market drayton town

Historically, football in Market Drayton has roots which go well back to 1893 Records show that the main game that season was against Blackburn Rovers and other games were played against Shrewsbury, Wellington and Oswestry. Drayton must have been a town of some repute as three teams were operating in the town up to the end of 1930s! The Town team was called the Nomads and played on the Maer Lane ground which had up to 500 supporters in attendance at most home games.

Just after the war in 1946, the town ran two teams - one in the Shrewsbury and District League, the other in the Market Drayton and District League. The Shrewsbury League players consisted mainly of men from the RAF stations at Tern Hill and Stoke Heath, symbols of the good relations existing between the town and the services which continue to do so. The club officials were encouraged in their efforts by those enthusiasts who match after match supported the team both home and away, and the gates for this period were the envy of every other club in the county. In the season 1952/53 the Town club successfully applied for membership to the Shropshire County League, the County’s senior league The club finished reasonably well and played in the Challenge Cup Final against Newport Town at the Gay Meadow.

From 1958 to 1962 the club obtained the services of Jack Brown as Manager. He was an examateur international and reasonable success was gained under his guidance, winning the County League Challenge Cup and the Powell Charity Cup in 1960.

Following disbandment in the early 1960s, the present club was formed in 1969 as a factory side named Little Drayton Rangers, and playing in the Crewe Sunday League, but moved on to the Telford Sunday League. The club then moved to the County League playing on Saturdays and winning the First Division at the first attempt After several years winning local cup and league trophies, the club moved into the West Midlands League, and swiftly gained promotion to the Premier Division.