HISTORY West Bromwich Albion’s official supporters club was founded on October 4, 1951 and it had an initial membership of 130. Subsequent years saw membership grow steadily with branches in Smethwick, Oldbury, Coseley and Cradley Heath all formed. At the end of the decade the club could boast well over a 1000 members. During the early years of the supporters club, local public houses were used as headquarters; The Cross Guns - Carters Green (now The Marksman) and The Corner House which once stood in West Bromwich High Street amongst them. It wasn’t until April 1965 that the supporters club finally had a home of it’s own. At a cost of £50,000 the original Throstle Club was built adjoining the Woodman public house on land that is now the East Stand car park. Albion legend Jesse Pennington had the honour of pulling the first pint at the premises. Five more clubs would be opened over the next five years, the first one; in Dog Kennel Lane, Warley was opened in January 1968. Graham Williams, who would later that year lift the FA Cup for Albion this time the man pulling the first pint. Three more Throstle Clubs followed in 1969. The Halfords Lane Throstle Club in May, The ‘Golden Throstle’, Hamstead Road, Great Barr followed in October and in November The ‘Gay Throstle’, Redhall Road,  Lower Gornal opened it’s doors. September 1970 saw the last Throstle Club open in Park Lane West, Tipton. The popularity of the clubs would not last though and as the parent football club’s fortunes declined so did the Throstle Clubs. One by one each club was sold off with only the Halfords Lane venue being retained by the club. During the early 1980’s and amid claims of poor treatment by the football club apathy grew amongst officials and members, dwindling membership numbers would see most branches close, the parent association itself collapsing in the mid 1980’s. In 1986 the supporters club was resurrected but after just one meeting that too collapsed. Throughout this troubled time only one branch remained active - Halesowen. Boasting it’s own newsletter / fanzine (The Fingerpost), football team (The Strollers) and travel service (Mammoth Tours), it was the epitome of how a supporters club should be. In 1987, thanks in no small part to the then Albion secretary Gordon Bennett; a new West Bromwich Albion Supporters Club was formed with the Halesowen Branch Committee taking over running of the club. Unlike the attempt of 12 months previous it would be a success. Despite the club struggling on the pitch the supporters club thrived once more. Since then the supporters club’s fortunes have been very much like the team; up and down, in some people’s eyes due once again to poor treatment from the parent football club. They also recently found themselves 'homeless' with the closure of the last remaining Throstle Club, in Halfords Lane. New headquarters were soon found though in the nearby Hawthorns public house. Although the supporters club will probably never again recapture the popularity it had during the 1960’s, at time of writing there are over 30 branches active scattered right across the globe, proof perhaps that interest in West Bromwich Albion does remain as strong as ever. WEST BROMWICH ALBION SUPPORTERS CLUB - 2006/07 MEMBERSHIP DETAILS Adults membership fee is £7.00. For juniors and senior citizens it is £3.50. Supporters club membership starts on June 1st and runs through to 31st May 2007. Supporters wishing to join can find an application form to print out here. Completed forms should be sent to Alan Cleverley, WBASC,1 St Christophers, Hamstead Hill, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, B20 1BP. For the latest supporters club news check here BRANCH CONTACTS     Main Branch   Contact: Alan Cleverley (Secretary) Home Address: 1 St Christophers, Hamstead Hill, Handsworth Wood, Birmingham, B20 1BP.  Telephone Number: 0121 551 6439 Email: wbasc@wbascofficial.co.uk Website: wbascofficial.co.uk   Australia   Contact: Jeremy Barnes  Telephone Number: 03 9822 1470 Email: jeremy_barnes23@hotmail.com To Join: Send a mail to: ozbaggies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com   Avon & Somerset   Contact: Ken Meredith  Telephone Number: 01934 513228    Brownhills   Contact: Gary Porter  Telephone Number: 01922 442422    Cornwall   Contact: John Wilson  Telephone Number: 01209 219430    Canada   Contact: Mick Cockayne  Telephone Number: 604 590 9797 Email: mick@dccnet.com To Join: canadabaggies-subscribe@yahoogroups.com   Culloden Moor   Contact: Alex Elliott Address: 36 Sunnyside, Culloden Moor, Inverness     Devon   Contact: Carl Martin  Telephone Number: 01803 310415    Disabled   Contact: Kevin Candon  Telephone Number: 07980 561721  Website: wba-dsc.co.uk   Droitwich   Contact: Tommy Morgan  Telephone Number: 01905 774886    East Midlands   Contact: Dawn Astle  Telephone Number: 07855 724918    Gloucester   Contact: Jon Norridge  Telephone Number: 01452 549747    Hampshire & Dorset Contact: Steve Nash  Telephone Number: 01425 620424    Hitchin & District   Contact: David Powell Telephone Number: 01462 454997    Jersey   Contact: Peter Guarino  Telephone Number: 01534 631751    Kent   Contact: Neil Lee Telephone Number: 01622 631098 or 07888 714964 (Mobile) Email: baggieneil@nlee68.wanadoo.co.uk or baggieneil68@tesco.net Website: kentbaggies.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk   Kidderminster   Contact: Roy Hayden  Telephone Number: 01562 69179  Email: Roy@haydens-kidder.freeserve.co.uk   London   Contact: Tony Vass  Telephone Number: 0208 668 6626  Email: tonyvass@blueyonder.co.uk Website: londonbaggies.co.uk   Malta   Contact: Alfred Vassallo  Telephone Number: 00356 492342  Email: jvassallo@jbplastics.com.mt   Manchester   Contact: Malc Jones Telephone Number: 0161 926 8077  Email: malcjones@iclway.co.uk   Northampton   Contact: Trevor Mais Telephone Number: 01604 411494  Email: wba@4football.net Website: 4football.net/wba/sc/   Northern   Contact: Richard Ryan  Telephone Number: 0790 4258383    Northern Ireland   Contact: Mark Dennison  Telephone Number: 0285 862152    North East   Contact: Dave Hewitt  Telephone Number: 0191 455 7844  Email: dave@baggiepix.co.uk   Redditch   Contact: Pat Luke Telephone Number: 01527 527190    Republic Of Ireland   Contact: Peter Whelan  Telephone Number: 00353 6240505    Shropshire   Contact: Pete Bradley  Telephone Number: 01952 273012    South Birmingham   Contact: Steve Taylor  Telephone Number: 0121 453 9247  Email: june@wbataylor.wanadoo.co.uk   South Staffordshire   Contact: Stuart Jeffrey Telephone Number: 017971 761067 or 01543 318224