Promotion

Walsall F.C Champions Division 2 Season 2006/07

After nine months and forty six games Walsall Football Club were crowned Champions of League Division 2, returning to Division 1 at the first time of asking.

The Championship was confirmed at Swindon Town F C on Saturday 5th May 2007. Our main rivals for the Championship Hartlepool Town were four minutes from glory, when Bristol Rovers scored to secure a 2-1 victory and confirm their place in the playoffs. Walsall were 1-0 down to Swindon at the time and in a further twist, scored in the ninety second minute to secure the Championship by one point. The scorer was Dean Keates, Walsall born midfielder, who with that strike became Leading scorer for the season to add to his Player of the Season award, PFA Player of the Month award for April and member of Division 2 Team of the Season, an inspiration to the Club and Town.

I was invited to travel with the Players on an open top bus tour of the Town concluding at Walsall Town Hall, where the Players were awarded their Championship medals and Trophy in front of a large crowd of Saddlers Fans, before we attended a Civic Reception.

In the history of Walsall, the football club has won only one previous League Title, that being in the 1959/60 season when they took the old Fourth Division Championship, hence Tuesday May 8th 2007 will remain in the minds of Walsall people for a long time.

The photo comes from inside the Town Hall, the Division 2 Championship Trophy and hero, Dean Keates.