ROYSTON TOWN vs STOURBRIDGE - MATCHDAY PROGRAMME - SATURDAY 16th OCTOBER 2021

SOUTHERN LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP

ROYSTON TOWN FC vs STOURBRIDGE FC Saturday 16th October 2021 Kick Off: 3.00pm

Royston Town FC would like to welcome today's opponents Stourbridge FC for their visit to Garden Walk for this Pitching In Southern Football League Premier Division Central fixture.

We wish their Players, Officials and Supporters an enjoyable afternoon and hope that the match will be a keenly contested and entertaining game.

We also welcome today’s Match Officials and hope they too have an enjoyable game.

TODAY'S MATCH SPONSOR

www.roystontownyouthfc.com

Royston Town Football Club President Chairman Secretary

Founded 1875 Alan Barlow Steve Jackson Terry McKinnell 9 Valley Rise, Royston, Herts SG8 9EY

07772 086709

Treasurer Welfare Officer Fixture Secretary Executive Board

Webmaster Programme Editor Official Photographer

email: secretary@roystontownfc.co.uk Jeff Gill Angela Baulk Steve Endacott (07971 512402) Trevor Burrows, Andy Toovey, Eric Joyce, David Baulk, Angela Baulk, Chris Coote, Duncan Easley, Giles Parnwell, Neil MacLeod, Matt Clowery Steve Endacott Angela Baulk Kevin Richards

Football Management Team First Team Manager First Team Asst Manager Reserve Team Manager U18 Team Managers Women's Team Manager Vets Team Manager

Steve Castle Chris Watters Lewis Endacott Dan Evans/Matt Campany Lewis Endacott Lee Wilkinson

Ground

Garden Walk, Royston, Herts SG8 7HP Telephone (01763) 241204

Colours

First XI Reserves U18 Women's Vets

White/Black/White White/Black/White White/Black/Black White/Black/White White/Black/Black

Members of: The Hertfordshire Football Association Southern League Premier Division The Herts Senior County League Thurlow Nunn Youth League Eastern Region Women’s Football League The Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire Ladies League Royston Town Football Club is an unincorporated association controlled by its members under the Constitution of RTFC

WHO'S GOT WHO? Today's other fixtures SATURDAY 16th October 2021 AFC Rushden & Diamonds v Alvechurch Biggleswade Town v Rushall Olympic Hednesford Town v Redditch United Hitchin Town v Needham Market Leiston v Barwell Nuneaton Borough v Lowestoft Town

CLUB HONOURS WINNERS Herts County League (Div I) 1969-70, 1972-73 Herts County League (Premier Div) 1976-1977 South Midlands League (Div I) 1977-1978 South Midlands Reserve League (Div II) 1978-1979 South Midlands Reserve League (Div I) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div IV) League Cup, 1978-79, 1979-1980 Herts Charity Shield, 1981-82, 1989-90, 1996-1997 Herts Intermediate Cup, 1988-1989 Chiltern Youth League (Div I) 1989-1990 South Combinations Reserve Floodlight Cup, 1992-1993 Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1992-1993 South Midlands Challenge Trophy, 1995-1996 Eastern Region Women’s League (Div II) 1998-1999 Eastern Counties Youth League Cup, 2001-2002 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2004-2005 KB Tyres Division III Champions 2006-2007 South Midlands League (Div I) 2008-2009 South Midlands League Cup (Div I) 2008-2009 South Midlands Floodlit Cup 1994-1995 2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011-2012 South Midlands Reserve League (Div II East) 2008-2009 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Cup 2008-2009 KB Tyres Division I League Cup 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserve Floodlit Cup 2009-2010 BIS Cambs League Division 2A 2010/2011 BIS Cambs League Divisional Champions 2010/2011 Veterans Cambridgeshire Invitation Cup 2010/2011 South Midlands Premier League 2011/2012 South Midlands Premier League Cup 2011/2012 Suburban League North Division 2012/2013, 2013/2014 Joint Winners of the Hinchingbrooke Cup 2013 Eastern Region Women’s League Plate 2013/2014, 2014/15 Suburban Premier League 2015-16 Eastern Region Women’s League Division 1 West 2015/16 Southern League Div 1 Central 2016/17

RUNNERS UP South Midlands Challenge Cup, 1978-1979 Herts Charity Shield, 1978-79, 1998-99, 2004-05, 2008-2009 South Midlands League (Premier Div) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div IV) 1979-1980 North Herts (Div III) 1981-1982 North Herts (Div II) 1982-1983 South Midlands Res Section Trophy, 1982-1983 Chiltern Youth League Cup, 1986-87, 1988-1989 Herts Intermediate Cup, 1989-1990 Herts County Youth Cup, 1992-1993 North Herts (Div I), 1993-1994 South Midlands Floodlit Cup, 1995-1996 Herts F.A. Women’s Cup, 1998-99, 2001-2002 2013/14 Eastern Region Women’s League (Div I) 1999-2000, 2013/2014 2014/15 Eastern Junior Plate, 2001-2002 KB Tyres Division I 2008-2009, 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserve Challenge Trophy 2009-2010 South Midlands Reserves Floodlit Cup 2010/2011 Hertfordshire Women’s County Cup 2013/2014 Eastern Region Women’s League, League Cup 2014/15 Southern League Division 1 Central 2014/15 2015/16

SCORES ON THE DOORS! LEAGUE TABLE PITCHING IN SOUTHERN LEAGUE PREMIER CENTRAL DIVISION

SO WHEN DID IT ALL BEGIN? The history of Royston Town FC After some intensive research, the evidence is that the club came into existence in 1875 making Royston the third oldest Club in Hertfordshire after Hitchin and Bishop Stortford.

The Club’s very first honour came in 1911/12 when they won the Creake Charity Shield beating Wisbech 1-0 in extra time.

The Club’s first major honour in more recent times came in the guise of promotion to the Herts County Premier League in 1969/70 and they went on to be champions in 1972/73 and 1976/77.

In 1978 we rejoined the South Midlands League and won the Division One title at the first time of asking. Success continued with a final appearance in the Herts Charity Shield for the first time in 1979 and runners up spot in the South Midlands League Premier Division in 1980. The Herts Charity Shield was won in 1981/82 and two years later the Club joined the Isthmian League Division Two North where we remained for 10 seasons before returning to the South Midlands League in 1994.

After a period in the doldrums that culminated in relegation from the South Midlands League Premier Division at the end of 2006/07, Paul Attfield was appointed manager with ex-Spurs favourite Tony Galvin returning to Garden Walk 1st Team Coach in November 2007.

Paul immediately set about building a new 1st Team squad and a run of 17 games undefeated saw the Club move from the bottom of the table to finish in 5th place in the League.

The foundations had been laid for the 2008/09 season and the first team took the South Midlands Division One League title with one of the best sets of stats for any Step 6 Club in the country W33, D4, L3, GF138, GA30, GD+108, PTS 103.

The 2011/2012 season will be seen as a watershed in our history with winning the South Midlands Premier Division title and promotion to Step 4 in the shape of the Evo-Stik Southern League Division One Central.

In our first season back at Step 4 after an absence of 19 years, it was hard to know what to expect and how we would perform. Most of our supporters felt a mid-table position would be an acceptable target for the season, but we quickly found ourselves exceeding all expectations as our performances propelled us towards the top of the table. Four straight wins in the first four games set the tone and a run of nine wins with just one defeat between October and December saw us maintain a play-off position. In the very last game of the season a playoff was still a possibility and having gone 2-1 up away at AFC Hayes with just a few minutes of the game left it looked a near certainty. But it was not to be as Hayes scored an 87-minute equaliser and our play-off place was lost.

In our second season at this level, our steady progress to claim a place in the playoff zone was given a severe jolt when Paul Attfield announced his resignation as first team manager due to ill health at the beginning of November. The search for his replacement began almost immediately and we were inundated with applications from some very well know and successful managers. After an exhaustive selection process, the Board appointed Steve Castle at the end of November and on Boxing Day Steve officially took over securing a 0 – 0 draw against the League’s form team and eventual champions Dunstable Town.

Our 2014/15 season opener was at home against one of the promotion favourites Rugby Town but an impressive team display ensured their threat was stifled and we ran out winners 2 -1. That victory really did set things buzzing but we were quickly brought back down to earth when on the following Tuesday night Bedworth United were the visitors winning the game 3 – 1.

As we all know consistency in performances provides the key to long term success and although the early stages of the season produced good results against the likes of Daventry Town and Beaconsfield these were punctuated by dismal performances against the likes of Aylesbury and Egham Town. From mid-November to mid-December We really lost our way with six defeats in seven games but our rollercoaster ride saw an incredible run of form over the Christmas period and into the New Year with five straight wins which helped us maintain a position in the playoff places.

On a miserable Tuesday evening in February we travelled to lowly AFC Hayes and after an abject performance we lost the game 2 – 0. This prompted our Chairman to tell Steve Castle that he had given up on this team making the play – offs and said that we should start preparing instead for next season. That message was conveyed to players and we witnessed a most remarkable transformation in our results with a 14 game unbeaten run during which we scored 29 goals and conceded just seven resulting in us achieving the runners up spot to league champions Kettering Town and securing our place in the play- off semi final where we met local rivals Barton Rovers.

After an incident packed 90 minutes and extra time the game ended in a goalless draw but it was not to be our night and we lost the shoot out 4-5 and had to suffer the agony of all the emotions which go with being defeated in this way.

We started the 2015/16 season strongly and between the end of December and the end of March we produced a rich vein of form with only one defeat in 14 games and this ensured we were sitting on top of the league with just 7 games to go and with the expectation that we could win promotion outright ran high throughout the whole club.However three games in succession proved our down fall when we could only draw 0 – 0 with Bedford and lost to Egham away 3- 1 and Godalming at home 1- 0 and once again we ended up in the play offs against AFC Rushden but we failed to turn up and went out tamely to our opponents 2 - 1.

Having finished runners up for two years in succession Steve Castle was determined to make it third time lucky and began to recruit some experienced new blood in the shape of John Frendo and Adam Murray whilst at the same time giving youngsters Gus Scott Morris and Josh Castiglione extended runs in the first team.

However the season didn’t start well and after four games we’d only mustered five points whilst promotion rivals Farnborough just couldn’t stop winning. Although results did improve, defeat in the FA Cup to Heybridge Swifts 4 – 1 and a thrashing by Barton Rovers at home 6 – 3 at the end of September didn’t do a great of good for our confidence.

Things took a dramatic turn thereafter with 12 successive league wins which ended with defeat 2-1 at Kidlington in early January 2017, interspersed by a magnificent run in the FA Trophy including victory against Step 2 outfit Hampton and Richmond Borough before in the replay against Dulwich Hamlet we eventually went down 1 -0.

With cup football out of the way the team put together an incredible run of 16 league games undefeated including a 5 – 0 thrashing of closest rivals Farnborough which saw us maintain the top spot until the end of the season by a margin of 12 points and the highest number of goals scored, 120, across all three Evostik Leagues.

Promotion to the Southern Premier League means that the Club will be playing at its highest level in its 142 year history!

Season 2017/18 saw The Crows exceeded all expectations in our first season at Step 3.

Throughout the season we managed to maintain our hopes of a play-off place until they were finally put to bed with two successive defeats against the eventually play-off winners Slough Town and we had to be satisfied with a seventh place finish. The signing of Adam Marriott, a proven goal scorer who had played for Lincoln City, Stevenage and Cambridge United was without a doubt a real coup and he was to play a key role in the progress made by the Club by becoming our leading marksman with 31 goals.A good run in the FA Trophy with wins against Enfield Town and Leatherhead came to an end against Eastbourne Borough when having managed to draw at their place we lost the replay on penalties. We managed to get to the final of the Herts Senior Cup were we played Boreham Wood from Step 2 and in spite of a brave performance we never really had the power to compete and lost 2 – 1.

Given where we had started from we definitely exceeded our own and many other peoples’ expectations and this has provided us with the building blocks to face this season in the newly constituted Southern Premier Central League.

Season 2018/19 saw us finishing in a respectable 9th position in what proved to be a very strong Premier Division Central. During February/March we recorded six wins out of seven league games to give us a faint hope of a playoff spot, but three straight defeats in April put paid to our chances.

We suffered another early at AFC Sudbury in the FA Cup and in the FA Trophy we progressed through two rounds before being beaten in a replay at Needham Market.

Season 2019/20 will go down in the Club’s history as one of the most successful and exciting but ultimately one which ended in bitter disappointment.

Steve Castle was quick to ensure we had players who were proven goal scorers and the arrival of Matt Bateman, Brandon Adams and Claudio Ofosu did not disappoint. Perhaps the only sadness that our young and highly talented left wing-back Joe Newton had created so much interest from EFL Clubs that in the end, it was inevitable he would have to leave us and Joe was signed by Coventry City.

No Crows fans will ever forget the team's brilliant performances in both the FA Cup and FA Trophy and although our FA Cup run ended with defeat to the very talented Maldon and Tiptree in front of a record crowd for Garden Walk of 1152. The interest generated in the Crows both locally and beyond was immense and set the scene for what was to come in the FA Trophy. It all started with very comfortable wins against Brightlingsea Regent and Haywards Heath and then were drawn away at Step 2 table-topping Wealdstone which for many was one of the games of the season as Royston shot into a 2- 0 lead before Wealdstone hit back to pull the tie level 2-2. In spite of being under constant pressure, the Crows mounted a great counterattack down the left and the cross was despatched by Brandon Adams to give the Crow’s victory 3-2. What followed was truly historic with home wins against Step 2 teams Boreham Wood 2-0, Chester 3-0 and away at National League Ebbsfleet 2-0, to set up a quarter-final tie away at Concord Rangers. In the run-up to the game, the rain had been falling heavily but our opponents declared the pitch playable and the invasion of six coach loads of Royston supporters and a convoy of cars and mini-buses descended on Canvey Island. As we started arriving for the kick-off the match referee declared the pitch unplayable and with a sense of extreme disappointment and also a lot of anger we all returned home. The following Tuesday the game went ahead but it was not to be and we were defeated 2-1. There is no doubt the Clubs achievements in the FA Trophy marked a watershed in our history which will be remembered for a very long time.

Running alongside the cup success it was easy to forget that we had got ourselves in contention to win the League with a run of only two defeats in 20 league fixtures. With 3 games in hand and only 2 points behind Peterborough Sports and Tamworth and playing some of our best football, we looked nailed on to win the League. Then out of the blue, the Covid crisis hit all levels of football and with what many felt was indecent haste the League decided to null and void the whole season.

All our achievements were suddenly for nothing and the taste of bitter disappointment amongst all supporters of the Crows was very hard to swallow.

Season 2020/21: As the pandemic took hold it seemed like the chances of seeing a new season start were remote but by summer 2020 there had been a massive improvement and by July the lockdown ended albeit with a host of restrictions in place.

By the time we had assembled a squad, we were without key players such as Matt Bateman who moved to Hemel Hempstead and Claudio Ofosu who joined Hartlepool and with a lot of the momentum and energy generated by the now-defunct season now dissipated we were finding it hard to get going again. In the League, we seemed to slip into the habit of conceding goals when in a winning position and a string of draws meant we languished in the lower half of the division.

The FA cup again promised to provide excitement with wins against Newmarket, Wroxham and AFC Stamford before losing to our old rivals Bishops Stortford. We won our first two ties in the FA Trophy against Hythe Town and Tamworth before going out 3-2 away at Brackley by which time the League season was yet again declared null and void as the second wave of Covid took its stranglehold.

A comprehensive history of the Club can be found in The History of Royston Town FC 1875 - 2012 first published in 2013. The book was written by the Club’s President, Alan Barlow following more than five years of painstaking research and can be purchased via the Club.

WHO'S WHO OF THE CROWS Joe Welch (Goalkeeper) Joined us from Chelmsford City in 2016/17, Joe started his career at Southend United before joining Histon where he played over 50 games and earned a loan deal at Stevenage. Joe’s other clubs include Ebbsfleet, Bromley and St Albans City.

Ed Asafu-Adjaye (Defender) Versatile defender who re-joined the Crows in 2019 after spending a season at Hayes & Yeading. Started his playing career at Luton Town and broke into the 1st team during the 2008/9 season. In total he made 64 appearances for The Hatters before moving to Forest Green Rovers and then to Hemel Hempstead Town.

Adam Murray (Defender) Adam joined us at the beginning of 2017/18, having spent the previous two seasons at Cambridge City where he made 60 appearances. He quickly settled into the squad and has proved to be a formidable addition for the Crows.

Ronnie Henry (Defender) Signed for the Crows at the beginning of this season after spending a season at Billericay Town. Ronnie was a product of the Spurs youth system, before going on to play 502 games for Stevenage (the club’s all-time record appearances) in two spells either side of two seasons at Luton Town.

Daniel Brathwaite (Defender) Club skipper, Dan joined the Crows from Chesham United for the start of 2015/16.

He is an experienced defender whose former clubs include Boreham Wood and Dover Athletic.

Dan Newton (Defender) Joined the Crows early into season 2020/21, Centre-Back Dan's previous clubs were Biggleswade FC and Northwood. He is a calm and confident defender and cousin of former Crow Joe Newton.

James Brighton (Defender) Experienced full-back who joined us in November 2019 from Kettering Town, where he had spent a successful four seasons. James has previously played for Hemel Hempstead Town, Cambridge City & Cambridge United.

Scott Bridges (Midfield) Scott re-joined the Crows in season 2020/21 after spending the previous season at Hayes & Yeading, having been a Crow for four years previously, scoring 71 goals in 194 appearances. Originally with Aston Villa until 2007, Scott then played most of his football at Banbury United.

Spyros Mentis (Midfield) Versatile, hard-working and tough-tackling midfielder or defender, Spyros re-joined The Crows in 2018/19 after a season away at Hayes & Yeading, he previously played just under 100 games for us from 2013 during his first spell at Garden Walk.

Tom Newman (Midfield) Joined the Crows at the start of 2018/19, Tom has impressed when called upon and has chipped in with some useful goals from midfield.

Isa Rotimi (Midfield) Young midfielder who signed for the Crows at the beginning of season 2019/20, Isa previously spent two seasons at Colney Heath.

SUPPLIERS OF PRIZES FOR THE FAMOUS ROYSTON TOWN FC MEAT RAFFLE

Dan Green (Midfield) Joined us in December 2018 from Chesham United, Dan is an experienced midfielder whose other previous clubs include St Albans City and Dunstable Town.

Brandon Adams (Forward) Signed for the Crows in 2019, Brandon previously spent four years at Queens Park Rangers which included loan deals at Malaysian club Perlis and Linfield in Northern Ireland. After leaving the R’s in 2018 Brandon dropped into non-league hoping to catch the eye of pro clubs and has certainty impressed. After a short stint at Enfield Town he moved to Ware in 2018/19 and bagged an impressive 23 league goals in 25 games.

Josh Williams (Forward) Signed for the Crows at the start of last season after spending the previous season at Ware, where he scored 17 goals in 30 appearances, Josh previously played for FC Romania.

Isaac Galliford (Forward) Previously with Hitchin Town, St Neots Town & Hemel Hempstead after starting out with Luton Town. Isaac signed for us for the beginning of last season. Whilst with The Canaries Isaac’s performances earned him an England ‘C’ call-up.

Matt Bateman (Forward) Re-joined us for the start this season from Hemel Hempstead, where he spent last season after moving from the Crows. Matt signed for the Crows at the start of season 2019/20 and scored an impressive 24 goals in 41 games during that season to earn his move to Hemel. Previous to that Matt played a big part in Berkhamsted’s push for promotion in 2018/19 where he netted 43 times in 54 appearances for The Comrades.

Harry Draper (Forward) Signed for the Crows on loan from Stevenage at the start of this season. Harry has been with Stevenage from the age of eight, he signed his first professional deal at Boro’ in summer 2019 and then spent that season on loan at Hitchin Town.

Finlay Titchmarsh (Defender) Young defender who signed for the Crows at the beginning of this season, Finlay was originally with Barnet before having spells with Staines Town and Ware.

COME ON

YOU

CROWS!

TODAY'S OPPONENTS Stourbridge FC Club History "The Glassboys" were founded in 1876 and were originally known as Stourbridge Standard. Top honours eluded the club until the 1887-88 season when the Kidderminster Cup and the Worcester Charity Cup were won. By that time, the club had changed its name to "Stourbridge Football Club" and were competing in the Birmingham and District League, where reasonable success was achieved without actually gaining the league title, but the Worcestershire Senior Cup was won on three occasions. The 1923-24 season was one of the best in the club's history when the Birmingham League championship was clinched by finishing 7 points clear of Shrewsbury and the Worcestershire Senior Cup was won yet again.

After the Second World War, "The Glassboys" (reflecting the town's connection with the Cut Glass industry) enjoyed a particularly successful period with the Birmingham Combination Championship achieved in 1952 and the Birmingham, Worcestershire and Herefordshire Senior Cups were also won during this particular era. The club returned to the Birmingham League in 1954 and were runners-up in 1955-56. The Birmingham Senior Cup was won for the second time in 1958-59 and later, the 1967-68 season saw the club achieve a 'double' in lifting the Worcestershire and Birmingham Senior Cups.

In 1971 the club was elected to the Southern League and soon enjoyed success under manager Alan Grundy in the 1973-74 season, with the Division 1 (North) title and the Merit Cup (for the league's highest goalscorers) coming to Amblecote. Another highlight in 1973-74 was a tremendous run in the Welsh Cup, in which we disposed of both Swansea and Wrexham and then faced Cardiff City in a two-leg final. A record crowd of 5,726 saw the Glassboys lose the home leg 1-0 and then go down 1-0 at Ninian Park.

Four seasons were spent in the Premier Division of the Southern League between 1974 and 1984. Subsequent Midland Division form was mediocre too, despite three good F.A. Cup runs, and a disastrous run of results in 1987-88 led to a relegation spot, however, we were re-elected to the League in the close season. Stourbridge then went from strength to strength, culminating in winning the Midland Division Championship in 1991. But disappointment followed when Southern League officials refused promotion due to the shared use of the Ground with the Cricket Club. 1992-93 also proved to be a remarkable season. Our league form was inconsistent, however, following a memorable run in the Southern League Cup we reached the final, where we upset the form book by recording a 3-2 aggregate success over Dover Athletic to win the trophy.

After a mixed start to the 1995-96 season, the Club parted company with boss Colin Gordon at Christmas and then Chairman Morton Bartleet took control of team affairs. He led the side to the 1996 Worcestershire Senior Cup final where the Glassboys lost 4-3 on aggregate to Bromsgrove Rovers.

The club suffered a torrid period on and off the pitch at the start of the 1999-2000 season and Micky Guest resigned. Meanwhile, a new owner came to the club, and appointed Mark Serrell as Chairman and Mark Harrison as Manager. Despite an influx of new players, continued poor results meant the bell finally tolled on our 29-year spell at Southern League level with defeat in the last game of the season at Hinckley United.

We finished in 5th place in our inaugural season in the Midland Football Alliance, but the highlight of the 2000-01 season was the capture of the MFA Davis League Cup. We emerged victorious over Bridgnorth Town following a penalty shoot-out after the final had finished in a 1-1 draw. The 2001-02 season began well with the lifting of the Joe McGorian Cup. In November 2001, the club parted company with Mark Harrison, with Joe Jackson taking over as manager. We remained amongst the front-runners in the League and on the final Saturday of the season, we have crowned champions.

Joe Jackson again led the club to the Midland Football Alliance Championship in 2002-03. Our record total of 101 league points only just being sufficient to overcome the strong challenge of Rushall Olympic and Stratford Town.

The Joe McGorian Cup had earlier been retained after a 2-0 win at Rushall. Promotion though proved beyond us due to the ground grading regulations in place at the time. Joe Jackson declined to try and lead us to a hat trick of titles in 2003-04 and was replaced by Jon Ford and Gary Hackett. The new management team had to rebuild the site from scratch, but an encouraging second half of the season saw the Glassboys finish a creditable 9th. In 200405 we enjoyed a memorable run in the F.A. Vase reaching the last 8. In the league, we were well placed for a title push at the turn of the year, but after our exit from the Vase in early March we suffered a terrible run of results and eventually finished in 8th place.

In 2005 Gary Hackett took sole charge of the team. Off the pitch, efforts were made to enable the club to meet the FA ground grading requirements. Entering the last week of the season, a league and cup 'double' was still achievable, but we went down to a 1-0 defeat to Willenhall Town in the Final of the Birmingham Senior Cup and then were pipped to the MFA title by Chasetown. An anxious two-week gap followed before we received confirmation of promotion and a return to the Southern League after 6 years at the lower level.

In our first season back in the Southern League Midlands Division, a respectable 7th place finish in 2006-07 was achieved. We also reached the final of the Worcestershire Senior Cup. In the 2007-08 season, an excellent run of results during March and April saw us seal a third-place finish in the Midlands Division to reach the play-offs. A narrow 1-0 win at home to Sutton Coldfield took us through to the Final at second-placed Leamington and in front of a crowd of 1.634, a stunning goal from Leon Broadhurst four minutes from the end of extra-time sealed a 2-1 victory to earn us a second promotion in three seasons and a return to the Premier Division of the Southern League after a gap of 24 years! After a difficult start to our return to the Premier Division, we eventually acclimatized to the higher level with a final placing of 16th. We also reached our third senior cup final in four seasons with a fine run in the Birmingham Senior Cup, however, we once again suffered heartbreak in the final as Hednesford Town defeated us 2 - 0.

In 2009-10 Gary Hackett became the first Stourbridge manager to take the club to the First Round Proper of the FA Cup with the Glassboys earning a home tie with Walsall. In front of a crowd of 2,014 at the War Memorial Athletic Ground the Saddlers ran out narrow 1-0 winners. Some excellent results in the second half of the campaign also saw Stourbridge finish in 9th place in the league. 2010-11 saw the Glassboys taste cup final success as we defeated Worcester City 2 - 0 to lift the Worcestershire Senior Cup. Another solid Premier Division season ended with Stourbridge finishing 8th.

In 2011-12 we reached the First Round Proper of the FA Cup for the second time in three seasons and after a 3-3 draw away at League Two Plymouth Argyle, a crowd of 2,519 saw the Glassboys defeat the Devon club 2 - 0 to reach the 2nd Round Proper for the first time. Our glorious run was finally ended by Stevenage who won 3-0 at Stourbridge in front of an attendance of 3,067.

We got our 2012-13 campaign off to a winning start victory at Kidderminster Harriers enabled us to retain the Worcestershire Senior Cup. Our early season form was up and down. From December onwards though, we showed more consistency and clinched runners up spot in the Premier Division. The Worcestershire Senior Cup was won for a third successive time, however, a week later we suffered play-off heartbreak as we were beaten 2 – 1 at home by Gosport Borough in the semi-finals to miss out on the chance of promotion.

In 2013-14 the club reached the Proper stages of the F A Cup once again. A 4 – 1 home victory over league rivals Biggleswade Town in the 1st Round Proper earned us an away tie at Stevenage where we bowed out after a 4 – 0 defeat. In the league, a last-day draw at Hitchin Town secured 5th spot and a play-off place for a second successive season, however in the semi-final we were beaten 2 – 1 at league runners-up Chesham United.

We were moved across the pyramid for the 2014-15 season to become members of the Northern Premier League for the first time in the club’s history. In an ultimately disappointing campaign, a dismal run of one win in our last 17 league games saw us eventually finish in 16th place.

A host of new signings over the following summer gave the side a fresh look for 2015-16. Another remarkable run in the F A Cup, including victories over Kidderminster Harriers and Dover Athletic saw the club reach the Second Round Proper once again before losing 2 - 0 to Eastleigh in-front of 2,086 at the War Memorial Athletic Ground. We also reached the last sixteen of the F A Trophy before succumbing to Nantwich Town. There was some late season disappointment, however, when defeats in our last two league games saw us consigned to a 6th place finish, therefore narrowly missing out on the play-offs.

The club once again enjoyed success in the F A Cup in 2016-17. In the 2nd Round Proper the Glassboys defeated League One club Northampton Town at home 1 – 0, in front of a crowd of 2,520, to famously reach the 3rd Round Proper for the first time in our history, where with the backing of over 2,000 travelling fans, we fell to a narrow 2 – 1 defeat away at Wycombe Wanderers. Soon afterwards defender Dan Scarr was sold to Birmingham City for a five-figure sum. A strong April saw us finish 3rd in the Premier Division to secure a play-off berth, but after overcoming Workington at home in the semi-finals, we lost 1 - 0 away to league runners-up Spennymoor Town in the play-off final to miss out on promotion.

The 2017-18 campaign saw the Glassboys have mixed fortunes in the league, eventually ending in 10th place, but the club reached the 4th Qualifying Round of the F A Cup and 2nd Round proper of the F A Trophy and the season ended on a high note with the lifting of the Birmingham Senior Cup with a 2-1 win over Hednesford Town.

After the playoff loss, Gary Hackett resigned. Jon Ford and other members of his backroom team also followed.

Ian Long then arrived from Alvechurch in May 2019 to take over. Despite a large turnover of players that summer, the Club reached the 1st Round Proper of the FA Cup again losing to Eastleigh after a replay. In February 2020 Ian Long was relieved of his duties with Mark Yates appointed in his place with Neil Howarth as his assistant just before the campaign was brought to a premature end by the covid pandemic.

The 2020/21 season proved to be a short affair as the pandemic situation worsened again, but the Glassboys exited both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy at the first hurdle, losing on penalties away to Tamworth after a 3 – 3 draw after 90 minutes in the FA Cup and suffering a 3 – 0 home defeat to Stamford AFC in the FA Trophy.

WHO ARE YA? Stourbridge FC Player Pen Pics CHARLIE PRICE Goalkeeper who first joined the club in May 2015 from Tividale and he made 14 appearances for the Glassboys in 2015-16 before ending that campaign on dual registration to Lye Town. He moved to Alvechurch in the summer of 2016 after his year at Stourbridge but in June 2019 he returned for a second stint at the War Memorial Athletic Ground and some strong performances early in 2020 have since seen him secure the no. 1 jersey.

LEE VAUGHAN Birmingham-born, former England C International arrived in the summer of 2021 from Barnet FC. He is a solid, committed right-back who likes to get forward to support the attack whenever possible. He started his career at Birmingham City and Portsmouth before being signed by Walsall. Whilst with the Saddlers he had loan spells at Willenhall Town and AFC Telford United before signing for AFC Telford in 2006. He moved to Kidderminster Harriers in May 2010 before he was handed the chance to play League football in the summer of 2014 when Mark Yates swooped to sign him for Cheltenham Town.

He was signed on loan by Tranmere Rovers in November 2015 with that move being made permanent in January 2016. Ahead of the 2017/18 season, he returned to Kidderminster Harriers for a second stint before signing for Solihull Moors in February 2019. He was released at the end of the 2019/20 season and he once more returned to AFC Telford in the summer of 2020. Once the National League North campaign was curtailed in 2021, he moved to Barnet early in March 2021 before being freed at the end of the season.

JACK WILSON Experienced full-back who signed from Bromsgrove Sporting in September 2021. Well-regarded for his strength, pace and work-rate. He had a short stint at Lichfield City at the start of the 2015/16 season before re-joining Sporting.

BEN O’HANLON A left-sided defender or midfielder who signed in the summer of 2020 from Hednesford Town. The Telford-born player started his career with Wolves but left Molineux in the summer of 2017 having had loan spells with Corby Town, Nuneaton and AFC Telford. He then joined Harrogate Town before signing for Darlington in January 2018. He returned to the Midlands on loan at Hednesford in February 2019, before making the move permanent ahead of the 2019-20 campaign.

LATHANIEL ROWE-TURNER An athletic left-sided defender with a strong presence who is equally adept at full-back or in the heart of the defence. He signed for Stourbridge in the summer of 2021 from Tamworth. He began his career with Leicester City, progressing from their academy to the reserves. In October 2008 he joined Cheltenham Town on loan and later that season he had further loan spells at Redditch United and King's Lynn. In February 2010 he moved to Torquay United and spent the next couple of years with the Devon club before being released in 2012. In July 2012 he was signed by Luton Town on a two-year deal. In September 2013 he joined Alfreton Town on loan before the loan was cut short when Luton briefly recalled him in February 2014. He re-joined the Derbyshire outfit on loan again just over a month later before joining them on a permanent basis in the summer of 2014. In June 2015 he signed for Kidderminster Harriers but in January 2016 was loaned out to Nuneaton Town. He re-joined Torquay United in the summer of 2016 for a year before agreeing a one-year deal with Chester FC for the 2017/18 season. He signed a one-year contract with Kettering Town in August 2018. In June 2019 he moved to Tamworth where he spent the last two covid interrupted seasons.

TOM TAYLOR Arrived at Stourbridge from Shifnal Town in September 2021. He had a spell with Shrewsbury Town early on and played junior and youth football in Shropshire before spending much of his adult playing career in North Wales. Has featured for the likes of Porthmadog, Caernarfon Town, Pentraeth, Glentraeth, Holyhead Hotspur and Llangefni Town. Tom was originally a striker however after a couple of injuries, he converted to playing centre-half. In 2018 he signed for Bromsgrove Sporting, featuring in their promotion push from step 4. He was later appointed captain of Bromsgrove Sporting in 2020, but he opted to leave the club in April 2021 due to his work commitments at that time and he began the current campaign with Shifnal Town. Tom has also represented Ynys Mon (Anglesey) in the Inter-Island Games.

TOMIWA SOLANKE A versatile, young defensive midfielder or central defender who was signed in early September 2021. He was previously with WBA, progressing through their youth ranks and appearing for The Baggies at under 23 level in the EFL Trophy. He had a short loan spell with Hednesford Town early in 2020 before the covid-19 pandemic set in. He was released by WBA in May 2021 and had been on trial with Port Vale during pre-season.

JAMES McQUILKIN Tipton-born midfielder signed for Stourbridge in the summer of 2021. A former Northern Ireland under 21 International, he is a hard-working creative midfield player. Started as a youth scholar at WBA. After being released in 2007 he went to play in the Czech Republic for FC Tescoma Zlin. He returned to the UK in 2009 signing for Hereford United. After being released by Hereford in the spring of 2013 he joined Walsall FC in July 2013 and spent one season with the Saddlers. He began the 2014/15 campaign with Hednesford Town before signing for Torquay United in November 2014 for the remainder of that season. He had brief stints with AFC Telford United and Hednesford Town before being recruited by Kidderminster Harriers in November 2015. In June 2018 he returned to AFC Telford United before signing for Hereford FC in the autumn of 2020.

DARRYL KNIGHTS Joined the Glassboys from AFC Telford in the summer of 2020. The Suffolk-born attacking playmaker can operate at the head of a midfield diamond or out wide. He started his career with Ipswich Town, before spending time on loan at Yeovil Town, later making the move permanent. He has also had two spells with Kidderminster Harriers, as well as stints with Newport County, Solihull Moors and Tamworth before signing for AFC Telford in the summer of 2018.

MELIS BUSHAJ A Coventry-based midfielder who joined in August 2021 on a long-term loan from Solihull Moors. He is known to Mark Yates from his time in charge of the Moors earlier in 2021. The teenager is a product of the Solihull Moors Football and Education programme, where he captained the under 19's. He was also 'loaned' to Coventry United in the MFL early in the 2019/20 campaign. He was offered his first professional contract by the Moors in the summer of 2020, and this was extended in January 2021 with his new deal running to the end of this season. He subsequently transitioned into the first team squad and joined Halesowen Town on loan in mid-October 2020 before the Southern League season came to a halt a few weeks later.

REECE KING Signed from Buxton in the summer of 2021. The tall, powerful central midfielder began his career at Malvern Town, making his first team debut in the 2011/12 season at the age of 16. He chalked up over 100 appearances before signing for Gloucester City ahead of the 2017/18 campaign. In September 2017 he joined Hednesford Town and in the 2019 close season he signed for Leamington FC. After being restricted to a few substitute appearances in his first month at the Warwickshire club, he opted to re-join Hednesford Town. In February 2020 he completed a move to Buxton FC. He remained with the Bucks for the truncated 2020/21 season before deciding to join a club closer to home for the upcoming campaign.

REECE STYCHE A hard-working forward who signed for Stourbridge in September 2021 from Hednesford Town. The much-travelled striker started out in the youth system at Hednesford before making his first team debut for the Pitmen in April 2007. Spells followed with the likes of Grantham Town, Coalville Town and Shepshed Dynamo before a move to Chasetown in October 2009 before signing for Forest Green Rovers in January 2010. He spent the next four years at Forest Green and in January 2014 he joined Wycombe Wanderers on loan for the remainder of the 2012/13 season before being released by Forest Green at the end of the season. In the summer of 2014, he signed for Kidderminster Harriers, however he was loaned out to Tamworth and ended up spending the remainder of the season with the Lambs. He started the following season back at Kidderminster before linking up with Macclesfield Town, initially on loan, towards the end of October 2015. In May 2016 he signed for Gateshead before returning to Tamworth in January 2017. In November 2017 Reece was transferred to Darlington for an undisclosed fee and became a cult figure there with 18 goals in 33 appearances before being sold to Alfreton Town in October 2018. In May 209 he signed for Hereford FC before moving to Bromsgrove Sporting in February 2020. He agreed a move to Buxton FC for the 2020/21 season and then in May 2021 he returned to Hednesford for a second stint. Reece has also featured for Gibraltar in both UEFA Euro qualifiers and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

JASON COWLEY Joined from Bromsgrove Sporting in the summer of 2021. He first caught the eye with Redditch Borough and then moved to Redditch United in the summer of 2016 before joining Bromsgrove Sporting on dual registration in September 2016. After scoring 107 goals in 127 appearances for the Rouslers he signed for League 2 outfit Stevenage FC. However, the Hertfordshire club had a 2019/20 season to forget, going through four managers before the covid-19 pandemic brought a halt to proceedings in March 2020. He had a loan stint with Solihull Moors early in 2020 before being released by Stevenage in the summer of 2020. He subsequently signed for Macclesfield Town only to see the Silkmen wound up a few days later due to outstanding debts to leave him unattached again. In October 2020 he re-joined Bromsgrove Sporting and made a handful of appearances before the Southern League season was halted early in November 2020. At the beginning of 2021 he joined Kidderminster Harriers on loan before returning to Bromsgrove.

MONTEL GIBSON An athletic striker who has joined on loan from Grimsby Town until the end of January 2022. Started out in the youth ranks at Highgate United before being signed by Notts County. He made his first team debut as a substitute against Hartlepool United in April 2016. He spent the 2016/17 campaign out on loan at various non-league clubs including Romulus, Barwell, Hednesford Town and Sutton Coldfield. After being released in 2017 he signed for Ilkeston Town joining Redditch United in March 2018. He then switched to Bedworth United in November 2018 before linking up with Halesowen Town in July 2019 where he netted 31 times in 46 league and cup. These exploits had not gone unnoticed and in the summer of 2020, he was signed on a three-year deal by Grimsby Town. He joined Altrincham on loan in March 2021 and made a couple of appearances for the Robins before a knee injury cut his time short.

ETHAN MORAN An attacking midfielder signed in August 2021 after successful trials. He progressed through the youth and reserve ranks into the first-team at Worcester City in 2018/19. He had a couple of loan stints at Malvern Town before making the move permanent during the 2019/20 season. Has also recently been involved with the Kidderminster Harriers academy and also linked up with Lye Town in October 2020.

HARVEY PORTMAN Highly regarded teenage defender who has progressed through our youth and academy ranks to be promoted into the senior squad. Made his Stourbridge debut as a second half substitute against Stamford in the FA Trophy in October 2020 and has also gained more senior experience playing for Team Dudley FC in the West Midlands Regional League Division 1.

DANIEL GYASI Pacey young winger or forward who has progressed through the club’s academy system and gained experience playing men’s football with West Midlands Regional League Division 1 side Team Dudley FC before being a part of the first team squad this season, netting against Needham Market in September on only his second appearance.

JOSH MARSDEN Another teenager to have made the leap into first-team football this season after coming through the club’s academy system and gaining senior experience with Team Dudley. The midfielder made his firstteam debut away at Stratford Town in September 2021.

BEN USHER-SHIPWAY Signed on loan from Solihull Moors just before the 2021 August Bank Holiday weekend. He started out with Boldmere St Michaels where he progressed from the youth ranks into the first team. His performances caught the eye of Solihull Moors and in June 2019 he joined the Moors on a one-year deal. He then joined Alvechurch on a three-month loan stint just ahead of the 2019/20 season getting underway before being loaned out again to Nuneaton Borough early in December 2019. He then linked up with Sutton Coldfield Town on loan in mid-January 2020 until the season came to a halt due to covid19. He agreed a new contract with the Moors in the summer of 2020 and made his league debut for the Moors in October 2020 MATTHEW BARNES-HOMER Signed in October 2021 after being a player-coach at AFC Telford for the past few seasons. The 35year-old is a striker that in his heyday was a prolific goalscorer for Kidderminster Harriers and Luton Town. He joined Willenhall Town from Tividale in August 2006 later earning a short-term deal with Wycombe Wanderers in March 2007. He then joined Kidderminster Harriers in the summer of 2007 before joining Luton Town, initially on loan in November 2009, before making the move permanent in January 2010. After a loan spell with Rochdale, he left Luton Town in January 2012 by mutual consent.

Following a stint in Sweden playing for Ostersunds, he returned and signed for Macclesfield Town in June 2012. He joined Forest Green Rovers in August 2013 before moving to Cambridge United in January 2014, but later that season was loaned out to Tamworth. Following stints at Macclesfield Town and with Aldershot Town, Farnborough, Kettering Town and Brackley Town, he linked up with AFC Telford in the summer of 2017 and was later added to the coaching staff.

OSEBI ABADAKI 30-year-old pacey, direct left-winger who joined from Barwell in October 2021 after being released by Matlock Town in July 2021. He started out in the academy system at Blackburn Rovers before short spells at Altrincham and Stalybridge Celtic. He then played for Ashton United before signing for Mossley in the summer of 2010. The much-travelled player subsequently featured for the likes of Salford City, Nantwich Town (twice), Ramsbottom United and Buxton. In the summer of 2017 he signed for Shaw Lane before switching to Stafford Rangers in September 2017. He linked up briefly with Hyde United in October 2018 before moving to Hednesford Town in November 2018. He then switched to Witton Albion in January 2019 for the remainder of the season before re-joining Hednesford for the 2019/20 campaign. He left Keys Park in the summer of 2020 and signed for Matlock in September 2020.

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Joe Welch Ed Asafu-Adjaye Daniel Brathwaite Scott Bridges Adam Murray Ronnie Henry Finley Titchmarsh Harry Draper Brandon Adams Matt Bateman Isaac Galliford Tom Newman James Brighton Fred Brown Isa Rotimi Josh Williams Dan Green Spyros Mentis Dan Newton Ryan Towner

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MANAGERS SPORTS THERAPISTS

Charlie Price 1 Lee Vaughan 2 Jack Wilson 3 Ben O’Hanlon 4 Lathaniel Rowe-Turner 5 Tom Taylor 6 Tomiwa Solanke 7 James Mcquilkin 8 Darryl Knights 9 Melis Bushaj 10 Reece King 11 Reece Styche 12 Jason Cowley 13 Montel Gibson 14 Ethan Moran 15 Harvey Portman 16 Daniel Gyasi 17 Josh Marsden 18 Ben Usher-Shipway 19 Matthew Barnes-Homer 20 Osebi Abadaki 21

Lewis Solly / Lee Vaughan