Following last season’s mid table finish for today’s opponents, the Church will have come into this campaign with aspirations of improving upon their points tally from last season, which saw the Worcestershire-based side claim 56 points from 42 games.
Manager, Tim Flowers’ side certainly look to have made great strides to achieving that goal, with Church currently sitting third in the Southern League Premier Division Central table having picked up 20 points from their opening 11 league fixtures. A five game unbeaten run in the league, which came to an end on Tuesday night following their 3-4 defeat at the hands of Quorn, propelled today’s visitors to sit only a point behind current league favourites Harborough Town coming into today’s game.
The Lye Meadow faithful were also treated to an exciting but ultimately short-lived FA Cup run which saw Church beat Barwell and Leamington before being narrowly edged out at home to Chelmsford City in the Third Qualifying Round.
Like Ives, Flowers’ men have also made it through to the FA Trophy First Round Propper, with their penalty shootout victory over Basford United enough to see Church through to the next round, where they will be taking on local rivals Worcester City.
ALVECHURCH-MAN IN FOCUS
JoshDugmore
Age:22
SquadNumber:2
Position:Fullback
22 year-old Josh celebrated his 100 appearance for Church on Tuesday evening in his side’s defeat to Quorn. The Birminghamborn defender joined the club back in January 2023, making his full debut for the Worcestershire-based outfit in the Birmingham Senior Cup against Boldmere St Michael’s.
Dugmore has now been involved in four seasons with Church and was given the honour of being club captain in the 2023/24 season. He has previously applied his talents in the National League North with Banbury United, as well as spells with Everton U18s and Birmingham U18s.
Despite not being known for his goal scoring ability, Dugmore has opened his account for season, netting in their 2-1 win over A.F.C Sudbury back in August. ALVECHURCH-MAN
LAST MACTCH LAST MACTCH REPORT! REPORT!
Pitching-InSouthernLeaguePremierCentral14-10-2025
WrittenbyNigelHowlett
Tuesday 14 October th
Goalkeeper Charlie Beckwith was the Blues hero pulling off a string of fine saves topped off by a 50th minute penalty save to deny Michael Richens and somehow prevent the Ives from gaining any reward from a game that they truly dominated.
The shot count gives you a small idea of the flow of this game with the Ives having a total of nineteen efforts at goal, ten of which were on target, to their hosts seven efforts with only two hitting their target To add to the visitor’s frustrations their hosts went down to ten men in 77th minute when Ethan Mayhew was shown a straight red card for hauling back Theo Alexandrou after the Ives striker had wriggled his way through the heart of the Blues defence to go clear.
Keeper Beckwith started his heroics after only five minutes with what looked like a shaky save as he parried Jernade Meade’s stinging 25 yarder straight back into play but that started the pattern of the night as the rebound did not fall to an Ives striker.
Four minutes later the hosts created one of their very few shooting opportunities as Tommy Hughes fed in Harley Curtis through the right channel but rather than take a touch the host’s number eight took on the effort first time from the edge of the box and could only fire into the side netting. The game settled down for a while after that and the next to go close was Jamal Adams with a snap shot from fully 25 yards that screamed inches over the top.
What proved to be the evening’s decisive goal arrived on the half hour as the hosts broke at speed Max Maughn who had been hugging the right touchline managed to get away from Aaron Smith and deliver a ball inside that looked like picking out George Quantrell but a brilliant block from the sliding Richens prevented him hitting the target. However the ball ricocheted across the box to Mikey Davies who took a touch that looked like it had pushed him to wide but his left footed effort somehow crept through Ollie Taylor at his near post and crossed the line.
Now chasing the game Ives quickly got on top, seven minutes later Meade scraped the outside of the post with a follow up effort after shots from Adams and Smith had been blocked in a crowded Blues box. The pressure continued and Beckwith was forced into another save two minutes later as Smith’s cross from the left evaded all in the middle and arrived at the feet of Ethan Creary arriving at the back post but his first time effort deflected off Joe Carroll to take most of the sting out of the shot.
LAST MACTCH LAST MACTCH REPORT! REPORT!
Tuesday 14 October th
With half time approaching the visitors really started to pile on the pressure. A 42nd minute Smith long throw was knocked down to the feet of Liam Cross inside the box but he was leaning back and fired over the top. Seconds later Amir Hadi pulled another diving stop out of Beckwith as he fought his way into the heart of the hosts defence before getting away a low shot from 20 yards that the keeper dived low to his right to push away
Ex Cambridge City and St Neots centre back Taylor Parr almost gifted Ives an equaliser right on half time as his poor attempted pass across the back was cut out by Alexandrou. Seeing keeper Beckwith off his line the striker took on the effort first time but the agile stopper back peddled to palm the ball over the top There was still time in the one added minute for Alexandrou to again test the keeper with a low drive from the edge of the box that Beckwith dived low to his left to keep out.
Having ended the first half well on top, albeit trailing, Ives came out for the second period in even more determined mood Alexandrou fired over from a good position only ninety seconds after the restart
Then came the visitors best chance of the night to get back on terms. An excellent ball down the left by Meade put Hadi away. The powerful striker cut inside past Lewis O’Malley who in a desperate attempt to recover took down Hadi from behind. Excellent referee Liam Botten was in the perfect position to see the contact and had no hesitation in awarding the spot kick Up stepped skipper Richens who went for power, but Beckwith guessed right and dived to parry the ball away.
Ives heads did not go down and they continued to press forward with purpose. Adams came within inches of what would have been a spectacular equaliser in 52nd minute Meade picked him out on the edge of the six yard box with his back to goal. The big striker took the ball on his chest and went for a bicycle kick that made contact but the ball flew just wide of the post.
Adams was again involved five minutes later as he combined with Alexandrou and Meade on the left to carve out a golden opportunity for the latter but again they were denied by Beckwith Alexandrou’s final ball in from the left picked out Meade arriving at pace at the near post and he hit the target with his flick only for the effort to be kept out by the legs of the overworked keeper.
LAST MACTCH LAST MACTCH REPORT! REPORT!
Tuesday 14 October th
As Ives took something of a breather the hosts spurned a couple of good opportunities to kill off the game around the seventy minute mark. Initially Jordan Williams was robbed by Quantrell who fed in Cemal Ramadan. The Blues skipper tried to curl his effort from just outside the box into the top corner but it was inches wide. Five minutes later the excellent Hughes threaded a pass through the Ives back line to feed in Quantrell but like his skipper before him the Blues number ten failed to hit the target from the edge of the box.
Play soon swung back up the other end and with thirteen minutes to go the hosts were reduced to ten men as Alexandrou skilfully managed to wriggle his way right through the centre of the Blues defence only to be unceremoniously pulled back by Mayhew just as he was breaking clear. Once more referee Botten was in the perfect position to see and he decided that with no covering defenders to save him the recalcitrant Mayhew should receive a straight red card. Frustratingly Richens fired the resulting free kick from the edge of the D into the hosts four man wall.
This spurred Ives on to even greater efforts but they still could not find a way past the heroic Beckwith who dived low to his right to keep out another Alexandrou drive in 82nd minute. Manager Ricky Marheineke sent on fresh legs to try and galvanise his side for a final push and two of those substitutes combined to carve out yet another shooting opportunity three minutes from time. Gibou Njie picked out Alfie Shepherd on the left. The youngster cut inside and unleashed an effort that was destined for the bottom corner until the big right hand of the diving Beckwith kept it out.
With time running out and almost everyone forward for Ives there was always likely to be one more opportunity to kill off the game for the hosts on the break and that came in the first added minute as Quantrell got put through He steered his effort past the exposed Taylor but Njie kept running to get around behind his keeper and scoop the ball off the line.
The final noteworthy action of the night, perhaps almost fittingly, saw Cross’s late effort from just inside the box kept out by the host’s hero Beckwith.
It is not always the best side that wins a game of football sometimes one man can make all the difference and that was certainly the case in this game. I am sure that all the many Ives faithful that travelled to this game will tell you that on a different evening their team could have won by three, or four, goals. Ives will play much worse than this and win games.
AROUND THE AROUND THE LEAGUE! LEAGUE! MIDWEEK ROUND-UP
There were seven games taking place this midweek, with FA Cup replay action preventing a full schedule in the Southern League Premier Division Central.
Stratford Town took all three points at home against Worcester City in front of 772 at the Arden Garages Stadium A goal from Cyrus Bruce, with his first touch of the game, saw the Bards move up to 11 in the table th
Early season strugglers Royston Town are still without a home league win this season as they fell to their 5 defeat of the campaign. Leiston were the victorious visitors on the night as they left Garden Walk with a 3-1 win and three points which puts them within touching distance of the play-off places
A clash with a midlands flavour saw Halesowen Town host Redditch Town at the Grove. Yeltz will have been disappointed with how the last couple of weeks have panned out, with manager Russ Penn’s side crashing out of both the FA Cup and FA Trophy competitions within the space of six days. The frustration continued for Penn as he saw his side beaten 3-2 by Redditch who got back to winning ways after losing their last two league outings
Bromsgrove Sporting hosted struggling Stamford at the Victoria Ground, with the visitors in desperate need of something to kick start their campaign. However, it wasn’t to be for manager Graham Drury’s men as they were beaten 2-0 by Sporting, with goals from Gustavo Sanches and Brad Stretton moving manager Scott Adey-Linforth’s side up to 14th.
Bishop’s Stortford had an evening to forget as high-flying Spalding came away from the ProKit UK Stadium with a comprehensive 4-1 win. The Tulips were four to the good before Saleem Akanbi scored a consolation goal in the 79 minute to give the home support something to cheer about on what would have been challenging viewing for the Bishop’s faithful
th
St Ives Town’s defeat to Bury Town and Alvechurch’s defeat to Quorn also featured and have been covered elsewhere in this programme
Since our last edition of the matchday programme, the focus for our reserves turned to the league cup, where they would be facing the challenge of overcoming Northampton ON Chenecks Reserves, the GCE Hire United Counties League Reserve Division leaders.
Manager Mark Field’s side managed to do just that in an entertaining seven goal thriller at Billing Road, which saw a late winner from Dylan Parry-Jones put the visitors 4-3 up and secure their passage into the next round, where they will be taking on the winner of Buckingham Reserves VS Godmanchester Reserves in the next round!
YOUTH TEAM NEWS
The U18s continued their perfect start to their league campaign with another impressive victory. This time it was March Town who were in the firing line as goals from Jacob Dickson, Archie Riordan and Will Giglio ensured the U18s stayed top of the Thurlow Nunn Youth Football League, West Division. They continued their impressive run with a 4-0 win away at Deeping Rangers on Thursday evening!
It was also a good week for the scholars, who were back for their third competitive game of the season. They hosted Samuel Whitbread Academy at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road and ran out 5-2 winners, keeping their 100 per cent record in both league and cup competitions.
WOMENS NEWS
St Ives Town Women remain fifth in Division Two of the Alan Boswell Girls and Women’s League following their entertaining 4-4 draw with Saffron Walden Community almost a fortnight ago. Attention then turned to the cup where goals from Enya Griffiths and Emily Waterman were not enough to keep Royston Town Development at bay as the visitors ran out 3-2 winners and progressed to the next round.
AHEAD OF AHEAD OF THE GAME! THE GAME!
A look ahead to the next batch of fixtures for the Ives.
St Ives Town v Huntington Town
Huntingdonshire Senior Cup
Quarter Final
Monday 20 October th
Kick-Off 7:45PM
Ives will get their Huntingdonshire Senior Cup campaign underway on Monday night as prepare to host Huntingdon Town at the Quattro-Tech Westwood Road. This will be a replay of last year’s Quarter Final tie which saw Ives make the short trip to the Hunters Stadium and put on a dominant display, resulting in a 5-1 victory and progression into the next round. Manager Ricky Marheineke will be hoping that his side can produce a similar result and performance in two days time.
Ilkeston Town F.C V St Ives Town
ISUZU FA Trophy
First Round
Saturday 25 October th
Kick-Off 3:00PM,
Following Ives’ 1-0 win over Kettering Town in the Third Qualifying Round, Ives were drawn against Northern Premier League side Ilkeston Town in the First Round Proper. The Derbyshire-based step three side will provide stiff opposition for Marheineke’s men, with manager Ian Deakin’s side having narrowly missed out on the promotion places last season. They have started the season is a similar fashion and have recently picked up a bit of good form, winning their last three games in all competitions.
Kettering Town V St Ives Town
PitchingIn Southern League
Premier Division Central
Saturday 1st November
Kick-Off 3:00PM,
This will be a return to league action for Ives who will have been without a league fixture since today’s clash with Alvechurch. Since Ives’ last clash with the Poppies there have been some changes to the first team squad, with Nile Ranger and Brandon Barker leaving the club in recent days. Kai Fifield has also left the club on a three month loan to fellow Southern League Premier Division Central side Quorn. Ives will be hoping to repeat their last trip to Latimer Park, which saw Ives come out 3-2 winners.
1.Who did England beat to seal their world cup qualification?
1 Who did England beat to seal their world cup qualification?
2.Who scored England’s 5 goal on the night? th
2.Who scored England’s 5 goal on the night? th
3. Who scored twice for Spain in their 4-0 win over Bulgaria?
3 Who scored twice for Spain in their 4-0 win over Bulgaria?
4.Which team did the Republic of Ireland claim their first qualifying win against on Tuesday night?
4.Which team did the Republic of Ireland claim their first qualifying win against on Tuesday night?
5.Which Premier League striker scored their winner?
5 Which Premier League striker scored their winner?
6.How many World Cup qualifying goals has Cristiano Ronaldo now scored?
6.How many World Cup qualifying goals has Cristiano Ronaldo now scored?
7.Which team made history by becoming the second smallest nation to qualify for the tournament?
7.Which team made history by becoming the second smallest nation to qualify for the tournament?
8.Who scored for Wales in their 4-2 defeat to Belgium?
8 Who scored for Wales in their 4-2 defeat to Belgium?
9.Who scored for Germany in their 1-0 win over Northern Ireland?
9.Who scored for Germany in their 1-0 win over Northern Ireland?
10.Scotland secured two wins out of two this break, which two teams did they overcome?
10 Scotland secured two wins out of two this break, which two teams did they overcome?
Want to find out how you got on?
AFTER 11 ROUNDS OF FIXTURES, IVES FIND THEMSELVES IN 13TH
I CAN’T have been the only one to notice a distinct change in the temperature over the last few weeks as the summer months passed and autumn set in.
With t-shirts and shorts now long packed away in the bottom of the wardrobe, woolly jumpers and thick coats are now the order of the day for bracing a cold afternoon or evening on the terraces.
The autumn and winter months can be difficult periods for Non-League clubs up and down the country. Storm Amy battered our shores and played havoc with the fixture scheduled a fortnight ago, while the likes of Bram, Chandra, Dave and Eddie brewing for the next instalment.
Indeed, echoes of past storms and multiple postponements that wiped out week-after-week of fixtures sprung to mind as I ventured to a Friday night fixture between Northern League Division One rivals Newcastle Blue Star and Horden Community Welfare a couple of weeks back.
Now, I can’t have been the only one expected to arrive at Blue Star’s KD Stadium to be told the fixture had fallen foul of the strong winds and heavy rainfall that had battered the north-east and beyond for large parts of the previous 24 hours.
Yet, to my surprise, it was very much business as usual as the two sides made their way out onto a playing surface which looked in pristine condition despite being battered in the hours leading up to the game.
Somehow, amidst howling wind and driving rain, an intriguing contest ensued with the points shared in a 1-1 draw.
Indeed, on reflection, a share of the spoils was quite fitting on a day where the real winners were the team of Blue Star volunteers who worked tirelessly, without any individual reward, to get the game on in testing conditions.
But it wasn’t just the ground staff at Scotswood who deserve credit. Off the pitch, turnstiles were in use, pints were being pulled in the clubhouse, bins were being emptied, half-time draw tickets sold and the club shop manned.
Then, once the full-time whistle had been blown, the clean-up operation began, both in and outside of the stadium – tasks that the 243 in attendance wouldn’t have given a second thought to.
This, of course, is indicative of everyday life at a Non-League club, whatever the level, and got me thinking just how invaluable volunteers are to the day-to-day running of our clubs and how they provide the foundations of their very existence.
Without them, there would be no football clubs, or if we did, they would be unrecognisable from what we can consider ourselves fortunate to have.
From the tea lady to the kitman, the bar staff, to those manning the turnstiles and sweeping up post-match - all are as essential as each other and deserve our utmost respect and appreciation.
Their work may go unnoticed, and they may well toil away with unseen hours of graft, but they remain as essential as those representing our clubs on the pitch and the management teams that guide them.
The winter months, as always, will be significant challenges as the bad weather descends - and that is when our volunteers come to the fore and go beyond the call of duty.
Their work is invaluable, whatever the weather.
MEET TODAY’S OPPONENTS
REDMAN EVANS-GOALKEEPER-Joined Swindon Town Academy in 2022, where he was a regular for their youth side, before earning a place in the first team squad on numerous occasions in 2023-24. Made his league debut in Swindons final game of the season against Morecambe April 24, having originally made his first-team debut earlier in a Bristol Street Motors Trophy group stage game against Exeter back in November 2023 Joined Church on a 4 month loan
JOSEPH WILLIAMS-GOALKEEPER-Signed as goalkeeper cover this summer.
JOSH DUGMORE-FULL BACK-Attacking full back who likes to get forward and create chances
ETHAN SEPHTON-FULL BACK-Second spell with Church after leaving for Boston United. Natural left back who likes to get forward.
KYLE STORER-MIDFIELDER-In July 2015, Storer signed for National League club Cheltenham TownIn October 2016, he made his first League 2 appearance for the club in a match against Crawley Town. In January 2018, Storer left Cheltenham Town and signed for National League club Solihull Moors. In November 2019 he made his 600th career appearance against Oxford City in the FA Cup Storer departed Solihull Moors in January 2023 after five years with the club On 9 January 2023, Storer rejoined Nuneaton Borough In July 2023, Storer was promoted to the role of player/assistant manager. In January 2024, he was promoted to manager of Nuneaton Borough. Joined AFC Telford United in January 2024 before joining Kettering Town.
KRYSTIAN PEARCE-CENTRAL DEFENDER-’Chief’ began his career at Birmingham City Spent time on loan at Notts County with whom he made his EFL debut, and also had loan spells at Port Vale and Scunthorpe United. Left Birmingham to join Huddersfield Town in 2010 for a brief spell before joining Notts County. Joined Torquay United in 2013, Mansfield Town in 2015 and Solihull Moors in 2020 Signed for Boreham Wood in 2021 then joined Hereford Last club before joining Church was Kidderminster Harriers in 2022 Barbados international with 13 caps
SAM PERRY-MIDFIELD-Started career at Aston Villa academy before joining Walsall in 2019. Signed first pro contract in May 2020 and made his league debut for Walsall in Feb 21 Moved on loan to Yeovil in 2022 and then to Leamington in 2023 Signed for League of Irelan side Waterford in July 23 Before returning to Salisbury in Dec 23 In Feb 24 joined Macclesfield
JOE WILLIS-MIDFIELD-Started career at Walsall making debut in Jan 2020 in EFL Trophy Had loan spells at Salisbury, Leamington and Bromsgrove Sporting before joining Stafford Rangers in 2022
MEET TODAY’S OPPONENTS
ELLIOTT DUGAN-STRIKER-Started his career at Swindon Town before playing in Sweden for Ytterhogdals IK He then signed for APEA Akrotir in Cyprus in the summer of 2020 and went on to score 24 goals in 30 games This earnt him a move to third tier Cypriot club Kouris Erimis where he notched seven goals in 10 games before leaving in December 2021. A move to Northern Ireland followed a month later when he joined Portadown but left the Danske Premiership club at the end of the season before joining Cymru Premier side Haverfordwest County in September 2022 where he scored three times last season from 20 appearances. More recently played for Connah’s Quay in Wales before joining From Town in Jan 25.
JONATHAN NGANDU-MIDFIELD-Signed from Spalding United after spending some time on loan with Church last season He came through Coventry City’s academy and spent time on loan at Icelandic club Keflavik before leaving Coventry in 2022 having made just one senior appearance, in the EFL Trophy He spent a season with Scottish Championship club Hamilton Academical and Stranraer of Scottish League Two before returning to England with Stratford Town and Darlington
TEMITOPE OBADEYI-STRIKER-Much travelled striker. Made his first team debut for Bolton as a sub in Premier League in December 2008. Signed for Swindon on loan and then Rochdale and Shrewsbury Town and then Chesterfield. Obadeyi made 12 appearances in the Primeira Liga for Rio Ave during the 2012–13 season. Stints at Bury, Plymouth Argyle, Kilmarnock, Dundee United and Oldham Athletic followed. On 25 July 2018, Obadeyi signed with Ligue 2 club Sochaux on a two-year contract He left Sochaux in June 2020 before rejoining Oldham on a short term contract until the end of 2021-22 season Spells followed at Ilkeston Town, Gloucester City, Banbury United and Hereford before joining Hereford in 2024
WILLIAM MERRETT-DEFENDER-Signed on loan from FGR until end of September 2025 Signed his first professional contract in September 2024 Joined via their Academy
CALLUM SULLIVAN-MIDFIELDER-Product of Birmingham City youth ranks, has been with club since age of 10. Signed first pro contract in summer of 2022. Joined Rushall on loan before joining Church last season.
KIERAN WAKEFIELD-FORWARD-Ex Birmingham City Academy player. Unlucky with injuries but blistering pace and an eye for goal.
DIETER SCHWARM-MIDFIELDER-Product of our Foundation and has impressed enough to be part of our first team squad Promising young player
JESSY BAVANGANGA-DEFENDER-Originally started his career at Stoke City Academy before joining Leek Town where he featured over 100 times for the Blues before joining Stourbridge where he had over 50 appearances before joining Rushall Olympic A powerful and athletic defender, he stands at 6’1” and comes highly regarded
MEET TODAY’S OPPONENTS
FEMI JACOBSEN-OLOFINJANA-DEFENDER-Powerful centre-back or left back Norwegian international at U17-U19. Recent signing, yet to make debut.
NILE TIMSON-DEFENDER-Standing at 6’4”, the strong and powerful centre half has been at Aston Villa for the best part of a decade and has featured heavily for the U18s over the last two years, whilst also having experience with the U21s before being released this summer. Combined with his impressive fitness and rapid pace, Nile can also play as a full-back.
JACK SANG-MIDFIELDER-Sang made his debut for Leamington in the Birmingham Senior Cup against West Bromwich Albion in November 2022, and also featured in the final. He also spent time on loan at Northern Premier League Division One Midlands outfit Sutton Coldfield Town during the season as part of his development. Signed on dual registration forms with Hednesford.
LOUIE CLIFFORD-MIDFIELDER-Product of our Foundation and has impressed enough to be part of our first team squad Promising young player
FRANK TATTUM-FORWARD-Signed on a 3 month loan from Birmingham City. Regular in Blues U21 side after signing his first professional contract in summer of 2024
THOMAS CONTEH-MIDFIELDER-Signed on a month loan from Forest Green Rovers.
HISTORY OF ALVECHURCH
Alvechurch - The Early Years
The earliest mention of a Football Club in Alvechurch dates back to 1913 when a team called Alvechurch Juniors was recorded. By the 1920s, the team were known as Alvechurch Swifts and were playing football on Crown Meadow and using the Red Lion Inn as their headquarters.
1926 brought the General Strike followed by the depression The club folded until late in 1929 when a team of young players, resurrected the Alvechurch Juniors name, but was disbanded following the outbreak of war
It took a little while after the war for Alvechurch Football Club to re-establish itself The club became the hub of village life and matches were still being played at the Meadows, but as this venue belonged to the village no admission charge could be made So, when the opportunity arose to move to a new ground at the Guants, situated below the Church, off Snake Lane, the club took the decision to do so. But when the land was required for building houses a further move was necessary Mr Philip Palmer sold the field adjoining his house on Redditch Road to the club for £1,000. As a result of determined fund raising, the club was able to raise this sum in five years, this providing a permanent home – Lye Meadow.
Lye Meadow - The Glory Years
The move to Lye Meadow in 1957 was the turning point in the club’s history and it began to go from strength to strength. In 1961 under the guidance of Rhys Davies they joined the Worcestershire Football (now Midland) Combination and claimed their first league title the following year In twelve seasons they won the championship four times and were runners-up on five other occasions They also claimed the League Challenge Cup five times and were runners-up twice in this period.
The club captured the imagination and enthusiasm of the Midlands in the mid-sixties with the team’s giant-killing runs in the FA Amateur Cup. In the 1964/65 season Alvechurch were the first side in the history of the Worcestershire FA to reach the quarter finals, before losing 3-1 at home to Enfield before an estimated crowd of 16,000 The following season they were one step from Wembley, reaching the semi-final, played at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge before losing 1-0 to Wealdstone in front of a 14,225 gate.
HISTORY OF ALVECHURCH
In their second year in the FA Cup Church reached the 1st round proper in 1971/72 after the 11 hour, 6 match marathon in the Fourth Qualifying Round against Oxford City. This tie is now recorded in the Guinness Book of Records. However, Alvechurch then went down 4-2 to Aldershot in the first round proper, in a match that was the 12th in 3 weeks for some of the team.
1973/74 was, in fact the most successful season in the club’s history Joining the West Midlands (Regional) League, the club won the Premier Division Championship, the League Challenge Cup, the Birmingham Senior Amateur Cup and the Worcestershire Senior Cup. In the FA Cup Church reached the Third Round Proper, going down 4-2 at Bradford City after beating Exeter City at St James Park in the First Round Proper
The club gained entry into the Southern League for the 1978/79 season and as the only true village club playing in the league finished in a creditable third position.
1980/81 saw another milestone for Alvechurch with the winning of the Midland Division and the Championship of the Southern League having beaten Southern Division Champions Dartford in the two legged final.
The 1981/82 season produced a seesaw battle to retain the League Championship but Nuneaton finished the stronger to push Alvechurch into the runners-up position. During that season Alan Smith gained international honours when representing the England Non-league team and subsequently joined Leicester City. He then joined Arsenal for £800,000 where he gained full international honours playing for England
It was back to success in the 1982/83 season when having gaining promotion to the Southern League Premier Division, the club won the Southern League Cup following a 7-2 aggregate win against Waterlooville The club achieved it’s highest Southern Premier league finish in 1985/86, finishing 4th
The Decline
Following the demise of benefactor Philip Palmer and the president Alan Wiseman, the club were relegated to the Midland Division of the Southern league at the end of the 1989/90 season, and there began a gradual decline Geoff Turton of the Rockin’ Berries pop group stepped in to keep the club alive aided by the sale of Andy Comyn to Aston Villa for a club record fee of £30,000
At the end of the 1991/92 season, the club were relegated to the WMRL Premier Division. Financial speculators gained control of the club in 1992 resulting in closure the following November 1993
HISTORY OF ALVECHURCH
The Resurrection
In 1994 a dedicated band of supporters resurrected the club as Alvechurch Villa, rebuilding the seated stand and refurbishing the clubhouse to gain admission to the Midland Combination Premier Division, finishing in fifth position in the league The team went onto reach the League Cup Final the following season, only to lose out to League Champions Bloxwich Town.
In 1996 the club reverted back to its original name and became simply, Alvechurch FC The next few seasons were a struggle but the 2000/01 season ended with clubs first trophy since being reformed, when the Smedley Crook Cup was won.
Season 2001/02 introduced the management duo of Andy Hibbert and Neil Bryan, after a management and player exodus The club struggled through the season, just escaping relegation finishing 20th The board kept faith however and season 2002/03 witnessed Church’s best season in 20 years with the League and Cup double, winning the Midland Combination Premier League and Challenge Cup, a feat last completed in 1971/72. At the end of the season, Church where promoted into the Midland Football Alliance
The MFA years
In season 2003/04 the Worcestershire Senior Urn was won for the first time and then retained the following season.
In season 2009/10 Church reached their highest league position since reforming by finishing 7th in the Midland Football Alliance. In the cup the Worcestershire Senior Urn was won for the 4th time of asking and the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup was reached, falling to a stoppage time winner against Nuneaton Town
Season 2010/11 proved to be a tumultuous one – with three sets of managers running the first team throughout the campaign. Church’s lowest MFA finish resulted in a run of poor results leading up to the end of the season could have seen the club in relegation trouble – but just enough points had been secured in the first half of the campaign proved sufficient to maintain league status.
A
new beginning - The MFL 2014/15 saw the Midland Football Alliance and Midland Combination Leagues merge into the newly formed, Midland Football League, with Alvechurch playing in the Premier Division. The club finished a disappointing 15th.
HISTORY OF ALVECHURCH
The Revival
2015/16 saw the start of the Church revival, with yet another new management team in place, with former Tividale, title winning management team of Ian Long and his assistant, Richard Colwell taking charge and bringing most of their squad with them from Tividale The club amassed a record 101 points and 99 goals scored, finishing runners-up to phoenix club, Hereford F.C. The club also won the Worcester Senior Urn, beating Bromsgrove Sporting 3-0 in the final
2016/17 saw the club finally win the Midland Football League Premier Division, beating Coleshill Town by six points with 92 points to gain promotion to step 4. They won the league and cup double by beating Hinckley AFC 2-1 in the Polymac Packaging League Cup Final at Walsall FC and completed a historic treble when they beat Wednesfield 4-1 in the final of the J.W. Hunt Cup at Molineux
2017/18 saw the club promoted to the Northern Premier League Division One South and achieve back-to-back promotions, finishing runners up to Basford United and gaining promotion to Step 3 at the first attempt.
2018/19 with the re-organisation of Non-league at steps 3-4, the club competed in the new Southern League Premier Division Central. After finishing 4th, they beat Stourbridge 2-1 in the play-off semi-final, before losing to Kings Lynn Town 3-0 in the final. They also beat Redditch United pre-season, to claim the Worcester Senior Cup for the first time since 1977
The Covid Years
2019/20 started under new management with Darren Byfield taking over after Ian Long took his staff and majority of the team to Stourbridge. Dean Holtham took over in November, but with only 4 league wins from 30 games, the team found themselves in deep relegation trouble, before Ian Long returned for 1 game in March. Covid-19 put a premature end to the season and saved Church from almost certain relegation.
2020/21 saw Church play only 9 league games before the season was again cut short due to the Covid pandemic.
HISTORY OF ALVECHURCH
Post Covid
2021/22 saw Longy’s team reach the final play-off spot losing 2-1 to Peterborough Sports who went on to clinch promotion. We also reached the semi-final of the Birmingham Senior Cup, losing 3-0 to Stourbridge 2022/23 witnessed Church’s best FA Cup run since they reached the 3rd round proper in 1974, beating 1st division side Cheltenham Town away 1-2 in 1st round proper, before losing to Forest Green Rovers 2-1 away in round 2 and missing out on a lucrative 3rd round home draw v Birmingham City The club also reached the semi-final of the Birmingham Senior Cup again, losing 3-2 to Coventry City
Season 2023/24 started with another team rebuild and after a poor start the club parted company with manager Ian Long and assistant Richard Colwell New manager Jimmy Fry came in and despite the club struggling, managed to steer clear of relegation, finishing 16th, whilst winning the Worcester Senior Cup, beating Evesham United on penalties.
Season 2024/25 saw Jimmy Fry leave in November with ex Blackburn Rovers, England and Premier League winner, Tim Flowers taking over. The team finished in 13th in the league and lost in the Worcestershire Senior Cup Final to Worcester City 3-1.
Season 2025/26, we look forward once again with optimism and to continue our proud history.
