Fox 3x100,125, Joe Fox 2x100, A.Vaughan 100,140, R.Allcott 2x100,140, John Fox 100), Northfield Town 5 (L.Allen 2x100,125, L.Fowler 125, N.Steventon 137, A.Faulkner 3x100, R.Needham 121,140, J.Evetts 2x100,121, M.Mooney 121, M.Bennet 100,116, M.Hopkins 100, J.Needham 100) Smethwick Cricket Club 4 (A.Bomber 5x100,121,140, M.Smith 2x100,140, V.Gould 2x100, S.Bond 126, B.Warren 100), Weoley Castle WMC 2 (M.Warr 100, A.Heath 100,125, P.Coombes 2x100,138, M.Bolton 100,121,140, A.Coombes 121) Northfield Conservative Club 7 (T.Garfield 100,140,180, D.Hill 3x100,121,180, M.Lloyd 100,2x140, C.Steadman 2x100,139, S.Cartwright 4x100,105, S.Jones 100).

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On the agenda for the Four Oaks and District League were cup fixtures, round one of their Coronation Shield and Norman Day Cup. In the Coronation Shield division one side The Nomads had a somewhat surprisingly close 8-7 win over Deer’s Leap who hail from division three. The all division one clash between The Beehive and Highcroft Hotdogs saw the former win 8-7 while the division two encounter between Red Lion and Walmley CSC Flights produced a 9-6 win for Walmley, the same result as the all division three game in which Pint Pot Flights beat Rosey Mac’s.  

In the Norman Day Cup division three outfit Sutton Sharks had a commendable 10-5 win over division two side Charley’s Flights. The all division two encounter between Drakes Drum and Erdington Arrows resulted in a 9-6 win for Drakes Drum and in the all division three game St Thomas Arrows got the better of Sutton Sports with a convincing 11-4 scoreline.

Full Results:Coronation Shield:Round One:- Deer’s Leap 7 The Nomads 8, Pint Pot Flights 9 Rosey Mac’s 6, Red Lion 6 Walmley CSC Flights 9, The Beehive 8 Highcroft Hotdogs 7, Norman Day Cup:Round One:- Drakes Drum 9 Erdington Arrows 6, Sutton Sharks 10 Charley’s Flights 5, Sutton Sports 4 St Thomas Arrows 11.

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After suffering their second defeat in twelve games last week, a 6-3 loss away to Bulls Head, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ got back to winning ways in the Netherton Thursday Night League this week with a 7-2 home win over Hare and Hounds to leave them four points behind leaders Old Liberal Club with a game in hand. Old Liberal Club made it thirteen wins in fourteen games when they handed fourth in the league Townsend Social Club a 9-0 whitewash to keep them two points to the good on their nearest rivals Bulls Head who also beat their hosts Netherton Sports and Social Club by a similar 9-0 margin, P.O’Brien notching a 180 for Bulls Head. Plough and Harrow had a 6-3 win at Spring Meadow Pub thanks to the help of two maximums from their M.Abbott.

Full Results:Game 15:- Spring Meadow Social 8 (L.Eaves 120f) Olde Queens Head 1, Hill and Cakemore Ex Serviceman’s Club 7 (J.Green 106f) Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘B’ 2, Spring Meadow Pub 3 Plough and Harrow 6 (M.Abbott 2x180), Old Liberal Club 9 Townsend Social Club 0, Netherton Sports and Social Club 0 Bulls Head 9 (P.O’Brien 180), Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club ‘A’ 7 Hare and Hounds 2, Old Glasshouse had a bye.

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In the Stourbridge and District Monday Night League Old Liberal Club continued their fine start to the campaign making it thirteen consecutive wins when they won their home game against Princess 5-2, Princess dropping from third to fifth in the league with twenty points from thirteen games, six behind their hosts. Second in the table Bird in Hand fell four points behind Old Liberal Club as they went down 6-1 away to Gate Hangs Well ‘B’ who move up one place to fourth. With Bird in Hand on twenty-two points from their thirteen games, third placed Five Ways, Gate Hangs Well ‘B’ and Princess are all on twenty points, Five Ways winning 6-1 away to Rose and Crown ‘B’. Five Ways and Gate Hangs Well ‘B’ both have a game in hand on the top two teams.

There were three maximums and two breaks of 160 this week in the league the 180’s coming from S.Blewitt (Princess), J.Gaskin (Netherton Conservative Club ‘B’) and M.Hunt (Bird in Hand). The 160 breaks were recorded by S.Goodall (Mount Pleasant) and A.Nicholls (Five Ways).

Full Results:Game 13:- Mount Pleasant 3 (S.Goodall 160b) Fox Inn (Lye) 4, Old Liberal Club 5 Princess 2 (S.Blewitt 180), Raven ‘A’ 2 Gate Hangs Well ‘A’ 5, Netherton Conservative Club ‘B’ 5 (J.Gaskin 180) Glasscutters ‘A’ 2, Glasscutters ‘B’ 1 Netherton Conservative Club ‘A’ 6, Seven Stars 4 Crestwood 3, Rose and Crown ‘B’ 1 Five Ways 6 (A.Nicholls 160b), Queens Head 3 Raven ‘B’ 4, Gate Hangs Well ‘B’ 6 Bird in Hand 1 (M.Hunt 180), Rose and Crown ‘A’ had a bye.

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It was League Cup week in the Silver End Sunday Morning League the biggest win of the round going to fifth in the league Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club who dished out an 8-0 whitewash to their visiting team High Acres ‘B’. Surprisingly one of the two second biggest wins went to next to bottom of the league and without a win in their five league games so far Old Cat Inn who won 6-2 playing away against Three Crowns ‘A’ who are five places above the in the league table. Rose and Crown were the other 6-2 winners as they accounted for Raven. The game between Dudley Sports ‘B’ and Three Crowns ‘B’ ended in a 4-4 draw with the former winning the deciding play-off game. The remaining fixtures all finished with 5-3 results Old Liberal Club, Dudley Sports ‘A’, Mount Pleasant, High Acres ‘C’ and Tenth Lock in turn defeating Church Tavern, Old Star, High Acres ‘A’, Pensnett Liberal Club and Brickmakers Arms. Brier Rose had a bye.

Full Results:League Cup:- Old Liberal Club 5 Church Tavern 3, Three Crowns ‘A’ 2 Old Cat Inn 6, Dudley Ex Serviceman’s Club 8 High Acres ‘B’ 0, Dudley Sports ‘A’ 5 Old Star 3, Mount Pleasant 5 High Acres ‘A’ 3, Dudley Sports ‘B’ 4 Three Crowns ‘B’ 4 (Dudley Sports won the deciding game), High Acres ‘C’ 5 Pensnett Liberal Club 3, Rose and Crown 6 Raven 2, Brickmakers Arms 3 Tenth Lock 5, Brier Rose had a bye.

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Bell are back where they ended last season in the Rowley Monday Night League top of the table following their huge 9-0 win over former leaders Romsley Cricket Club who now drop to fourth in the table with twelve points. Although topping the league Bell are only top on average as second placed Whiteheath Tavern after adding their latest 6-3 win at Rowley Bar and Grill are level on the same fourteen points as Bell. Hawthorns in third placed are two points short of the top two despite their big 8-1 home win over Loyal Lodge and lead Romsley Cricket Club and fifth placed Plough and Harrow on average, the latter winning their home tie with Rowley Labour Club 5-4.

Two players found the three treble twenties this week M.Crumpton (Whiteheath Tavern) and K.Chambers (Plough and Harrow) while G.Locke (Tividale FC) had a 160 break and for the Bell their R.O’Connor had a nine darts game and T.Brennan a ten darts game.

Full Results:Game 8:- Romsley Cricket Club 0 Bell 9 (T.Brennan 10 darts game, R.O’Connor 9 darts game), Spring Meadow 4 Hawthorns ‘B’ 5, Rowley Bar and Grill 3 Whiteheath Tavern 6 (M.Crumpton 180), Huntingtree 1 Snooks 8, Plough and Harrow 5 (K.Chambers 180) Rowley Labour Club 4, Tividale FC 7 (G.Locke 160b) Gate Hangs Well 2, White Swan 6 Wonder 3, Hawthorns 8 Loyal Lodge 1.

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A 4-3 defeat away to Vine ‘B’ has seen Ivy Bush drop from third to seventh in the Hilltop Friendly Tuesday Night League and leaving them four points short of leaders Vine ‘A’ who had a rather close 4-3 win at Sow and Pigs who are only three places off the foot of the table. Nevertheless a win is a win and the win for Vine ‘A’ puts them two points ahead of second and third placed Allen’s Bar and Tamebridge, Allen’s Bar winning 6-1 at Albion and Tamebridge winning their home game with Horseley Tavern ‘A’ 4-3. After the top three there are four teams all on eight points Cottage Spring, who won 6-1 against King Arthur, Three Horseshoes who also had a 6-1 win at Horseley Tavern ‘B’, Horse and Jockey were 4-3 winners at Waggon and Horses and Ivy Bush.

Full Results:Game 6:- Sow and Pigs 3 Vine ‘A’ 4, Cottage Spring 6 King Arthur 1, Albion 1 Allen’s Bar 6, Horseley Tavern ‘B’ 1 Three Horseshoes 6, Vine ‘B’ 4 Ivy Bush 3, Waggon and Horses 3 Horse and Jockey 4, Tamebridge 4 Horseley Tavern ‘A’ 3.

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Week five in the Cradley Tuesday Night League and only two of the starting line-up of nine teams are able to boast a 100% win record and they are  leaders Quarry Bank Liberal Club ‘B’ and third placed local rivals Quarry Bank Liberal Club ‘A’ who have only played four games. Quarry Bank Liberal Club ‘B’ won their home tie with Plough 5-2 to keep them top of the table on fifteen points three to the good on second placed Plough and third in the league Quarry Bank Liberal Club ‘A’ who went one better with a 6-1 win at Brickmakers Arms. A 5-2 home win over Tenth Lock puts Quarry Bank Social Club ‘A’ in fourth place with nine points, six off the top and three short of the two teams above them.

Full Results: Game 5:- Brickmakers Arms 1 Quarry Bank Liberal Club ‘A’ 6, Liberal Club (Blackheath) 4 Quarry Bank Social Club ‘B’ 3, Quarry Bank Liberal Club ‘B’ 5 Plough 2, Quarry Bank Social Club ‘A’ 5 Tenth Lock 2, Bulls Head had a bye.

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As the Sedgley and Gornal Tuesday Night League moves into the second half of its season the three top teams are all on twenty points, Gornal Labour Club lead the field on average after their latest 8-1 home win over Jolly Crispin. Second placed Old Bulls Head were 6-3 winners over Red Cow while third in the league Netherton Sports and Social Club had a bye and should they win their game in hand they would go top of the table. After the top three teams there are three more teams all on eighteen points White Horse who handed their hosts Seven Stars a 9-0 whitewash, Baggeridge who lost 6-3 at home to sixth in the league Gornal British Legion.

Full Results:Week 14:- Britannia 6 The Cabin 3, Seven Stars 0 White Horse 9, Old Bulls Head 6 Red Cow 3, Gornal Labour Club 8 Jolly Crispin 1, New Inn 5 Meadow Lark 4, Baggeridge 3 Gornal British Legion 6, Netherton Sports and Social Club had a bye.

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Nick Fullwell began his night in the Amblecote RBL Premier League with a 7-0 win over Jayden Harper and followed that up with a 5-2 success against Joe Poole to keep him top of the table with 167 points from 31 games. Second placed Dan Nicholls opened up with a 6-1 win over Martyn Harper and then won 6-1 again against Michael Harding and made it three wins in a row by beating John Green 5-2 to put him on 158 points and although nine behind Fullwell he has three games in hand.

Full Results:Week 16:- Shane Sheridan 6 Matt Halliday 1, Joe Poole 5 Josh Wheeler 2, Nick Fullwell 7 Jayden Harper 0, Tom Bissell 5 Dave Simpson 2, Jamie Barrowman 6 Michael Harding 1, Matt Davies 4 Andy Vellender 3, Dan Nicholls 6 Martyn Harper 1, Chris Williams 5 Mitch Pickett 2, Carl Hipkiss 6 Jon Underhill 1, Dave Simpson 5 Josh Hodgkins 2, Rob Pierce 6 Shane Sheridan 1, Craig Lowin 4 Jake Shipley 3, Cayden Smith 4 Ian Townsend 3, Wozza Pritchard 5 Stephen Cartwright 2, Matt Davies 4 Mitch Pickett 3, Martyn Harper 5 Nick Wyer 2, Craig Lowin 6 Josh Wheeler 1, John Green 7 Wozza Pritchard 0, Howard Pritchard 5 Martyn Harper 2, Rob Pierce 5 Jack Pritchard 2, Dan Nicholls 6 Michael Harding 1, Andy Vellender 6 Ryan Green 1, Jamie Barrowman 4 Jake Shipley 3, Sam Page 4 Nick Wyer 3, Nick Fullwell 5 Joe Poole 2, Tom Bissell 6 Sam Page 1, Cayden Smith 6 Jayden Harper 1, Jack Pritchard 4 Matt Halliday 3, Ryan Green 4 Josh Hodgkins 3, Dan Nicholls 5 John Green 2, Howard Pritchard 4 Stephen Cartwright 3, Chris Williams 4 Ian Townsend 3, Carl Hipkiss 5 Jon Underhill 2, Tom Bissell 4 Rob Pierce 3, Jake Shipleu 6 Josh Hodgkins 1.

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Game thirteen in the Gilbert’s Bar Monday Night Singles League brought together the two top players in division one with leader Wayne Jones taking on second placed Ian Stanton. The result was a 6-2 win for Jones to see him open up a fourteen points lead over his nearest rival.

7-1 wins over Allan Davies and Jon Williams has seen Kurt Wright move up from fourth to top in division two with 83 points, nine more than second placed Alan Melling who has played one game more than Wright.   

In division three Dave Thackeray won 7-1 against Eddie Gripton and although he is only two points to the good on second in the division Thomas Hollowood he has a game in hand on Hollowood and two in hand on third placed Michele Pritchard who is six points behind him.

Full Results:Game 13:- Stewart Pryce 6 Steve Lynch 2, Andrew Jervis 3 Chris Evans 5, Jon Blakemore 4 Conor Whitehouse 4, Simon Pritchard 5 Jimmy Stackhouse 3, Ben Johnson 6 John Simms 2, Andy Mullinder 3 Clark Cook 5, Jason Hough 4 Clayton Edge 4, Jamie Webb 5 Darren Williams 3, Wayne Jones 6 Ian Stanton 2, Dean Simmons-Fullwood 4 Paul Price 4, Jon Blakemore 5 Steve Lynch 3, Jamie Webb 5 Simon Pritchard 3, Andy Mullinder 4 Ben Johnson 4, Game 12:- Neville Quinton 2 Alex Simmons 6, Keith Hollowood 4 Robert Harris 4, Gemma Barrett Jenkins 2 Kevin Bate 6, Michael Franks 6 Colin Wood 2, Kurt Wright 7 Allan Davies 1, Reece Cook Lucas 7 Richard Brown 1, Alex Simmons 5 Jon Williams 3, Kurt Wright 7 Jon Williams 1, Sarah Barrett 6 Robert Bradley 2, Dave Thackeray 7 Eddie Gripton 1, Joe Bartolo 5 Warren Bower 3, Gareth Walsh 3 Dave Akers 5, Anthony Bradley 0 Thomas Hollowood 8, Claire Hobbs 3 Michele Pritchard 5, Andy Poole 3 Alex Bryant 5, Lauren Kempson 7 Jacqui Simmons 1.

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I wrote last week about the sad passing of an old friend and Scottish International Steve Parkes. Details have now been announced of the funeral arrangements which will take place at the Sandwell Valley Crematorium, Newton Road, West Bromwich, B71 3SX on Friday 12^th April at 2.30pm with the family inviting everyone to Churchills Bar, 8 Walsall Street, Wednesbury, WS10 9BZ to celebrate Steve’s life afterwards.

The family have also announced that West Bromwich Albion shirts can be worn.

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