2023–24 Walsall F.C. season

The 2023–24 season is the 136th season in the history of Walsall and their fifth consecutive season in League Two. The club are participating in 2023–24 EFL League Two, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the 2023–24 EFL Trophy.

Walsall
2023–24 season
OwnerTrivela Group
ChairmanBenjamin Boycott
Leigh Pomlett
Head CoachMat Sadler[1]
StadiumPoundland Bescot Stadium
League Two13th
EFL CupFirst round

Current squad
As of 10 October 2023
No. Name Position Nationality Place of birth Date of birth (Age) Signed from Date signed Fee Contract end
Goalkeepers
1Owen EvansGKWalesNewport (1996-11-28) 28 November 1996Cheltenham Town1 July 2022Undisclosed30 June 2024
22Jackson SmithGKEnglandTelford (2001-10-14) 14 October 2001Wolverhampton Wanderers21 July 2023Undisclosed30 June 2024
32George BarrettGKEnglandAcademy25 November 2022—30 June 2024
Defenders
2David OkagbueCBRepublic of Ireland (2003-10-05) 5 October 2003Stoke City1 September 2023Loan31 May 2024
3Liam GordonLBGuyanaEngland London (1999-05-15) 15 May 1999Bolton Wanderers1 July 2022Free Transfer30 June 2024
4Oisin McEnteeCBRepublic of IrelandShercock (2001-01-05) 5 January 2001Newcastle United1 July 2022Free Transfer30 June 2024
5Donervon DanielsCBMontserratPlymouth (1993-11-24) 24 November 1993Crewe Alexandra24 January 2022Undisclosed30 June 2025
6Priestley FarquharsonCBEnglandLondon (1997-03-15) 15 March 1997Wales Newport County1 July 2023Free Transfer30 June 2025
12Joe FoulkesRBEnglandDudley (2003-06-23) 23 June 2003Academy1 July 2021—30 June 2024
19Harry WilliamsCBEngland (2002-08-15) 15 August 2002Alvechurch20 July 2023Undisclosed30 June 2024
24Rollin MenayeseCBWalesDemocratic Republic of the Congo Kinshasa (1997-12-04) 4 December 1997Mansfield Town4 January 2022Undisclosed30 June 2024
Midfielders
7Joe RileyDMEnglandBlackpool (1996-12-06) 6 December 1996Carlisle United1 July 2022Free Transfer30 June 2024
8Isaac HutchinsonAMEnglandEastbourne (2000-04-10) 10 April 2000Derby County1 July 2022Free Transfer30 June 2025
14Brandon ComleyCMMontserratEngland Islington (1995-11-18) 18 November 1995Dagenham & Redbridge1 July 2022Free Transfer30 June 2024
17Jack EaringCMEnglandBury (1999-01-21) 21 January 1999FC Halifax Town1 July 2021Undisclosed31 December 2023
21Taylor AllenLMEnglandWalsall (2000-06-16) 16 June 2000Forest Green Rovers1 July 2022Free Transfer30 June 2024
25Ryan StirkDMWalesBirmingham (2000-09-25) 25 September 2000Birmingham City1 July 2023Free Transfer30 June 2025
26Ross TierneyCMRepublic of IrelandDublin (2001-03-06) 6 March 2001Scotland Motherwell24 July 2023Loan31 May 2024
27Dylan ThomasCMEnglandAcademy22 August 2023—30 June 2024
42Harvey GriffithsDMEnglandOldham (2003-09-22) 22 September 2003Wolverhampton Wanderers1 September 2023Loan31 May 2024
Forwards
9Jamille MattCFJamaicaKingston (1989-10-20) 20 October 1989Forest Green Rovers13 January 2023Undisclosed30 June 2024
10Tom KnowlesLWEnglandCambridge (1998-09-27) 27 September 1998Yeovil Town4 August 2022Undisclosed30 June 2024
11Douglas James-TaylorCFEnglandLondon (2001-11-18) 18 November 2001Stoke City1 July 2023Free Transfer30 June 2024
15Freddie DraperCFEngland (2004-07-28) 28 July 2004Lincoln City7 July 2023Loan31 May 2024
20Aramide OtehCFEnglandLee (1998-09-10) 10 September 1998Crawley Town24 July 2023Free Transfer30 June 2024
39Danny JohnsonCFEnglandMiddlesbrough (1993-02-28) 28 February 1993Mansfield Town1 July 2023Free Transfer30 June 2025
Out on Loan
16Ronan MaherCMRepublic of Ireland (2004-12-30) 30 December 2004Academy1 July 2022—30 June 2025
18Marvellous OnabirekhanlenCMEnglandAcademy1 July 2023—30 June 2024

Transfers

In
Date Pos Player Transferred from Fee Ref
1 July 2023CBEngland Priestley FarquharsonWales Newport CountyFree Transfer[2]
1 July 2023LBEngland Chris HusseyEngland Stockport CountyFree Transfer[3]
1 July 2023 ST England Douglas James-Taylor England Stoke City Free Transfer [4]
1 July 2023 ST England Danny Johnson England Mansfield Town Free Transfer [5]
1 July 2023DMWales Ryan StirkEngland Birmingham CityFree Transfer[6]
20 July 2023 CB England Harry Williams England Alvechurch Undisclosed [7]
21 July 2023GKEngland Jackson SmithEngland Wolverhampton WanderersUndisclosed[8]
24 July 2023CFEngland Aramide OtehEngland Crawley TownFree Transfer[9]

Out
Date Pos Player To Fee Ref
30 June 2023CFEngland Timmy AbrahamEngland Boreham WoodReleased[10][11]
30 June 2023CBEngland Peter ClarkeEngland Warrington TownReleased[10][12]
30 June 2023DMRepublic of Ireland Liam KinsellaEngland Swindon TownReleased[10][13]
30 June 2023CMEngland Joss LabadieEngland Solihull MoorsReleased[10][14]
30 June 2023AMEngland Jacob MaddoxEngland Forest Green RoversReleased[10][15]
30 June 2023CBCameroon Manny MonthéEngland Northampton TownReleased[10][16]
30 June 2023CFEngland Jonas Mukuna Free agentReleased[10]
30 June 2023CMEngland Sam PerryRepublic of Ireland WaterfordReleased[10]
30 June 2023RBEngland Hayden WhiteEngland Ebbsfleet UnitedReleased[10][17]
30 June 2023CFRepublic of Ireland Conor WilkinsonScotland MotherwellReleased[10][18]
30 June 2023CFEngland Andy WilliamsEngland HerefordReleased[10][19]
21 July 2023CFEngland Shay WillockEngland AlvechurchFree Transfer[20]
13 September 2023LBEngland Chris Hussey Retired[21]

Loaned in
Date Pos Player Loaned from Date until Ref
7 July 2023CFEngland Freddie DraperEngland Lincoln CityEnd of Season[22]
24 July 2023 AM Republic of Ireland Ross Tierney Scotland Motherwell End of Season [23]
1 September 2023 DM England Harvey Griffiths England Wolverhampton Wanderers End of Season [24]
1 September 2023CBRepublic of Ireland David OkagbueEngland Stoke CityEnd of Season[25]

Loaned out
Date Pos Player Loaned to Until Ref
9 August 2023CMEngland Marvellous OnabirekhanlenEngland Stourbridge3 September 2023[26]
25 August 2023CMRepublic of Ireland Ronan MaherEngland Rushall Olympic6 January 2024[27]
6 September 2023CMEngland Marvellous OnabirekhanlenEngland Chasetown13 November 2023[lower-alpha 1][28][29]
14 September 2023GKEngland George BarrettEngland Paget Rangers12 October 2023[30]
  1. On 16 October, Onabirekhanlen's loan at Chasetown was extended by a further month.

Pre-season and friendlies

On 23 May, Walsall announced their first pre-season friendly, against Solihull Moors.[31] Two further matches were added on June 2, against Leamington and Aston Villa.[32] In memory of Wayne Evans, a pre-season fixture against Rochdale was added.[33]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

11 July 2023 Friendly Leamington 1–4 Walsall Leamington Spa
19:45 BST Stewart 45' Report Johnson 1'
James-Taylor 32', 40'
Hutchinson 48'		 Stadium: Your Co-op Community Stadium
15 July 2023 Friendly Walsall 1–1 Aston Villa Bescot
13:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 9,328
21 July 2023 Wayne Evans Memorial Walsall 1–1 Rochdale Bescot
19:30 BST Hutchinson 77' Report Rodney 27' Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
25 July 2023 Friendly West Bromwich Albion U21 0–2 Walsall Walsall
14:00 BST Report James-Taylor 24'
Draper 32'		 Stadium: West Bromwich Albion Traning Ground
Attendance: 0 (behind closed doors)
29 July 2023 Friendly Solihull Moors 0–3 Walsall Solihull
15:00 BST Report Gordon 76'
Hutchinson 89'
Maher 90+2'		 Stadium: ARMCO Arena
Attendance: 1,034 (570 away)

Competitions

Overall record
Competition Starting round Record
Pld W D L GF GA GD Win %
League Two Matchday 1 11 4 2 5 15 21 −6 036.36
FA Cup First round 0 0 0 0 0 0 +0 !—
EFL Cup First round 1 0 0 1 3 4 −1 000.00
EFL Trophy Group stage 2 0 0 2 2 7 −5 000.00
Total 14 4 2 8 20 32 −12 028.57

Last updated: 7 October 2023
Source: Soccerway

League Two
Main article: 2023–24 EFL League Two

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
11 Barrow 14 5 6 3 17 14 +3 21
12 Crawley Town 14 6 3 5 23 25 −2 21
13 Salford City 15 6 2 7 26 24 +2 20
14 Walsall 15 5 5 5 23 26 −3 20
15 Bradford City 15 5 5 5 16 19 −3 20
16 Milton Keynes Dons 15 5 4 6 23 22 +1 19
17 Harrogate Town 15 6 1 8 15 21 −6 19
Updated to match(es) played on 24 October 2023. Source: EFL Official Website
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Head-to-head results; 5) Wins; 6) Away goals; 7) Penalty points (sec 9.5); 8) 12-point sending off offences[34]

Results summary
OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
15 5 5 5 23 26  −3 20 3 3 1 10 7  +3 2 2 4 13 19  −6

Last updated: 24 October 2023.
Source: Soccerway

Results by round
Round123456789101112131415
GroundAHAAHHAAHAHAHAH
ResultLWLDDWWLLWDLWDD
Position17101917181491416131317131314
Updated to match(es) played on 24 October 2023. Source: Soccerway
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches

On 22 June, the EFL League Two fixtures were released.[35]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

5 August 2023 (2023-08-05) 1 Morecambe 2–1 Walsall Morecambe
15:00 BST Mayor 25'
Love Yellow card 34'
Songo'o Yellow card 38'
McKiernan Yellow card 48'
Rawson 90+2' Yellow card 90+3'
Bedeau Yellow card 90+5'
Slew Yellow card 90+11'		 Report Riley Yellow card 37'
Johnson 38' Yellow card 90+5'
McEntee Yellow card 45+1'
Hutchinson Yellow card 86'		 Stadium: Mazuma Mobile Stadium
Attendance: 4,609
Referee: Martin Coy
12 August 2023 2 Walsall 2–1 Stockport County Bescot
15:00 BST Johnson 25'
Stirk Yellow card 42'
Draper Yellow card 49'
Hutchinson Yellow card 63'
Oteh 79'		 Report Johnson Yellow card 7'
Horsfall Yellow card 67'
BarryYellow card 70'
Southam-Hales Yellow card 75'
Olaofe Yellow card 82'
Rydel 90+7'		 Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 6,008
Referee: Jacob Miles
15 August 2023 3 Wrexham 4–2 Walsall Wrexham
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: STōK Cae Ras
Attendance: 10,118
Referee: Simon Mather
19 August 2023 4 Crewe Alexandra 2–2 Walsall Crewe
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Mornflake Stadium
Attendance: 4,892
Referee: Sam Allison
26 August 2023 5 Walsall 1–1 Grimsby Town Bescot
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 5,314
Referee: Ben Atkinson
2 September 2023 6 Walsall 1–0 Colchester United Bescot
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 5,058
Referee: Lee Swabey
9 September 2023 7 Salford City 1–2 Walsall Kersal
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The Peninsula Stadium
Attendance: 2,847
Referee: Paul Howard
16 September 2023 8 Swindon Town 2–0 Walsall Swindon
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: The County Ground
Attendance: 9,131
Referee: Matthew Corlett
23 September 2023 9 Walsall 1–3 AFC Wimbledon Bescot
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 5,318
Referee: Declan Bourne
30 September 2003 10 Bradford City 1–3 Walsall Bradford
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: University of Bradford Stadium
Attendance: 17,038
Referee: Scott Jackson
3 October 2023 11 Walsall 0–0 Milton Keynes Dons Bescot
19:45 BST
Report
Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 4,515
Referee: Christopher Pollard
7 October 2023 12 Sutton United 4–0 Walsall Sutton
15:00 BST
Report Stadium: VBS Community Stadium
Attendance: 3,009 (275 away)
Referee: Ed Duckworth
14 October 2023 13 Walsall 4–1 Gillingham Bescot
15:00 BST
Report
Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 5,633 (600 away)
Referee: Charles Breakspear
20 October 2023 14 Newport County 3–3 Walsall Newport
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Rodney Parade
Attendance: 3,896
Referee: Sunny Gill
24 October 2023 15 Walsall 1–1 Crawley Town Bescot
19:45 GMT
Report
Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
Attendance: 4,108
Referee: Will Finnie

FA Cup
Main article: 2023–24 FA Cup

Walsall were drawn away to Billericay Town or Sheppey United in the first round.[36]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

4 November 2023 First Round Billericay Town or Sheppey United v Walsall TBC
15:00 GMT
      		Stadium: TBC

      EFL Cup
      Main article: 2023–24 EFL Cup

      Walsall were drawn away to Blackburn Rovers in the first round.[37]

        Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

      8 August 2023 First round Blackburn Rovers 4–3 Walsall Blackburn
      19:45 BST Gilsenan 21'
      Ennis 40'
      Garrett 50'
      Buckley 67'      		 Report McEntee 19'
      Tierney 37'
      Johnson Yellow card 81'
      Maher 84'      		 Stadium: Ewood Park
      Attendance: 6,173
      Referee: Ben Speedie

      EFL Trophy
      Main article: 2023–24 EFL Trophy

      In the group stage, Walsall were drawn into Southern Group A alongside Forest Green Rovers, Shrewsbury Town and Brighton & Hove Albion U21.[38]

      Pos Div Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
      1 L2 Forest Green Rovers 2 1 1 0 0 4 1 +3 5 Advance to Round 2
      2 ACA Brighton & Hove Albion U21 2 1 0 1 0 3 2 +1 4
      3 L1 Shrewsbury Town 2 0 1 0 1 0 3 −3 2
      4 L2 Walsall 2 0 0 1 1 3 4 −1 1
      Updated to match(es) played on 10 October 2023. Source: EFL.com

        Win   Draw   Loss   Fixtures

      22 August 2023 Group stage Walsall 2–3 Brighton & Hove Albion U21 Bescot
      19:00 BST
      		Report
      		Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
      Attendance: 1,780
      Referee: Thomas Parsons
      10 October 2023 Group stage Walsall 1–1 Forest Green Rovers Bescot
      19:00 BST
      		Report
      		Stadium: Poundland Bescot Stadium
      Attendance: 1,516
      Referee: Stephen Parkinson
      Penalties
      14 November 2023 Group stage Shrewsbury Town v Walsall Shrewsbury
      19:00 GMT Stadium: Croud Meadow

      References
      1. "Mat Sadler appointed as new Saddlers Head Coach". Walsall FC. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
      2. "Priestley Farquharson joins the Saddlers!". Walsall FC. 23 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
      3. "Chris Hussey joins the Saddlers!". Walsall FC. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
      4. "Douglas James-Taylor returns to Walsall!". www.saddlers.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
      5. "Danny Johnson returns to the Poundland Bescot Stadium!". www.saddlers.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
      6. "Saddlers snap up Ryan Stirk as first summer signing". Walsall FC. 16 June 2023. Retrieved 16 June 2023.
      7. "Harry Williams signs for the Saddlers!". www.saddlers.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-20.
      8. "Jackson Smith returns to Walsall!". Walsall FC. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
      9. "Aramide Oteh returns to Walsall!". Walsall FC. 24 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
      10. "Released and Retained list". Walsall FC. 19 May 2023. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
      11. "Welcome, Timmy Abraham!". Boreham Wood FC. 1 July 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
      12. "Welcome to the Yellows, Peter Clarke". Warrington Town FC. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
      13. "Town sign Liam Kinsella". Swindon Town FC. 28 July 2023. Retrieved 28 July 2023.
      14. "Joss Labadie Signs for Solihull Moors". Solihull Moors FC. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
      15. "Forest Green sign former Walsall midfielder Maddox". British Broadcasting Corporation. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
      16. "Northampton Town Sign Defender Manny Monthe". Northampton Town FC. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
      17. "White takes flight on the right". Ebbsfleet United FC. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
      18. "Motherwell sign striker Wilkinson on two-year deal". British Broadcasting Corporation. 4 July 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
      19. "Andy Williams is Back at Edgar Street". Hereford FC. 6 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
      20. "Alvechurch Snap Up Young Striker". Southern Football League. 21 July 2023. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
      21. "Walsall defender Hussey announces retirement". British Broadcasting Corporation. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
      22. "Freddie Draper joins the Saddlers on a season-long loan!". Walsall FC. 7 July 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
      23. "Ross Tierney joins the Saddlers on loan from Motherwell". www.saddlers.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
      24. "Harvey Griffiths joins the Saddlers on loan from Wolves". www.saddlers.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
      25. "Saddlers sign David Okagbue on loan from Stoke City". Walsall FC. 1 September 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
      26. "Marvellous Onabirekhanlen joins Stourbridge on youth loan". Walsall FC. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
      27. "Ronan Maher joins Rushall Olympic on loan". Walsall FC. 25 August 2023. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
      28. "Marvellous Onabirekhanlen joins Chasetown on loan". Walsall FC. 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
      29. "Marvellous Onabirekhanlen extends Chasetown loan". Walsall FC. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
      30. "George Barrett joins Paget Rangers on loan". Walsall FC. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
      31. "Saddlers to visit Solihull Moors in pre-season". Walsall FC. 23 May 2023. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
      32. "Saddlers to face Leamington and Aston Villa in pre-season". Walsall FC. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
      33. "Rochdale game added in memory of Wayne Evans". Walsall FC. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
      34. "EFL Regulations Section 3 – The League; subsection 9 – Method of Determining League Positions". EFL. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
      35. "2023/24 fixtures revealed!". Walsall FC. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
      36. "Saddlers to travel to Billericay or Sheppey in FA Cup". Walsall FC. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 17 October 2023.
      37. "Saddlers to visit Blackburn Rovers in Carabao Cup first round". Walsall FC. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
      38. "Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy information". Walsall FC. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
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