Date: Saturday Aug 20 2011
Ground: Garden Walk
Comp: FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Match: Gornal Athletic 2 Shifnal Town 2 HT: 0-1
ATT: 60 Head Count
Additional: Entrance £4.00, Programme £1.00
Garden Walk in pictures
Ground Statistics (marks out of ten, maximum 40)
Character 8, Structures/Terracing 7, Hospitality 7, Backdrop/Scenery or aesthetics for larger stadiums 6
Total 28
Gornal Athletic are a small, unassuming club that have been around since 1919, taking over from an earlier incarnation called Gornal Wood Excelsior. They have always played in Lower Gornal, between Sedgley and Dudley, in North West Birmingham, and indeed were know as Lower Gornal Athletic until 1972. They have played in the West Midland Regional League since 1962, a league that spans steps six to eight. They are currently in the Premier step six division, along with today’s opponents Shifnal Town, from near Telford.
Gornal’s Garden Walk ground had an unusually large terrace for a club of their size – it is what attracted me to the ground. The 20 step terrace really stands out as a feature (surely the biggest in its ground class), reminding me a bit of the East Terrace at the Goldstone Ground. And like the old East Terrace you come in at the top.
The view is superb from the top of the steeply elevated narrow steps. In the middle is nestled snugly congeries of seats. It has a Heath Robinson air to it – any discerning hoppers who like their grounds to have a specific point of interest should stick Gornal on their list. Over the other side is a small covered stand. The ends are both flat standing.
As you come in at there is a small brick clubhouse sitting at the top of the terrace, , a sandwich board had today’s event and fixture scratched out in chalk. Getting there was a doddle, as I’ve found all Birmingham grounds to be. Despite living slightly closer to Manchester, I find the Birmingham grounds simpler and faster to get to. The much maligned M6 in the west midlands, I’ve generally found to be quick, even at rush hour times.
The game was a typically high octane FA Cup tie with plenty of incident. Gornal, nicknamed the Peacocks, had the better of the early exchanges and took the lead, but Shifnal, totally against the run of play, equalised with a great strike from 20 yards, hooking it over the Gornal keeper. Shifnal took an unexpected lead in the second half; from that point on it was all about Gornal trying to snatch a much deserved equaliser.
It wasn’t until well into injury time that an inswung free kick from the left managed to evade everybody and was bundled in beyond a static keeper. Fitting ending to a great game and Gornal went on to win the replay 3-0.
The Groundhog 
Truly magnificent terrace. I can see the attraction!
Hi Paul,
Yes, it’s unusually large for a diddy club. I noticed that you were at Leek Town recently. You should’ve called me – I was there too, and I was having the same reservations as you about extra time and it’s only a 15 minute drive home for me! Some nice pics of Harrison Park.
Excellent website.I was at the match and also at the replay.The match was good but the replay was even better with Gornal Athletic winning 4-3 after extra time.I look forward to reading your views on other grounds.Thank you.
Peter,
Thanks for your comment – it’s very welcome. Gornal was a really interesting ground.
I once refereed a Walsall Senior Cup tie here (I think v Wolves Casuals). I was a late appointment on the day, but nobody had bothered to inform the assistants of the agreed date and thus neither turned up. A swift ring around local officials got one assistant but the other spot had to be filled by a non-selected player. This hapless individual had no idea what he was doing and frequently ran the entire length of the pitch so that both assistants were in the same half and none in the other! Fortunately the game was very one-sided (circa 6-0 to Gornal) so everyone saw the funny side. A lovely old ground that generates a decent atmosphere for bigger games, Boxing day etc.