Grassroot Glassboys

Stourbridge 0-1 Needham Market (Southern League Central Division)

Stourbridge FC are 150 years old this year. Formed in 1876 they are nicknamed the Glassboys due to the areas long link to the cut glass industry, and they play at the brilliantly named War Memorial Athletic Ground in Amblecote, a village in Dudley Borough which is one mile directly north of the town centre of Stourbridge near Birmingham.

I’ve never been here, until today, and I have never even seen Stourbridge play (at least live in the flesh), a Birmingham & District League team until the 1960’s they have played in the Southern League since 1971 but for a spell in the Midland Alliance (2000-2006) and Northern Premier League (2014-18). Since 2018 the Glassboys have been a Southern League Premier Central Division side, having a best finish of third in their first campaign, last year they finished ninth, but under more troubled times this time around, have only recently secured their status for a ninth successive season in the division.

It’s a club with good pedigree, the hometown to Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham who played for the Juniors as a boy, his dad Mark also playing for the club set a record of 61 goals in a season, I remember watching him score four goals in an FA inter systems cup match for the Midland League in 2003. A good player, his two boys aren’t so bad either.

In recent years Stourbidge have had a handful of great FA Cup runs, reaching the third round in 2017 having beaten Northampton Town along the way, before losing to Wycombe Wanderers in a tight game at the War Memorial Ground.

They had previously twice lost in the second round to Stevenage and the year before losing to Wycombe were beaten in round two at home to Eastleigh who in 2020 also knocked them out after a first round replay.

Needham Market is a place I have never been to either. I did watch them on the road last season when they played at Scunthorpe United in the National League North, their highest run on the ladder, they were however quickly relegated after one season at the level and returned to a league they won in 2023/24 with ambition to reach step two again, Tom Rothery’s Marketmen are currently hoping to consolidate their position in the playoffs after a decent run of form.

The Venue

It says anything between one hour and forty to two hours plus on my Sat Nav, I flew to Denmark quicker from Bristol than travelling from Nottingham to Birmingham (West) on a Wednesday night, traffic is terrible, and I’m well behind, as I take the congested A42, M6, M5 before navigating the urban streets of Dudley Borough.

It’s 7pm and I’m up and down Brierley Hill before finally arriving on Vicarage Road, pulling up on Church Avenue a good five minute walk to the ground, you can hear the tannoy music in the background as I cross over the High Street to the stunning gated entrance of a sporting complex that also hosts the towns cricket club.

You walk through a brick-built archway, into the car park, and at the turnstiles I’m asked to ‘pay for a ticket’ as the club has stopped taking cash on the gate. I think to myself ‘this is slightly annoying’ as I ask the lady behind the window for one adult, but in return I get a hard paper memento for my hard earned money, perhaps not such a bad idea after all? Could more clubs begin to follow suit?

Inside it opens up into a big old place, but takes me back to grassroots, indeed proper grassroots, not step 1,2,3 but 4,5,6 even lower. A football club that shares its facilities with a cricket club, the players out warming up on a crap grassy ground of fluffy muddy green, one whole side of the pitch fenced off to protect a wicket nurturing ahead of the summer, the other has a quite classy old stand with seating in the middle, far end a beautiful huge pitch roofed terrace, this end open, in front of the clubhouse and changing facilities which are brick built and flat roofed.

I love it, taking me back to lower league football in Wales or Scotland where things aren’t as looked after as they are in England’s more glamourous pyramid system, I remember being young and watching Northampton Town play on the TV at the old County Ground which they shared with Northants CCC, it must have been something like this, two sides football, the rest for cricket.

Apparently, it has hosted Worcestershire County matches here, in 1979 Bermuda and Papa New Guinea played here in the ICC Trophy, whilst Argentina and East Africa appeared here in 1986.

But as a football ground it feels like the sort to attract hoppers, locals largely back the team in numbers due to its proximity in urban Dudleyshire, but I bet it gets its extras from the hoppers who must love paying this place a visit.

After walking around the back of it, I sit down in the stand that sides the pitch, dugouts directly roofed in front, the stand is wonderful, high roof, propped by posts, it has plastic seats in the middle, benches at either end, but not real benches, just planks of wood, painted, bowed in the middle from the bums that have sat on them, propped up by pine, the planks have painted numbers on their tops, it is spacious here as I’m joined by a fellow scout, and one that was with me last night at Alfreton.

The Game

It’s 7:47pm and we’ve just had a moments applause for a Stourbidge fan who sadly passed away last week, the Referee in no rush to get things away on time as the lights lowly glisten against an otherwise bright back drop, the cricket pavilion in the distance looks higher on its hill as players huddle together in front, to the back drop of tall trees, Needham Market in all navy, almost replicating what the officials are wearing, the hosts in red and white stripes, as their player-coach Richard Batchelor who’s sub today, parks himself in the technical area whilst saying hello to one or two regulars in the crowd behind.

It’s a good busy stand this, but the rest of the ground is empty, hardly anyone behind either goal, covered to my left, uncovered on my right, as Needham Market stroke the ball on a tricky surface, pretty darn well.

It’s not a great game, which has the tempo and feel of an end of season midweek encounter with not much riding on it, but there is something on it for Needham who need a win, to ensure they keep their playoff push alive. They have actually won their last three, and you can see why, organised defensively, they have some creative spark in midfield with fine footballing mentality, everything they do is that bit calmer and cooler than Stourbridge, who are direct, up for it, physical and with some feisty quality themselves.

There are scares at each end as forwards try and beat the bobble of the uneven churning ground, but on 34 the away side win a corner, swung out to Kieran Morphew who has freedom to pick his spot, the centre half and skipper has been one of the better players, he dives in to give the visitors the lead.

Stourbridge hit back, Charlie Pavey who’s a youngster on loan from Aston Villa drills a shot which is palmed inches wide, a few corners and free kicks into the box provide little joy, and at the break the Marketers have what you feel is probably a deserved lead.

The Score

By the second half it’s much darker as the soft lighting barely glows the pitch enough to ensure you make out the players on the far side, the Pavilion in the background at least has a couple of windows offering light to perhaps help out.

It’s a second half which Stourbridge have more of the ball, suddenly Jai Verma has switched to an orthodox right winger and the little man is getting some joy in running at his opposing marker, but everything thrown at the away side centrally, Needham Market deal with, Dan Morphew and his twin brother Keiran are having good games in the heart of the back four.

There’s a couple of tackles that fly in to the reward of yellow cards, it’s not been nasty though, but as time is running out and Needham keep the ball in the corner to slow down the clock, Stourbridge left back Brad Bood has bad blood and dives in recklessly to prove his point. That sparks pushing and shoving and leads to an instant red for the defender, any hopes of a late comeback quashed by his head loss, Needham Market survive without really having any scare, a much needed win to take them to fourth with a three point cushion on those outside the top five.

The Stars

With last seasons experience from the league above you can see the difference in team mentality and it felt like Needham Market just had a little too much for their opponents on the night. The Morphew brothers solid in defence, in particular Keiran who’s an assured defender who reads the game well, very good aerially in both boxes as he shown for the winning goal.

I liked their right back Jake Dye who got forward well, in midfield Kyle Hammond and Ben Hunter got around in niggling fashion, Myles Cowling is a player I know and like, not a great night for him, but he’s a lovely footballer who can unlock a pass.

I was also impressed with Max Appauh who came off the bench late on, plenty of running he is direct and raw and a good player either out wide or directly in central attack when opposing legs are tiring.

For Stourbridge, plenty of guts and determination, if a little low on quality when the final ball needed some high standards. Tom Solanke in midfield is a player I like, one that perhaps can play at the level above, a physical holding midfielder that did well at Ilkeston Town previously, not so well at Boston United when I watched him play for them, he did well tonight before going off on 65 minutes to release more attacking intent.

Charlie Pavey had moments on the left, perhaps still needs time to develop stronger, Nathan Hawyward in midfield wearing eight was combative, whilst Jai Verma was the tidy right sided ball player who teased his way into opposition territory. I really liked the look of him.

The Verdict

A must see venue visited and ticked off, Stourbridge is a lovely ground that smells of those past historical sporting arenas that flash you back to times which were simpler way back long ago, it’s a lovely place to watch football, struggles a bit with atmosphere due to its largely one sided vantage but makes up for it in nostalgic renaissance and tranquil cricketing back drop.

As for the football, well it wasn’t the best that step three has to offer. Needham Market are a good side, savvy, perhaps with enough knowhow to be a shock contender to go up with already champions Harborough Town, whilst Stourbridge in sixteenth, can play their final two matches of the campaign, knowing safety, is already safely achieved.

The Teams

Stourbridge: Charlie Price, Jack Fletcher, Brad Bood, Tom Solanke (Richard Bathelor 65), Hayden Reeves, Jai Verma, Nathan Hayward (Oliver Shaw 87), Dom Lewis, Charlie Pavey, Ash Carter, Callum Knowles (Toumani Sidibe 46).

Needham Market: James Bradbrook, Jake Dye, Tommy Smith, Kyle Hammond, Keiran Morphew, Dan Morphew, Ollie Sanders (Reggie Lambe 60), Seth Carroll-Chambers (Max Appauh 60), Joe Neal (Eddie Barker 79), Myles Cowling, Ben Hunter.

7:45pm Kick Off. Wednesday 15th April 2026, War Memorial Athletic Ground, Stourbridge (att 375).