I stopped keeping this site up-to-date many years ago, so if you've ended up here I'm afraid there's nothing much of interest to see any more.
Other Halesowen Town websites:
21st Century Stuff
I made a Yeltzland app for iPhone/iPad and Android, which lets you read all about the Yeltz in one place.
You can also add the Yeltz fixture list into your calendar - instructions can be found here.
News Stories 1997-2006 ...
- Index of stories (to help you find stuff quicker)
Follow Your Instinct
Even older than the original Yeltzland website, we wrote a HTFC fanzine between 1991 and 1994.
I've started scanning in the originals, and you can download the PDFs from the FYI home page.
Review of the 1995-96 season
Re-live one of the greatest seasons of the mighty Yeltz's long history in DJ's comprehensive review
Why are we called The Yeltz?
No one knows for sure, but here's an summary from the excellent Yeltzmen book that's the best explanation we have!
NOT LONG NOW
Just a few days to go to the first friendly against Hereford. It's a bit sad but I'm very excited about it.
A few more bits and pieces of news you might have missed if you don't subscribe to the Yeltz Mailing List . We've signed two more players: Neil Manton , a defender from Redditch and Craig Mansell , a midfielder from Weymouth. Also, it appears Ian Aldridge has decided to play for Oldbury this season - a surprising one that.
There's been an early change to the fixture list - the game on Bank Holiday Monday against Newport has been switched to The Grove (7,45pm kickoff) - they've got some stupid athletics meeting or something.
SALISBURY TO START
The fixtures are out - the full list is on the usual fixtures page - thank you Mr. Yates.
We start away to Salisbury on August 19th , and that all important last away game will involve a lovely trip down to Sarf London for the game against Fisher Athletic .
The latest transfer news/rumours are that Paul Birch won't be playing next season (coaching at Villa Academy); Neil Smith hasn't re-signed as yet (if at all); Sam Bowen , the Worcester forward, is out of contract and has been talking to Mr. Chambers.
Just a week and a bit to go now until the first friendly against Hereford on the 25th. Hurrah!
MORE SNIPPETS
The new season's getting closer and there have been a couple of draws for the FA competitions. In the FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round we're at home to Burton on Sept. 30, and in the Trophy we're at home to Bilston on Nov. 4 with the winners away to Ashton United or Solihull Borough on Dec 2. Not too bad all in all. Full details on both draws can be found at http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~paulc/ .
More transfer news - Andy Quy , a keeper with experience at Derby County has been signed from Hereford. He's only 24, and has had a few injury problems, but he seems like a promising replacement for Danny.
Also, the ever reliable Halesowen News says we're giving a trial to 20-year-old defender John Newell from QPR. Pre-season training starts this week (Thursday 6th) so we might have a better idea exactly who's going to be around next year.
There's a rash of new Yeltz web sites springing up at the moment. If you haven't already been there, why don't you check them out:
INS AND OUTS
Quite a lot of movement on the transfer front in the last few weeks. I'll try and summarise what I know at the moment below:
Also, Paul Birch, Forrest Gump and Ash Brown haven't (yet?) signed new contracts. More news whenever.
There's a rash of new Yeltz web sites springing up at the moment. If you haven't already been there, why don't you check them out:
DANNY GOES TO WORCESTER
Not a good start to the summer's transfer dealings. Danny has signed for Worcester for a large signing on fee so we'll be playing against him last year. It's disappointing that he's gone there, but what can you do if clubs are going to offer loadsamoney? According to the Halesowen News we've signed Scott Turbutt permanently as a replacement.
First news of friendlies (thanks Chas!): at home to Hednesford on July 29th, and away to Weston on August 5th. As soon as I hear any more (so if you know anything please mail me ) I'll post it here.
IT WAS SUNNY
Margate 3 Yeltz 1
It was a beautiful day by the seaside, we were all dressed up in silly costumes but unfortunately a football match broke out. Luckily nobody seemed too bothered and we went down 3-1 on the slopiest pitch since we flattened The Grove many years ago.
We were missing quite a few players, went behind but then equalised through Cartwright in about the 10th minute of injury time whilst most people had already gone to the bar. They were a pretty decent team, and whilst we never really looked like adding to our score they always looked threatening and deserved their victory.
So we ended up smack in the middle of the table in 11th place with a nicely symmetrical 14 wins, 14 draws and 14 losses. Hurrah!
Obviously the site won't be updated as regularly through the summer, but I'll try and bring you any news that I know whenever I can. Enjoy Euro 2000, and let's hope for a successful season next year.
Match Report from DJ
Margate: Turner, Saunders, O'Brien, Martin, O'Connell, Dixon, Munday, Edwards, Greatorex (Takalogabashi 64), Collins (Lamb 78), Williams. Subs: Lamb, Takalogabashi, Blackford.
Halesowen Town: Turbutt, Brown, Owen, Lloyd, Collins, Wright (Gennard 66), Crisp, Aldridge (Payne 66), Thomas, Cartwright, Cooper. Subs: Gennard, Payne, Gardiner
Booked: Collins Referee: N. Perkin (Gravesend) Attendance: 602
Halesowen ended their tenth season of Premier football with a disappointing defeat at the hands of third placed Margate despite their fans partying in traditional end of season fancy dress.
Halesowen soon came under pressure when stand-in goalkeeper Scott Turbutt failed to hold Eliot Martin's 7th minute corner but his defence scrambled clear Tony Dixon's header. Clinton Thomas then headed against his own crossbar from another left wing corner kick as he attempted to clear. Margate finally made the breakthrough five minutes before the interval when Mark Greatorex pounced on indecision by Wayne Lloyd to slot past Turbutt.
In a rare break up the slope, Neil Cartwright equalised for Halesowen on the stroke of half time with a low 12 yard drive which eluded Lee Turner in the Gate goal.
Margate quickly regained the lead in the 48th minute when Turbutt spilt another left wing cross allowing Iain O'Connell to fire home the loose ball from 15 yards. Lee Williams then saw his headed goal disallowed for offside but with Margate well on top the third goal arrived after 65 minutes with Phil Collins heading home a right wing corner from Jay Saunders.
Manager John Chambers sent on Stuart Payne and Scott Gennard to bolster Halesowen's attack in the 66th minute, but Margate were able to coast to victory against the understrength Yeltz.
WHATEVER
Yeltz 3 Rothwell 3
It was disappointing not to beat the team bottom of the league, but it was an entertaining affair that didn't matter one little bit.
They took the lead early on, but we soon equalised with Neil Cartwright 's first goal for the Yeltz. In the second half we went behind again from what looked a pretty dubious penalty, but then equalised through a 25 yard rocket into the top corner from Neil Smith , and then straight after took the lead through not-so-young(!) Ian Aldridge . They then went and spoilt it by scoring a cracking equaliser right at the end.
The main news of the week is John Chambers has been offered a two year contract , which he has accepted. After a rocky patch in mid-season, things have definitely taken an upturn in the last few games. Let's now all get right behind the manager and the team, and let's hope we can be back among the title chasers next season.
Next week is the traditional last-away-game-fancy-dress-party at Margate. The Jolly Boys and Girls are going as nuns and monks, but I'm sure the rest of you have got equally daft ideas. I'll also be presenting the Fantasy Island prize at some point if I don't manage to lose it somewhere like last year :-(
Match Report from Adam Clarke
We played poorly at the start of the game. We were disappointed when they scored but were pleased when the team started to play better. The second and third goals we scored were brilliant and we deserved the goals and we were unlucky for them to equalize in the last minute.
Let's hope we get better in the new season and it is good news that the season ticket prices have not gone up for children. Thanks to everyone at Halesowen Town for the free match at the weekend!
SAFE IN STYLE
Yeltz 4 Gloucester 2 and Burton 2 Yeltz 4
The mighty Yeltz finally ensured safety over the Bank Holiday weekend with two brilliant 4-2 victories .
Saturday brought struggling Gloucester to The Grove desperately needing 3 points to have any chance of staying out of the relegation spots. However a powerful attacking performance from Halesowen meant they were never likely to achieve their aim, and goals from Reed, Clinton, an own goal and a wonder goal from Forrest Gump confirmed we were definitely going to be in the Premier Division next season.
Monday then brought what's probably our best result of the season with a fantastic 4-2 win away to second-placed Burton . Two more from big Clinton , another from Birchy and a late one from young Aldridge clinched another excellent result.
Two more games left now. Saturday brings relegated Rothwell to The Grove for our last home game of the season. Good news for all you youngsters out there is that's it's free to get in for under 16's . Bring all your mates down and show them how brilliant we are now :-)
Match Report from DJ
Burton Albion: Goodwin, Davies (Starbuck 59), Henshaw, Lyons (Garner 72), Blount, Glasser, Stride, Anderson, Moore, Clough, Holmes. Subs: Garner, Starbuck (Forsyth 60), Forsyth.
Halesowen Town: McDonnell, Brown, Owen, Lloyd, Smith, Gardiner, Birch, Aldridge, Thomas, Cartwright, Reed. Subs: Cooper, Gennard, Collins.
Booked: Cartwright, Lloyd, Brown Referee: S. Bratt (Walsall) Attendance: 957
Happy Halesowen bagged their eighth Easter goal to extend their remarkable end-of-season flourish with a comprehensive victory at second placed Burton.
The Yeltz signalled their intentions after 11 minutes when experienced play-maker Paul Birch netted from a tight angle after Nick Goodwin parried Ian Reed's volley, but the goal was disallowed for offside. Burton gradually came into the game and the alert Danny McDonnell made two fine blocking saves from Christian Moore before Halesowen took charge to build a three goal lead.
In the 30th minute, Birch played a lovely ball for Ian Aldridge to lob the Burton keeper, but the defensive clearance fell for Clinton Thomas to cleverly rifle home from 10 yards. Thomas and Reed then went close as the visitors turned up the pressure with Aldridge causing confusion for the Burton defence. Halesowen extended their lead three minutes before the break with a wicked 20 yard Birch volley following Reed's corner.
The Yeltz should have gone further ahead in the 58th minute when Reed's free kick struck the arm of Darren Stride and the referee awarded a penalty, but Reed's tame spot-kick was easily saved by Goodwin. With Burton struggling to make any impression, it was no surprise when Thomas powered in his second goal in the 73rd minute from another precise midfield pass from Birch.
Halesowen almost unwound their good work when a hesitant defence watched a David Holmes left wing cross sail directly into the net in the 77th. minute and just two minutes later player manager Nigel Clough drilled home from the edge of the area, watched from the stands by famous father Brian.
Agile Aldridge made the points safe for Halesowen in the 88th minute when he nipped in between the defence and goalkeeper Goodwin to net with a neat chip.
END OF THE RUN
King's Lynn 1 Yeltz 0
After 5 unbeaten games that's taken us to the brink of safety, the rejuvenated Yeltz lost 1-0 away at King's Lynn. Despite having a good majority of the play, without wonderchild Ian Aldridge we struggled to convert our possession into goals and went down to a King's Lynn winner just after half-time.
In other games, losses for Rothwell and Atherstone (6-0 at Grantham) means those two will now definitely finish in the relegation zone - I hesitate to say are relegated after what's happened over the last few seasons. At the top, Boston still need a couple of points to finally clinch a well deserved title.
Just four games left now, starting with the visit of in-trouble Gloucester to The Grove on Saturday. A win for us would definitely make us safe and would just about send them down so it should be an "interesting" affair.
ONLY A DRAW
Cambridge City 1 Yeltz 1
After an amazing run of four wins, to be honest it's disappointing we only drew with Cambridge City. I guess that shows how much we've improved over the last few weeks. We're now up to 10th place in the league and almost mathematically safe from relegation.
For more information, you can always read the excellent match reports .
Match Report from DJ
Cambridge City: Davies, Wenlock, Coburn, Holden, Randall, Pincher, Reeder (Wilde 63), Tovey, Taylor (Cleaver 80), Cambridge, Salmons. Subs: Gawthrop, Wilde, Cleaver.
Halesowen Town: McDonnell, Brown, Owen (Cooper 45), Lloyd, Smith, Gardiner, Birch, Aldridge, Thomas, Cartwright, Reed. Subs: Gennard, Collins, Cooper
Referee: D. Whitestone (Northants.) Attendance: 328
Revitalised Halesowen enjoyed long spells of possession in the first half but lacked the killer touch in front of goal to secure victory and were ultimately forced to settle for a point.
For the home side, Ian Cambridge beat Wayne Lloyd to the ball in the 21st minute, but Danny McDonnell was on hand to turn his effort away for a corner before Adam Salmons aimed a fierce diving header wide of the mark following an excellent cross from Neil Coburn three minutes later.
In a flowing move with cross field interchanges between Jason Owen and Paul Birch, Halesowen's Ian Aldridge successfully lobbed goalkeeper Martin Davies in the 24th. minute but his effort struck the top of the crossbar. Three minutes later Aldridge's first time volley fell just wide after Davies had punched clear under pressure from Clinton Thomas.
The visitors took the lead in the 38th minute after persistence from Ashley Brown allowed him to deliver an excellent right wing cross which was headed home by Thomas. With the home side pinned back in their own half, Steve Holden cleared Ian Reed's drive off the line and Davies tipped Wayne Lloyd's close range header over the bar before the half-time interval.
Cambridge levelled in the 55th. minute when Player Manager Chris Tovey headed home a high cross in a crowded goalmouth. Halesowen's Neil Cartwright was then unlucky to see his 72nd. minute drive rebound into safety off the crossbar after his surging run from midfield and Matt Gardiner's drive into the net was ruled offside.
The home side almost stole the points two minutes from time when substitute Chris Cleaver beat the offside trap and place the ball beyond McDonnell in the Halesowen goal, but Adrian Cooper raced back to scoop the ball over the bar.