- Bilston Baldness -
The Chairman always gets nervous about half-day afternoon outings, as he usually incurs a cob penalty despite having the final say on the rendezvous arrangements. He was right to be concerned on this occasion, for the clock had ticked over to 12:32pm when his tram rolled into Bilston Central, meaning he missed the deadline by a mere two minutes. His bald spot is then on full display when surveying the former Heaths greengrocers shop by the Metro entrance.
- Academy Astroturf -
After a truly gut-wrenching rendition of "Hello Dolly" in the Trumpet (I don't think D9 will be joining the ranks of esteemed jazz musicians any time soon), there is some investigating to be done down by the South Wolverhampton & Bilston Academy. The old school buildings on Prosser Street have been demolished along with the remains of the Stonefield Schools with hard court play areas and astroturf pitches taking their place.
- Industrial Remains? -
A mysterious path makes its way towards Ladymoor and we come across a patch of cleared land that might well have been an old factory site. As we speculate which firm might have operated here, the Chairman does some impromptu modelling on behalf of the Children in Need appeal. Elsewhere in Ladymoor the Clog pub has been converted into Sai's Convenience Store.
- WME in Wolves Corner -
To Bradley then, following an old railway path to emerge in Daisy Bank not far from where there was once a station on the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton line. The Golden Lion joins the ranks of our darts locations and proves a lucky omen for the WME Whirlwind who prevails by 2 legs to 1. The sporting theme continues in the Great Western where the Secretary feels most at home among the framed pictures of John Richards, Mike Bailey and other Wolverhampton Wanderers heroes of yesteryear.
- The Bradley Hub -
Making our way along Hall Green Street, we spot what used to be the Britannia (a Holden's pub back in the day) and note Woottons Square as the former location of the George & Dragon (demolished a good while ago). The Chairman's hub radar then sniffs out this gem on Rose Street, even if Hub Le Bas sounds more French than Black Country.
- Mixing with the local wildlife -
Being so close to home meant that Mr D9 wished to remain out of sight as much as possible in case he got requisitioned for additional domestic chores. We therefore detour via a canal path towards Loxdale Sidings, although the Chairman's trousers received some unwanted nibbling when he tried to ingratiate himself with the local equine population.
- A boarded-up bald spot -
Parents are gathering in readiness for the end of the school week as we pass Loxdale Primary on Chapel Street. There is then sad news to report of the Royal Exchange, which seems to have closed within the last few weeks and now has a demolition notice stuck on the front door. With our quest for a quick half thwarted, we console ourselves with a look at a Wolverhampton Corporation trolleybus pole over towards Moxley, chalking up a sleeve success for Mr D9 in the process.
- No sign of a genie here -
After a rummage around and about Burns Road, we cross the Walsall Canal at Heathfields Bridge and enter the Herberts Park estate. The Chairman was confident he knew the pubs in the vicinity but his knowledge didn't appear to extend to the New Junction, meaning the Secretary's sleeve also collects some brownie points. To be fair to D9, he did have the Aladdins Lamp on his radar but this Wiley Avenue boozer appears to joining the Royal Exchange in the graveyard judging by the telltale dreaded metal shutters.
- The Whirlwind wins again -
Darlaston still boasts its fair share of drinking establishments though with the Staffordshire Knot (a landmark ex-Atkinson's pub at Catherines Cross), the Crown (a King Edward Street affair with an entrance akin to an adult bookshop) and the Frying Pan being in that number. The Vine is a particular favourite where we feel like we are walking in the footsteps of former Rubery Owen factory workers, whilst the Black Horse is the setting for a darts decider that sees D9 Destroyer well and truly vanquished.
- Pudsey Pose in the Prince of Wales -
All good things come to an end, and our Darlaston deliberations are wrapped up courtesy of a Walsall Road trio in the shape of the Springhead Tavern (Black Country Ales), the Prince of Wales (Holdens) and the Horse & Jockey (Banks's) with those Pudsey ears becoming almost a permanent fixture on the Chairman's balding bonce. The doorstep has certainly received a proper polishing over the last couple of months, and there might yet be some further sweeping up to do...
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