Match Preview: Gornal Athletic (A), Saturday 21/09, 3pm
Next up:
Date: Saturday 21st September 2024
Time: 3pm
Opponent: Gornal Athletic FC
Venue: Garden Walk, Gornalwood, Dudley, Worcestershire, DY3 2NR
Admission Prices: Adult £7, Concession £5, under 12 £1 with an adult
Matches against Gornal Athletic are like buses, you wait 25 years for one and then two in two weeks come along! The first of those come on Saturday at the quirky Garden Walk ground. The ground is known for its large paved stepped terrace on one side. Gornal were due to move to a new stadium at the beginning of the season but have been delayed, giving Nuneaton Town fans the chance to tick this one off.
'The Peacocks' as Gornal are known formed in 1945 as Lower Gornal Athletic joining the Worcestershire combination and transferred to the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1963.
The 'Lower' was dropped in 1972. They have spent most of their history in the West Midlands (Regional) League apart from a few forays into the Midland Combination. Gornal were runners up in the West Midlands (Regional) League in 2023-24 and earned promotion to the Midland Football League Division 1 for this season.
Unlike many teams Nuneaton Town play this season, Nuneaton Borough and Gornal Athletic have met before, the last meeting being on Tuesday 30th January 2001 when they visited Manor Park for a Birmingham Senior Cup tie, the Boro winning 6-1 courtesy of goals from Peake(2), Sykes, Charles, King and B. Williams. Boro's last visit to Garden Walk was Monday 20th October 1975 in an FA Cup replay, which Boro won 3-0 with goals from Fleet, Briscoe and Matthams.
Gornal go into the game 10th in the table with 7 wins, 1 draw and 6 defeats, while Nuneaton Town sit 5th with 8 wins, 3 draws and 1 defeat, and on a run of 3 straight wins and clean sheets.
Directions from Nuneaton town centre:
Take the A444 to the M6, and head northbound towards Birmingham. Take the M5 south at junction 8, then leave the M5 at junction 2 and take the 4th exit at the 2nd roundabout to the A4123 (Wolverhampton Road). After 2.3 miles take the left at the crossroads onto A461 (Birmingham Road), go straight on at the next roundabout onto the A459 passing Dudley Zoo/Castle, at the next roundabout continue onto the A459, then take the next left onto The Parade. Next roundabout go straight onto B4176 Himley Road. Cross the next roundabout and then after half a mile turn right onto Central Drive. Take the first left onto Bank Road, turn right onto Garden Walk, and right again to stay on it, the ground will be ahead of you.
(40 miles, approx 1 hour)
Public transport:
It is recommended to take the train to Birmingham New Street then another to Wolverhampton. The 27 or 27A bus goes from Wolverhampton Bus Station to Bank Road, which is a short walk from the ground. Latest train to get you there in time leaves Nuneaton at 13:09. Two trains an hour leave at 09 and 43 past each hour, on the way back from Wolverhampton 15 and 45 past each hour. Bus takes approx. 45 mins.
(Adult train fare £21.10)
