Last Sunday (05/07/09) Hednesford Town Football Club played host their first Kabbadi Tournament. Around a thousand Siekh spectators arrived at Keys Park to watch their national sport of Kabbadi.

The sport of Kabbadi has a handful of rules. It involves Two teams occupying opposite halves of a field taking turns to send a "raider" into the other half, in order to win points by tagging a member of the opposing team; the raider then tries to return to his own half; the tagged opposition team member tries to prevent his return by wrestling him to the ground for the remainder of the 30 second bout.

The tournement consisting of clubs from all around the country converged on Hednesford for this midland leg of the competition. In the final a vociferous and appreciative crowd watched as Erith and Woolwich beat local team Wolverhampton 24 points to 12 to take the winners trophy.

The organisers of the tournement were more than delighted with the amenities, and the welcome which they recieved at the home of the Pitmen. Hednesford Town Chairman Steve Price said “We are delighted to have been associated with this event, and look forward to next years competition which we hope will be again hosted at Keys Park”.

William (Bill) Pearson, aged 91, was visited at Abbey Court Nursing Home, where he has been living for the past few weeks, by members of Hednesford Town FC.

Bill played professionally for the club from 1933 to 1934 before being called up to join the Royal Marines who he also played football for.

Manager Dean Edwards, team captain Ross Draper and players Ross Dyer and Elliot Durrell presented Bill with a memorial, centenary cup and book whilst Bill regaled them with stories of past players and games and of walking in the snow from his home in Bridgtown to the Cross Keys ground in Hednesford to play for gates of 8,000 plus!Bill spends his days at Abbey Court talking fondly of his football memories.

The nursing home in Heath Way, Heath Hayes, will be holding its annual Summer Fete on Sunday August 2nd in order to raise funds for resident’s outings.Photo and story by Pete Hanysz

These were our ball boys for the 1st round tie against Nantwich, and we think you will agree that they did a first class job.

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