SALOP LEISURE
MATCH OFFICIALS
2024/25
Referee: Dan Simmons
Assistant Referee: Lewis Tomkins
Assistant Referee: Chris Sale
Fourth Official: Rob Lewis
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is the UK's leading charity dedicated to fighting heart and circulatory diseases through groundbreaking medical research, patient support, and heart health education. Founded in 1961, BHF funds over 1,000 research projects across the UK each year and promotes CPR training, significantly improving survival rates and reducing heart disease risks. Join us in supporting BHF’s mission to keep hearts beating and blood flowing. We are delighted to be part of the Shropshire Football Association Cup Final Day and to celebrate our ongoing two-year partnership. Your unwavering support will be instrumental in helping us advance our mission to fight heart and circulatory diseases. Together, we will raise vital funds for the next scientific breakthrough and promote heart health awareness across the community.
As we gather today to enjoy the excitement of the Cup Final, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved. Your contributions, whether through fundraising, volunteering, or simply spreading the word, will be invaluable moving forwards.
To all the players taking part in today's matches, we wish you the best of luck! Your passion and commitment on the field will inspire us all. Remember, every heartbeat counts, and together, we can make a difference.
Zoe Roberts – Fundraising Manager for British Heart Foundation, covering the Black Country, Staffordshire and Shropshire
Church Stretton town
Church Stretton Town F.C have a history rooted in the local community and are one of the oldest clubs in Shropshire Stretton have spent the majority of their history in the Shropshire County Leagues, but also did have a brief stint in the WMRL a few seasons ago following a promotion. The club's home ground, Russell's Meadow, has been a football venue since the early 1930s.
Home Ground: Russell's Meadow, a football venue since the 1930s, is located on Lutwyche Road.
League: Salop Leisure League
Kit: Black and white vertical stripes.
Achievements: Stretton have won many trophies over the years but more recently have competed in 4 finals over the past 3 seasons - winning this competition 2 seasons ago
Sponsorship: The club is proudly sponsored by The Ragleth Inn, Britpart, Tough Furniture, Wrights Estate Agents, SA Accountancy Services, RTS Doors, Harper Davis Developments, Harper Homes
Our squad has been built over the past few seasons with an emphasis on providing a pathway for young local talent. A lot of the squad have now been together for the past 5 or 6 seasons with a real family feel around the whole club.
One to watch: James Hill - scoring over 30 goals this season, James epitomises everything about Church Stretton Town having been at the club since he was 16 years old, developing into a top quality player.
Church Stretton town
Stretton are managed by Dean Richards and Ross Ramuite who have been at the helm for the past 5 seasons, but have been involved in a playing capacity with the club for over a decade. They are assisted by Joe Bartl and Jamie Bajcer on the coaching staff.
We would like to say a massive thank you for all of the support tonight, but also to our loyal and committed supporters (ultras as we call them) who come and support us every Saturday.
Stretton is a real community club and we will do our absolute best to bring this trophy home tonight.
Now, loud and proud and get behind the team tonight please! UTS!
A final message from the management and players. We would like to personally thank our committee for making nights like this possible. Without their hard work and dedication none of this would be possible, so thank you. A special shout out to our chairman Nick Cole, club secretary Paul Smith and wonder woman Wendy Davis
Shrewsbury up & comers
Shrewsbury Up & Comers Football Club was established in 1973 as a grassroots football club offering children and now adults in the local area an opportunity to play football.
50 years of supporting our local community, the Club continues to offer grassroots football for both boys and girls from the age of 4. Alongside our creche (age 4 to 7) and our junior team setup, we have recently completed the grassroots pathway and offer open age football for both male and females. As it stands currently, we have 657 registered players at the Club.
The Club aims is to provide the opportunity for young players to develop their football and social skills in an enjoyable and safe environment and are continuing to look at opportunities to offer football to under-represented groups. Shrewsbury Up & Comers is an entirely voluntary organisation made up of people who readily give up their time for no monetary reward. With an impressive 189 volunteers currently supporting football in our community.
In 2020 the Club started a Men’s adult team and entered the then New Salop Leisure League. Today the Club have 2 teams in the Salop Leisure Leagues, a first and development team the aim is to finish the club’s male player pathway from under 7’s to the adult game.
In the 2023/24 they had their highest ever League finish of 3rd under now manager Tom Harding and they also won their first ever trophy winning the Tony Bywater League Cup beating Dawley Town at the Bucks Head ground in May 2024. This season we are extremely close to winning the Salop Leisure Premier League, writing this we have 2 massive games still to play.
Shrewsbury up & comers
SHREWSBURY UP AND COMERS SQUAD 2024/25
GOALKEEPERS
JOSH HYDE
COSMIN STEFANESCU
DEFENDERS
TOM ASH
JOSH PARKER
NATHAN SIMON
CALLUM JACKSON
CHARLIE FLETCHER
DAN PARKER
JAMES GWILT
MIDFIELDERS
HARRY HARDING ©
ED BRITTLETON
KEVIN RENSHAW
DAVID HOWELLS
JOE PARRY
TIM DYAS
BEN DAVIES
CIARAN CONLON
JOE PARRY
ATTACKERS
STEVE HOLE
ALEX HUGHES
SHAWN MELUSI
RYAN KNOTT
HARRY MORRIS
NIALL THOMAS
CUP TIED – ZACH LEA
THE MANAGEMENT TEAM
Manager: Tom Harding
Assistant Manager: Jason Yates
Coach: Tom Reynolds
Physio: Tom Hewitt
Secretary: Richard Owen
Social Media: Caitlin Verrilli
KIT COLOURS:
Top – Royal Blue
Shorts – Dark Blue
Socks – Royal Blue
GK: Top - Black/pink
Shorts – Black
Socks – Black
Shrewsbury up & comers
Ones to watch – Key Players
ALEX HUGHES – Set himself a target of 50 goals this season and he accomplished it with games to spare. An unreal second season, Write him off at your peril. Scored over 65 goals for the Club.
NATHAN SIMON – He has played every season with the Club and pretty much played in every position!! Racked up over 85 appearances, scoring 20 goals and assisting with 29 assists. Still an important player.
JOSH PARKER – He has Been a great signing and an ever present this season. He has formed a great partnership with Tom Ash at the back. With his tough tackles and passing range, a vital player for the team to start attacks.
KEVIN RENSHAW – Our Pirlo, he makes the team tick, and his set pieces make him a standout player. Has over 50 appearances for the Club and pushing 50 assists.
Shrewsbury up & comers
The Management Team
MANAGER: TOM HARDING
In his second season at the Club, he came in with big successes in the Local Sunday League managing Meole Brace. He delivered the clubs first trophy last season and looking to add more this season.
ASSISTANT MANAGER: JASON YATES
Jason came into the club in the 2022/23 from Shrewsbury DC bringing with him a host of young hungry players to the Club. Jason does a huge amount behind the scenes. During his playing days he started at Shrewsbury Town as a youth player before moving to Bridgnorth and then Newtown where he played in Europe.
COACH: TOM REYNOLDS
Started the Men’s team in 2020 during a worldwide pandemic Stepped back from managing the team at the end of the 2022/23 to try and find a home to play from in Shrewsbury to potentially play step 6 football, he is still looking……. His dream is for the First Team to one day play in the FA Vase.
Shrewsbury up & comers
Shrewsbury up & comers
As a Club we would like to take this opportunity to say a few thank yous.
We want to thank our sponsors, without their support and generosity we simply cannot operate two men’s football teams.
To the Shropshire FA and Salop Leisure, thank you for making tonight possible and giving two great Football Clubs the opportunity to perform at the Croud Meadow.
Lastly a special thanks to our loyal supporters and followers who hopefully are all here tonight, please make some noise and create a great atmosphere for all.
We also wish Church Stretton and its supporters all the best for the game and future, let’s hope the game is befitting of two quality teams and Clubs.
Enjoy the Football.
Please join us for drinks at The Charles Darwin after the game.
