Hednesford Town Football Club, nicknamed “The Pitmen,” is a non-league football club based in Hednesford, Staffordshire.
Established in 1880, they currently compete in the Pitching In Northern Premier League Division One West, which is part of the eighth tier of English football. The team calls Keys Park their home ground.
The club originated from the merger of two teams and played at ‘The Tins’ in Hednesford, joining the Birmingham & District League in 1889. They moved to the Cross Keys ground in 1904, which underwent significant upgrades including a new stand and floodlights. The team won the Birmingham Combination in 1909–10 and experienced various league transitions, with notable successes and challenges. In the 1990s, under manager John Baldwin, they achieved promotion to the Beazer Homes League Premier Division and won the league title in 1994–95, coinciding with their move to Keys Park.
At Keys Park, the Pitmen had a strong presence in non-league football’s top flight, highlighted by a third-place finish in their first Conference season and memorable FA Cup runs in the late 1990s. The early 2000s were marked by relegation, managerial changes, and a significant FA Trophy victory in 2004. Despite managerial instability, they achieved promotion to the Conference in 2012-13 and maintained competitive league performances.
Recently, the club faced managerial turmoil and financial difficulties, leading to a near-dissolution. A last-minute rescue in 2023 by former Vice-Chairman Hayden Dando saved the club, with former player Danny Glover appointed as player-manager. This period underscored the club’s resilience and ongoing efforts to preserve their legacy in non-league football.
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