Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club
{{Short description|Athletics club}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox athletics club
| name = Wolverhampton & Bilston AC (WBAC)
| image = 150px
| founded = 1924
| ground = Aldersley Stadium
| location = Aldersley Road, Wolverhampton WV6 9NW, England
| coordinates = {{coord|52|36|17|N|2|09|01|W|type:landmark_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| website = {{url|https://www.wolvesandbilstonac.co.uk/ |official website}}
}}
Wolverhampton & Bilston Athletics Club was formed in 1967 and has its home ground at Aldersley Leisure Village, formally Aldersley Stadium in Aldersley, Wolverhampton, England.
History
File:Aldersley Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 2439012.jpg
File:Aldersley Stadium - geograph.org.uk - 286144.jpg
In 1924 the Harriers Athletic Club which would formally be called the Wolverhampton Athletics Club was founded.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000669/19240828/306/0009 |title=New Harriers' Club |work=Birmingham Daily Gazette |date=28 August 1924 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 March 2025}} In 1943 the club merged with Penn Harriers to form the Wolverhampton Harriers.{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003126/19431220/113/0007 |title=W'ton Harriers' Successes |work=Wolverhampton Express and Star|date=20 December 1943 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 March 2025}}
In February 1967 after a local government reorganisation the two local athletic clubs, Wolverhampton Harriers and Bilston Town Athletic Club merged to form the Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletic Club.
{{cite web|title=He knew everything about athletics - tributes paid as Ken dies at 85|url=https://www.expressandstar.com/news/2015/01/19/he-knew-everything-about-athletics-tributes-paid-as-ken-dies-at-85/ken-evans-is-pictured-furthest-left-of-picture-standing-in-dark-tracksuit-with-members-of-the-wolverhampton-and-bilston-athletic-club/|website=Express & Star|publisher=Express & Star|accessdate=6 August 2015}}{{cite news |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003126/19670114/525/0031 |title=W'ton-Bilston merger goes through with high hope for future |work=Wolverhampton Express and Star|date=14 January 1967 |via=British Newspaper Archive |url-access=subscription |access-date=27 March 2025}}
The club won the Men's National League Division One from 1975 to 1982 and the Men's National Cup 1976, 1977, 1979 and 1980.
Honours
Senior Men:
- British Athletics League
- First Place: 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982
- Second Place: 1974, 1984, 1985
- Third Place: 1972, 1973, 1986, 1987
Notable athletes
= Olympians =
| class="wikitable" | |||
| width=180|Athlete
!width=220|Events !width=170|Games !width=80|Medals/Ref | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Ralph Banthorpe | 200 metres, 4x100m relay | 1968 | |
| Maureen Tranter | 200 metres | 1968 | {{Power of 10 name|41435|Maureen Tranter}} |
| Don Halliday | 100m, 4x100m | 1972 | |
| Sonia Lannaman | 100 metres, 200m, 4x100m relay | 1972, 1980 | 16px |
| Rosemary Stirling | 800 metres | 1972 | |
| Verona Elder-Barnard | 400 metres, 4x400m relay | 1972, 1976 | |
| Denise Brown | high jump | 1976 | |
| Glen Cohen | 400m, 4x400m relay | 1976, 1980 | |
| Tessa Sanderson | javelin throw | 1976, 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996 | 16px |
| Keith Connor | triple jump | 1980, 1984 | |
| Kathy Smallwood-Cook | 100m, 200m, 400m, 4x100m relay | 1980, 1984 | 16px16px16px |
| Joan Baptiste | 200m | 1984 | |
| Phil Beattie | 400m hurdles | 1984 | |
| Garry Cook | 4x400m relay | 1984 | 16px |
| Martin Girvan | hammer throw | 1984 | |
| Pat Beckford | 400m | 1988 | |
| John King | long jump | 1988 | |
| Paul Mardle | discus | 1988 | |
| Joanne Mulliner | heptathlon | 1988 | |
| Vernon Samuels | triple jump | 1988 | |
| Steve Heard | 800m | 1992 | |
| Lisa Langford-Kehler | 10/20km walk | 1992, 2000 | |
| Denise Lewis | heptathlon | 1996, 2000, 2004 | 16px16px |
= Other =
- Mike Bull, gold medal winner at the Commonwelath Games
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club}}
Category:Sport in Wolverhampton
Category:Athletics clubs in England