Tividale Football Club, nicknamed “The Dale,” is a non-league football club based in Tividale, West Midlands.
Established in 1954, they currently compete in the Midland League Premier Division, which is part of the ninth tier of English football. The team calls The Beeches their home ground.
Established as the senior branch of Tividale Hall Youth Club F.C., competing in the Handsworth and District League from 1953 to 1968, the club joined the Warwickshire & West Midlands Alliance in 1960, experiencing four successful seasons before moving to the newly formed West Midlands (Regional) League, Division One in 1966. By 1973, Tividale had achieved a league and cup double, securing promotion to the Premier Division. The following year, they moved to their current ground at Packwood Road, known as “The Beeches.” The mid-1970s were marked by notable successes, including a strong F.A. Cup run in the 1975-76 season and winning the Premier Division League Cup and Wednesbury Charity Cup in 1977. Despite a promising start, the club’s performance declined in the 1980s, though they did reach the 3rd qualifying round of the F.A. Cup in 1981-82 and finished 6th in the Premier Division in 1985.
The 1990s saw significant changes with managerial shifts and a period of rebuilding. Terry Jones returned in 1991 to guide the team to third place in Division One by 1992, and the club gained promotion to the Premier Division the following year. The early 2000s under Ross Hill were particularly successful, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the West Midland (Regional) League Premier Division in 2001-02 and a Walsall Senior Cup win in 2003. In 2007, Dean Whitehouse took over managerial duties, leading Tividale to win the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division and League Cup double in the 2010-11 season, thus earning promotion to the Midland Football Alliance. Their momentum continued with consistent top-eight finishes and a remarkable run in the FA Vase in 2011-12, reaching the fifth round.
Under various managerial changes and strategic shifts, Tividale experienced both promotions and relegations over the following years. The 2013-14 season under Ian Long was exceptional, with Tividale winning the final Midland Football Alliance title and achieving promotion to the Northern League. Despite initial success, the club faced relegation in 2015-16 due to squad changes. Dave King’s tenure from 2016 onwards focused on nurturing young talent, eventually leading to a league win in the 2018-19 season and a return to the Midland Football League Premier Division. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the 2019-20 season, but normalcy resumed in 2021-22 with a respectable 11th-place finish. The 2022-23 season saw significant staff changes, culminating in Dave King’s departure and Stuart How’s appointment as manager for the 2023-24 season, aiming to build on the club’s rich history and recent progress.