It was standing room only on Saturday 9 November when Wall Heath author, Terry Church, launched his latest book Lost Cricket and Football Clubs and Grounds in the south of the Black Country.

The event took place in the pavilion of Stourbridge Cricket Club. and almost one hundred people crowded ino the functions room at the club. As one of those present remarked at the end of the launch “What a lovely morning and how nice to see so many sporting faces of yesteryear. It was a real pleasure to be there”.

Lost Cricket and Football Clubs and Grounds Book Launch

Terry has previously published four books with the subject being his home village of Wall Heath. However being aware of the loss of so many sporting facilities Terry decided to investigate the extent of the desecration of our sporting heritage. His research uncovered over ninety clubs or grounds that have disappeared from the scene. Terry concentrated on the area that includes Amblecote, Blackheath, Brierley Hill, Cradley, Cradley Heath, Dudley, Himley, Kingswinford, Kinver, Lower Gornal, Halesowen, Lye Netherton, Oldbury, Old Hill, Oldswinford, Quarry Bank, Stourbridge, Swindon, Tipton, Wall Heath, Wollaston, Wollescote and Wordsley.

Contacting people that he knew had been involved with clubs in those towns/villages Terry was delighted and humbled that so many individuals gave freely of their time and in many cases loaned documents and photographs to enable him to produce a comprehensive record.

Terry Church at the launch of his book Lost Cricket and Football Grounds

The book is A5 in size consisting of one hundred and sixteen pages including thirty two pages of photographs of various teams and grounds. The book, price £6.95, is available from Ashwood Nurseries, Kingswinford.

You can also buy the book online on this site on the Lost Cricket and Football Grounds Book page.


Members of the audience at the launch of Terry Church's latest book Lost Circket and Football Grounds

Terry Church at his latest book launch