Monday, 30 April 2007

Sun Sets on Solihull Borough!

Damson Park Stadium’s biggest attendance of the season watched on as Boro played their final home game in their 54 year history.

Following months of rumours the Football Association last week officially gave Solihull based rivals, Solihull Borough and Moor Green, the green light to merge. And the newly formed club have heightened the excitement by announcing that Moor Green boss Bob Faulkner will be taking charge of the newly formed Solihull Moors.

The Moor Green boss, a servant of the Hall Green club for some 21 years, first took the helm on Boxing Day 1985, and has since guided the club from the depths of non-league football to the top half of the Conference North. And with his wealth of experience the newly formed Solihull Moors board are keen for Faulkner to continue his reign in charge of the new side and push for greater success.

Negotiations had come to a standstill over the past few months whilst the FA discussed the issue, but in the meantime, the clubs had hit a stumbling block of their own. The clubs had failed to agree on who should become the new manager, with both clubs favoring their current bosses.

Borough fans will be disappointed that Mickey Moore, along with his assistant Duncan Riddle and the rest of his backroom staff have been ousted by the new board. Despite the board being made up of officials from both clubs, it is believed that Solihull Borough chairman, Trevor Stevens, who has been announced as the new Solihull Moors chairman had the deciding vote.

Moore has stunned his critics this season. Widely tipped for relegation, Moore’s new, younger looking side will finish the season with a better winning record than previous manager, Tony Dobson’s side achieved last season and a respectable mid-table position.

The UEFA A license coach will continue to be in charge of Boro until the merger takes full effect on June 1st, when he will return to his posts as manager of Birmingham City Ladies and football development director at Solihull College. Moore said, “In my heart I always knew that Bob would get the job. Of course I’m disappointed but I can accept the decision, I’ve just got to look to the future”

The FA’s announcement to allow the merging of the two clubs comes exactly 8 years to the day after Boro made Damson Park their home ground. The merger means that Boro will quit from the BGB Southern League and the new, Solihull Moors FC, will take the place vacated by Moor Green in the Conference North, however, despite the step-up there are mixed feelings amongst Boro fans.

Edward Pitt, who has followed Boro for 6 years said, “I think everyone is disappointed, we thought the manager had put together a young team that had the ability to go places”. Another Boro fan, Adam Grieve, continued, “I haven’t really seen much of Moor Green but with some of our better players added to their squad, I think they’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”

Damson Park stadium, will remain in the ownership of Solihull Borough with the new club taking out a long lease, which has been approved by both Leagues and the F.A. Damson Park is currently just short of the grade B standard required for Conference North football, but may be upgraded over the next few months to Conference National specification, which will mean the ground will benefit from an extra 250 seats as well as new turnstiles.

And in what is sure to be an emotional occasion, Solihull now travel to the Broadwater Stadium, in their final game in the league, where they face Berkhamsted Town, who lie in 21st place in the league, kicking off at 3 o’clock. Berkhamsted, require the same result or better than bottom side Stourport Swifts to remain in the BGB Midlands League, as Boro’s merger with Moor Green means that only one side will be relegated this season.

Damson Park, the new home of Solihull Moors FC

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