Garden Walk Stadium, Garden Walk, Lower Gornal, Dudley.

Gornal Athletic F.C. is a non-league side which has had moderate success over the years.
They have reached the 1st round of the FA Vase six times.

The old pitch was off Gateacre Street (off Temple Street, Redhall), it had a steep elevated grass terrace on the north side, the pitch was down behind where the Catholic Church now stands, it was used as a sports ground as early as 1910.

A newspaper report of August 22, 1910 mentions:
"On Saturday afternoon athletic sports were held on the new cricket and football grounds, Red Hall, Lower Gornal, notwithstanding, the very unfavourable weather, there was a large attendance of spectators."
Principal events were: 220 yards flat handicap; one mile flat handicap; 100 yards flat handicap; 100 yards boys race,; 100 yards novice race.
Competitors entered the events from all over the Black Country.
It seems likely that shortly after this time that 'Athletic' was formed or adopted by an earlier team.

Lower Gornal Athletic was first mentioned in newspaper reports between 1912 and 1914, at that time they were playing in the Wolverhampton & District League.
Their first mention was in a match fixture on 7 September 1912 vs Bloxwich Strollers and again in October vs Sedgley Rovers.

In a match on 7 February, 1914 round 4 of the Staffordshire Junior Cup, they lost 2-1 to Bloxwich Strollers, however a replay was enforced after LGA lodged an appeal against Bloxwich having ineligible players.
In this match the LGA fielded their side of Round (G); Evans; Ward; Grice; Corbett; Willings; Davies; Whitehouse; Parks; Dean; Dobbs.
The following week, Gornal lined up: Round (G); Evans; Ward; Grice; Corbett; Willings; Davies; Whitehouse; Woodhall; Jackson; Dean.
Gornal were again defeated, loosing 3-0 and again protested about an ineligible player in the opposing side, some said it was rather unsporting of Gornal, however Bloxwich were disqualified and the match was awarded to LGFC who were then to go on to play Heath Town in the semi-final.

The Birmingham Gazette of 12 February 1914, mentions a left winger called Dabbs [Dobbs] had been signed by Dudley from LGA.

In a match on 2nd May, 1914,  Lower Gornal A., were playing at the 'Red Lion Ground' against Bloxwich. (Walsall Advertiser).

The team line-up in September, 1914 was: Harris (G); Ward; Smith; Jackson; Wellings; Jones; Stuart; Gaunt; Parkes; Stokes; Jackson.
This team played Bloxwich in the Wolverhampton League on 7 Sept, 1914, the match ended in a 3-3 draw.

The club was reformed in 1919 just after the Great War with many local players, and did have some success in their first years.
Although not much was documented about the club in the inter-war years, the following two pictures exist from a successful time in the early 1920s.

Front row, second player right is John 'Jack' Jones, some of the players came from the East Street and West Street area of Red Hall.

Front row, again shows local players Jack Jones (second right), with his brothers, Alf to his left, and Job second player from left.
The senior gentleman on the right of both pictures is their uncle William 'Billy on t'hob' Jones, he was landlord of the Red Lion, the photos were possibly taken at the back of the Old Bulls Head in Red Hall which also doubled as the team headquarters at the time, the gentleman second from right is Isaac 'Ige' Bradley of the Old Bull who managed the team.

The 1920-1921 season was particularly good, with Gornal being top of the Wolverhampton League, the players with four gold medals apiece.

The Herald, February 11, 1922 reports:
In 1921 Lower Gornal Athletic F.C. accomplishments: Wolverhampton & District League Champions, Winners of Dudley Guest Hospital Cup, Bilston Charity Cup and finalists in the Birmingham Junior Cup.

Birmingham Junior Cup final 30 April 1921.
Leamington Town vs Lower Gornal Athletic.

The final was played at Manor Park, Nuneaton, Gornal put on a brave show but were out-played by a superior and more determined side.

Early in the second half Gornal were awarded a penalty Moss took the kick but the Leamington goalie saved one of the few chances they had in the match.
Unfortunately for Gornal the match went downhill from then onwards with Leamington Town having a scoring spree, winning by five goals to nil.
LGFC line-up for the match: Deans; Tighe; J. Cooper; L. Hickman; Smith; E. Hickman; L. Cooper; Harper; Woodhall; Jones; Moss.

February 4th, 1922 Birmingham Junior Cup; LGA vs Tamworth Colliery, win 2-0.
18th December, 1926 Birmingham Junior Cup, Churchfield vs LGA.
1927 match between Netherton Liberals and LGA.

The above photo was taken in the yard of the Old Bulls Head in Redhall Road, the 'Bull was used as team headquarters, the room at the top of the brick stairway on the left behind the group doubled as the changing room.
The rooftops of shops in Zoar Street can be seen in the background with nr.25 that would later become Bill Davies's carpet shop the most visible.

LGFC joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1951, and in 1962 moved to the West Midlands Regional League.

The Club moved to a new ground only a short distance away - just a little further down the bank on the Garden Walk, this new pitch was built in 1949.
The grounds were officially opened on Saturday, 25th November, 1950 when they played a match against Wednesfield.

This was a coal mining area during the 19th century, and at least two shafts sunk nearby, the pitch was laid over part of the old Graveyard Colliery.

In the mid-1950s the ground was renamed 'Timmins Stadium' after Councillor J. Timmins who had been the Club president for ten years.

Team line-up for the 6th round of the Staffordshire County Cup 1952: Garrett; Smalley; Chilton; Hughes; Everitt; Rose; Nicholls; Halford; Beech; Allen; McRobe.
Their star striker who had scored 32 goals in 17 games - Rowmanowski was injured at that time.

A typical team line-up in 1963: The strip: amber trimmed emerald jerseys & emerald shorts.

A typical team line-up in the mid-sixties: The strip at this time was amber jerseys & black shorts.

Nicknamed 'The Peacocks' since a Peacock features on the club emblem since 1962.

The club's name was shortened to 'Gornal Athletic Football Club' in 1972.

During 1998-1999 the old pitch site was re-developed into a small housing estate and now Winrush Close is built over it.

The Club made their last appearance at the Garden Walk Stadium on 30th April 2024, a match played against against Tipton Town.

LGFC will move to a new venue on Burton Road for the following season(s).