THE oldest football club in Cradley is coming home - for one night only.

Two Gates Football Club is holding its 125th reunion in the town next week despite being forced to play its matches in Lye.

Two Gates FC was formed in 1888 and played at multiple venues across Cradley in various leagues but now has to play its games at Lye Town FC.

The reunion is being held at Cradley Labour Club, Colley Gate, at 7.30pm on Saturday, June 7.

Chairman John Round said: "It is such a shame with our history we cannot play in Cradley anymore after Cradley High School was closed and then sold off for housing.

"However, we are still going strong and we want anyone ever connected with the club, whether it be ex-players, managers, fans or families of those connected with the club to attend."

The team was originally established at the Two Gates Ragged School.

The team first played on a field which is now the Fatherless Barn estate and competed in the Dudley Church and Chapel League.

Mr Round said: "We would love to be playing in Cradley as we were a real part of the place but the school being sold meant we had to look elsewhere.

"We are currently at Lye Town FC, which is great but we hope to find somewhere in Cradley soon."

In the inter-war years the team have also turned out at Homer Hill Recreational Ground, the fields where Caslon Primary School was subsequently built.

The team played against Buckland Rovers on the day World War Two was declared and the majority of the team volunteered for service, two paying the ultimate sacrifice - Victor Taylor and Billy Bradley.

After the war the team was resurrected after the war ended and have played continuously to this day.