Sports - Gornal Excelsior FC, LOWER GORNAL, and early football club

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Gornal Wood Excelsior Football Club

1884: Dudley and District News, 15 November.

LOWER GORNAL EXCELSIOR v. BRIERLEY HILL AND DISTRICT. —This match was played on Saturday last, on the ground of the former, at Cooper's Bank, in the presence of a numerous company of spectators. The home team winning the toss, chose to play with the wind. The visitors, having a scratch team, thought they had matters in their own hands, but the Excelsior showed such a passing game that their opponents little thought of witnessing. As soon as the ball was started the visitors were bent on playing a very fast and pressing game. Several corners fell to the visitors, but the Excelsior goal keeper was well up to his work, and succeeded in putting them out. The back division of the home team played a grand game throughout. Eight minutes from the start the home team scored the first goal from a long and splendid shot by A. Norton, which was headed through by D. Jones (captain.) Just before half-time, from a bit of splendid passing by the forwards, another goal was scored. making two goals to nil at half-time. Immediately after half-time, with the wind in their favour, the chances of the visitors looked brighter, and on resuming they took possession of the leather, and made a sharp run up the field and secured a goal from a low shot. This, however did not daunt the home team, who played up well with each other till time end of the game. For immediately after the home team got a kick from the centre, and Clark, running the ball past the whole of the visitors, secured the third goal for the Excelsiors. The visitors then played a very defensive game, and although pressed hard, the home team obtained another goal. The third and fourth goals were made in rapid succession. Southall, Bennett, and Hood then made some good runs, but their efforts were fruitless, the home team ultimately winning by 4 goals to 1. The Excelsiors, are to be congratulated on their success, as this was a very strong team for such a young club, who have been fortunate enough not to lose a match this season.

1892: The Advertiser, Saturday, October 29.

GORNAL WOOD EXCELSIOR v. TIPTON VILLA.
Played on the Excelsior ground on Saturday last, before a large number of spectators. The visitors winning the toss decided to kick up hill, with a very strong wind in their favor. The Villa started the ball with a rush and Hale and Tomlinson put in some well-directed shots, but the visitors' goalkeeper was equal to all emergencies. Tomlinson put in a shot from mid-field, and this just went under the cross bar. The visitors went with a dash and had a corner kick. The ball was kicked bang into the mouth of goal, caught the goalkeeper's leg and scored for the visitors. Half-time arrived with the score standing at one goal each. On re-starting the visitors were penned in. Shot after shot went into the goal, but the visitors' custodian was too good. J. Hale sent a stinging shot and scored, the game ending in a win for the Excelsior by two goals to one.

This early local team 'Gornal Wood Excelsior' was formed in 1883 and their pitch was possibly near the Limerick Inn or Coopers Bank, Gornal Wood, very little is known about this side or its achievements.

In 1884, the annual meeting was held at the Five Ways Inn, Himley Road, where officers were elected, mainly local victuallers and business men.
At the meeting, it was stated that the previous season was very satisfactory and that Excelsior had won by a large majority of the matches played.
The committee was composed of many local men; John Marsh, Joseph Bowyer, James Flavell, Henry Fellows, W.H. Wise, Daniel Marsh and James Hale.

Excelsior team line-up; November 1884:-

Goal: B. Hale.
Backs: S. Evans, J. Marsh.
Half-backs: S. Flavell, G. Tennant, E. Marsh.
Forwards: T. Clarke, A. Norton, D. Jones (capt.)
J. Holden, T. Tonkiss.

In 1884, the team was described as a strong team for such a new club and enjoying some local success.

Noted as playing in the Brierley Hill Cup First Round in January 1900, and Brierley Hill & District League.
Again noted in 1906.

This old newspaper clipping from December, 1903, mentions a football ground being near to the Limerick Inn, Summit Place, it's likely that local teams would have used this before a pitch was established at Gateacre Street around 1910.

1909 Gornal Excelsior team played in Sedgley Friendly League.

Team:- Malpass; Tighe; Hartill; Baker; Pugh; Whitehouse' Allen; Woodhall; Rollason; Davies; Paton; Oakley; Westwood

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