Black Country news and blogs Friday 20 July 2018
Bescot Banter
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Saddlers
Dean Keates Pleased as Walsall’s Trialists Impress During Ajax Triumph 
Bescot Banter 20 Jul 18
Whilst still refusing to name names Keates did offer praise for his latest batch of trialists, admitting that they’re doing the right things if they wish to earn a deal, although he is still keeping his options open, even with the Transfer …
Saddlers
Audio: Liam Roberts – Ajax Win a ‘Massive Confidence Boost’ For the Saddlers
Bescot Banter 20 Jul 18
Walsall-born Roberts, who was initially due to start the match but was replaced by Chris Dunn shortly before kick-off, admitted that the victory, which is their first of the pre-season schedule, has provided the squad with a massive confidence…
Saddlers
Keates Pleased as Walsall Learn Their Lesson to Secure Famous Victory
Bescot Banter 20 Jul 18
Keates, who had seen his side lost matches against Rushall Olympic, Stoke City and Aston Villa, admitted that he was disappointed to lose the recent matches but wouldn’t allow his players to take it to heart as the current run of games are …
Saddlers
Former Slovan Liberec Defender Among Walsall’s Trialists?
Bescot Banter 20 Jul 18
23-year-old Egert began his career as an apprentice with Bohemians 1905 and Slovan Liberec before turning professional with the later in 2014.
Saddlers
Former Millwall Defender on Trial With the Saddlers?
Bescot Banter 20 Jul 18
21-year-old Mbulu, who joined the Lions from Brentwood Town in 2015, spent the latter half of last season on loan with Vanarama National League side Braintree Town, making just three first-team appearances.
Saddlers
Match Report: Walsall 2 Ajax 0
Bescot Banter 19 Jul 18
Dean Keates’ side were yet to secure a victory during their pre-season campaign having suffered defeats to Rushall Olympic, Stoke City and Aston Villa and were unlikely to find their task any easier as they welcomed Dutch giants Ajax to Banks…
Saddlers
Watch Live: Walsall v Ajax
Bescot Banter 19 Jul 18
The Saddlers arrive at this evening’s match on the back of Tuesday’s defeat to near-rivals Aston Villa, which saw Conor Hourihane grab a hat-trick as Steve Bruce’s side won by four-goals-to-one at Banks’s Stadium.
Saddlers
Walsall Legend Joins Sunderland’s Coaching Team
Bescot Banter 19 Jul 18
North-East based paper the ‘Chronicle Live’ are reporting that Wacka, who made well over five-hundred appearances in a Saddlers shirt, has become the latest to join the Black Cats as manager Jack Ross continues to reshape his backroom team…
Saddlers
George Dobson: Walsall Are Ready For the New Season
Bescot Banter 19 Jul 18
The 20-year-old, former West Ham United prospect who returned to the Saddlers following a brief spell with Sparta Rotterdam, says there is plenty of belief among the players going into the new season, and is hopeful that the club will be challenging…
Saddlers
Keates Confirms Kory Roberts Has Undergone Operation on Broken Leg
Bescot Banter 19 Jul 18
20-year-old, Birmingham-born Roberts, who looked set to play a major role in Walsall FC’s 2018/19 campaign, suffered the injury during the second-half of the defeat to the Potters after he fell awkwardly following a challenge with Stoke defender…
Saddlers
Chris Marsh Organises Charity Match in Aid of Isabella Lyttle
Bescot Banter 19 Jul 18
The match, which will see a Midlands XI take on an ERF Electrical Wholesalers and Shelfield Vets XI, will feature many former Saddlers including Craig Pead, Darren Wrack and maybe the man himself.
Saddlers
Stratford Town Ease to Victory Over Walsall Under-18s
Bescot Banter 18 Jul 18
The young Saddlers arrived at their midweek clash on the back of a comfortable victory over Lichfield City, as Dylan Parker’s first-half hat-trick saw Walsall ease past their Midland League Division One opponents.
Saddlers
Matchday: Walsall Under-18s in Action Later This Evening
Bescot Banter 18 Jul 18
Graham Biggs’ side, who defeated Lichfield City by three Dylan Parker goals-to-nil last week, will be keen to build on that result as they continue to prepare for their upcoming EFL Youth Alliance campaign.
Saddlers
Walsall Take Former Liverpool & Middlesbrough Defender on Trial?
Bescot Banter 18 Jul 18
21-year-old, Liverpool-born Brewitt is a product of his hometown club’s academy system, where he rose through the various age groups before leaving the Merseyside club in favour of a switch to Middlesbrough last summer.
Saddlers
Middlesbrough Added to Walsall’s Checkatrade Trophy Group
Bescot Banter 18 Jul 18
The tournament, which the Saddlers exited at the Second Round stage last season, remains controversial as, despite plenty of protest from supporters and an overwhelmingly negative response overall, the EFL continue to invite selected Under-…
Saddlers
Dean Keates Hoping to Bring in New Players ‘Over the Next Few Days’
Bescot Banter 18 Jul 18
Keates, who had just seen his side defeated by four-goals-to-one as Conor Hourihane bagged a treble and Glenn Whelan hit a solo strike, insisted that he is hopeful of adding to his side over the coming days, revealing that he has made offers…
Saddlers
Match Reaction: Keates Keen to Remain Positive Despite Defeat
Bescot Banter 18 Jul 18
The manager, who saw his side defeated by four-goals-to-one thanks to a Conor Hourihane hat-trick and a Glenn Whelan solo strike, was keen to take the positives out of the display and sought to praise his young players as they gained more all…
Saddlers
Walsall Winger Tobias Hayles-Docherty Joins Rushall Olympic on Trial
Bescot Banter 18 Jul 18
The 19-year-old, Birmingham-born winger made his Walsall first-team debut as a substitute during the 1-0 defeat to Port Vale in April 2017 and went on to pen his first professional contract in May of the same year.
Saddlers
Match Report: Walsall 1 Aston Villa 4
Bescot Banter 17 Jul 18
Dean Keates’ Saddlers arrived at this evening’s match on the back of Saturday’s three-nil defeat to Gary Rowett’s recently-relegated Stoke City.
Saddlers
Watch Live: Walsall v Aston Villa
Bescot Banter 17 Jul 18
The Saddlers arrive at this evening’s match on the back of last weekend’s defeat to Stoke City, which saw highly-rated defender Kory Roberts suffer a season-threatening double leg break following a fairly innocuous collision with Ryan Sweeney…
Saddlers
Trialist to Feature as Walsall Take on Aston Villa
Bescot Banter 17 Jul 18
The trialist, who is now believed to be 21-year-old former Paralimni winger Michalis Giorkatzis, scored the Saddlers only goal during the defeat to Rushall Olympic and featured in last weekend’s clash with Stoke City, and is set to take on …
Saddlers
Josh Ginnelly to Miss Out as Keates Opts to Rest Pacey Winger
Bescot Banter 17 Jul 18
Keates, who aside from Ginnelly, Kory Roberts and Joe Edwards, has a full-fit squad to select from, has insisted that Josh is not a major injury concern but could benefit from a couple of rest days as the busy 2018/19 campaign edges ever closer…
Saddlers
Dean Keates Working to Address Walsall’s Defensive Woes
Bescot Banter 17 Jul 18
The Walsall-born gaffer, who only has Jon Guthrie and under-23s defender Dan Vann available in the centre of the backline, has been working to add to his squad for several weeks and believes that players will be made available as the 2018 FIFA…
Saddlers
Walsall’s Interest in Olly Marx Cools as Keates Considers His Options
Bescot Banter 17 Jul 18
Marx, who was surprisingly released by the Dragons at the end of last season, featured ten times during Keates’ time at the club and was seen as a major prospect for the North Wales side.
Saddlers
Walsall’s 2018/19 Third Kit Has Been Unleashed
Bescot Banter 17 Jul 18
Manufactured by Errea and sponsored by HomeServe, the kit, which you can see below, is similar in design to the home shirt, but is grey in colour with electric green accents on the top and socks along with lime green shorts.
Saddlers
Walsall’s 2018/19 Third Kit to Be Unleashed on Tuesday Morning
Bescot Banter 16 Jul 18
The kit, which is rumoured to be green, is being promoted using the hashtag #Unleashedand joins the club’s traditional red home kit and navy blue away kit next season with both said to be selling well as the club continues to reconnect with…
Saddlers
Paper Talk: Sweeney & Souttar Among Walsall’s Stoke City Options
Bescot Banter 16 Jul 18
City boss Gary Rowett spoke to the press shortly after the full-time whistle and, along with wishing Kory a speedy recovery, pledged to do ‘all he can’ to help the Saddlers after highly-rated Roberts suffered the season-threatening injury during…
Saddlers
Kory Roberts Facing Lengthy Spell on the Sidelines as Double Leg Break is Confirmed
Bescot Banter 15 Jul 18
Birmingham-born Kory, who looked set to secure a place in Dean Keates’ starting line-up for the upcoming campaign, went down holding his leg after colliding with Potters midfielder Ryan Sweeney, and required oxygen and several minutes of treatment…
Saddlers
Stoke City Boss Offers to Help as Kory Roberts Suffers Suspected Double Leg Break
Bescot Banter 14 Jul 18
Rowett, who had just witnessed his side win by three-goals-to-nil as Bojan, Ibrahim Afellay, and Peter Crouch, all found the back of the net, admitted that he’d have happily taken a defeat if it meant 20-year-old, Birmingham-born Roberts could…
Saddlers
Kory Roberts Suffers Suspected Double Leg Break
Bescot Banter 14 Jul 18
Keates, who had seen his side defeated by goals from Bojan, Ibrahim Afellay and Peter Crouch, admitted that it looks like 20-year-old Roberts, who made twenty-four appearances during a breakout 2017/18 campaign, has suffered a double leg fracture…
Saddlers
Kory Roberts Stretchered Off During Pre-Season Defeat to Stoke City
Bescot Banter 14 Jul 18
Birmingham-born Kory, pictured warming up ahead of the recent pre-season clash with Rushall Olympic, made twenty-four first-team appearances last season, entering several superb displays, and is highly thought of at the club with many seeing…
Saddlers
Match Report: Walsall 0 Stoke City 3
Bescot Banter 14 Jul 18
Walsall began their pre-season campaign with a disappointing defeat to Rushall Olympic and went into this afternoon’s match hoping to secure a more favourable result as they welcomed the recently-relegated Potters to Banks’s Stadium.
Saddlers
Happy Black Country Day!
Bescot Banter 14 Jul 18
Today’s date was chosen to mark the region’s industrial heritage, as it was the first day that the newly designed Black Country Flag was raised to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the invention of the World’s first steam engine, the Newcomen…
Saddlers
Checkatrade Trophy: Walsall, Burton Albion, & Port Vale Placed in Northern Group E
Bescot Banter 13 Jul 18
We now know that Dean Keates’ Saddlers will be in ‘Northern Group E’ along with Burton Albion, Port Vale and a yet to be confirmed invited U21 team, which will be determined at next week’s draw.
Saddlers
Fryatt, Bradley & Bowerman Named New Walsall FC Academy Coaches
Bescot Banter 13 Jul 18
In a statement, released via the club’s official website – Saddlers.
Saddlers
Joe Edwards: Fans’ Support Really Helps Me
Bescot Banter 13 Jul 18
27-year-old Edwards, who suffered the injury during February’s League One defeat to Blackburn Rovers, admitted that he has found it difficult to sit and watch as his teammates prepare for the upcoming campaign, but has received plenty of motivation…
Saddlers
Keates Keen to Make the Most of Stoke City Clash
Bescot Banter 12 Jul 18
Keates, who will also test his team against Aston Villa, Cheltenham Town, and Ajax Amsterdam, will use the match with the Potters to try out a few new things including shape and how to make the most of our time on the ball.
Saddlers
EFL Youth Alliance: Walsall’s 2018/19 Fixtures Have Been Confirmed
Bescot Banter 12 Jul 18
Graham Biggs’s side, who struggled for form during much of the previous campaign after suffering a series of lengthy injuries, will be hoping to get their season off to a strong start as they travel North during the opening weekend.
Saddlers
Walsall Confirm Media and Marketing Appointments
Bescot Banter 12 Jul 18
First-team manager Dean Keates has already added four new faces to his squad after securing the signatures of Andy Cook, Chris Dunn, Josh Ginnelly and Zeli Ismail, and is understood to be keen on signing more players before the Transfer Window…
Saddlers
Come On England!
Bescot Banter 11 Jul 18
There is no doubt that the tournament has been a superb one, capturing the imagination of football fans up and down the country, and whatever the outcome this evening, the England team have done their nation proud.
Saddlers
Graham Biggs Pleased as Walsall Under-18s Defeat Lichfield City
Bescot Banter 11 Jul 18
Biggs, who named a separate eleven for the first and second half, was pleased with how the team performed on a somewhat humid evening in Lichfield, offering particular praise for the first-teamers who he was asked to give time to by manager…
Saddlers
Transfer Update: Loan Deal Collapses, Keates Keen on Central Defender
Bescot Banter 11 Jul 18
Walsall-born Keates, who has already added four players to his squad after securing the signatures of Andy Cook, Chris Dunn, Josh Ginnelly, and Zeli Ismail, is keen to boost his defence and is hoping to secure the signing of a centre back on…
Saddlers
Stefan Gamble: Plenty of Areas Still Need Strengthening
Bescot Banter 11 Jul 18
Gamble, who was speaking at Monday evening’s Fans Focus meeting, admitted that he is confident Keates, who has already secured the signatures of Andy Cook, Chris Dunn, Josh Ginnelly and Zeli Ismail, will make a number of signings in the coming…
Saddlers
Dean Keates Hoping to Land Former Wrexham Defender Olly Marx
Bescot Banter 11 Jul 18
Dean, who was speaking after his side slipped to a disappointing defeat to Rushall Olympic in their opening pre-season fixture, admitted that he was surprised that his former side had allowed Marx to depart earlier in the summer but expects…
Saddlers
Walsall Under-18s Pre-Season Schedule
Bescot Banter 10 Jul 18
Graham Biggs side, which will include several new scholars, will be facing teams such as Lichfield City, Stratford Town, Coventry City and Cheltenham Town as they look to build fitness ahead of the very busy youth schedule.
Saddlers
Stefan Gamble: Walsall Have a Competitive Budget
Bescot Banter 10 Jul 18
Along with the signing of four new players, Walsall-born Keates has also used his finances to add a number of new faces to his backroom team, including Assistant Manager Andy Davies, Goalkeeping coach Michael Oakes and Chief Scout Gary Jenkins…
Saddlers
Meet the Manager Evening Set For Tuesday, 24th July
Bescot Banter 10 Jul 18
The evening will take place in the Savoy Lounge at Banks’s Stadium, with the event set to begin at 7.00pm and is expected to last around ninety minutes.
Saddlers
Fans Focus: News From Monday Evening’s Meeting
Bescot Banter 9 Jul 18
The event, which began shortly after 7.00pm, took place in the Stadium Suite at Banks’s Stadium and was attended by a fairly small number of supporters as there was little notice given this time around.
Saddlers
Walsall Academy Seeking to Recruit Volunteer Scouts
Bescot Banter 9 Jul 18
Since his appointment in March this year, Saddlers manager Dean Keates has sought to rebuild the club’s scouting system, beginning with the appointment of locally-based scout Gary Jenkins, and is said to be keen to expand the system to include…
Saddlers
Chris Dunn: Walsall Can Repeat Wrexham’s Clean Sheet Feat
Bescot Banter 9 Jul 18
30-year-old Dunn, who kept sixteen of Wrexham’s record twenty-two clean sheets last season, believes that the gaffer is more than capable of transferring his defensive-minded approach to next season’s League One campaign.