History of Tamworth F.C. facts for kids
The History of Tamworth Football Club tells the story of "The Lambs," a football team from Tamworth, England. The club has had many exciting moments, from its start in the 1930s to winning important trophies and playing in big cup matches.
Contents
How Tamworth FC Started
The story of Tamworth Football Club began in April 1933. A businessman named Michael Flowers, who had moved to Tamworth, noticed something missing. His new town did not have a top-level football team. He wrote a letter to the local newspaper, the "Tamworth Herald," sharing his idea.
Many people in Tamworth liked his idea. Soon, Mr. Flowers found a place for the team to play. This new ground could hold up to 5,000 fans. He then called for a public meeting to discuss forming a club.
On May 10, 1933, people met at the Jolly Sailor Hotel. At this meeting, Mr. W. Redfern became the club's first Chairman. Mr. Flowers took on the role of club secretary. They even hoped to sign a famous player, Syd Puddefoot, who had played for England and Blackburn Rovers. This was how Tamworth Football Club officially began.
Winning the FA Vase in 1989
In 1989, Tamworth Football Club achieved a big success. Under manager Graham Smith, they won the FA Vase. This is a national competition for semi-professional football clubs.
The final match was played at the famous Wembley Stadium. Tamworth played against Sudbury Town. The game ended in a 1–1 draw, meaning they had to play again. The replay was held at London Road, the home ground of Peterborough United. Tamworth played brilliantly in the replay, winning 3–0. This victory allowed them to lift the FA Vase trophy.
Promotion and FA Trophy Final in 2003
The 2002/03 season was very successful for Tamworth. They won the Southern Football League, which earned them promotion. This meant they moved up to the Conference National, a higher division in English football. The season before, they had just missed out on promotion.
Tamworth also reached the final of the FA Trophy that year. This is another important cup competition for non-league teams. The final was played at Villa Park against Burscough. Tamworth hoped to win both the league and the FA Trophy. However, they lost the final 2–1 to Burscough. Despite the loss, reaching two major finals in one season was a great achievement.
FA Cup Adventures
The FA Cup is England's oldest and most famous football competition. Tamworth Football Club has had some exciting runs in this cup.
FA Cup Run in 2005–06
Even though Tamworth was struggling in their league, they made history in the 2005–06 FA Cup. They reached the Third Round, which was their furthest ever in the competition. To get there, they beat two teams from the Football League: AFC Bournemouth and Hartlepool United.
In the Third Round, they played against Stoke City, a team from a higher division. The first match away from home ended in a 0–0 draw. This meant Tamworth earned a replay at their home ground. The replay was a thrilling game, ending 1–1. The winner was decided by a penalty shootout, where Tamworth unfortunately lost 4–3.
FA Cup Run in 2006–07
The next season, 2006–07, Tamworth had another good FA Cup run. They beat Burton Albion and Rushden & Diamonds to reach the Third Round again. This time, they were drawn at home against Norwich City. Norwich City was a much bigger club. Tamworth fought hard but lost the match 4–1.
Paul Merson Joins The Lambs
On February 23, 2006, Tamworth made a very famous signing. They brought in Paul Merson, a well-known former England international. Merson had played for big clubs like Arsenal and Aston Villa. This was perhaps the most high-profile player ever to join Tamworth.
The deal meant that his old club, Walsall, would pay most of his wages. However, Merson's time at Tamworth was very short. He only played one game, a 2–1 home loss to Halifax Town. He was on the bench for the next game. Less than a month after joining, on March 9, 2006, Paul Merson announced his retirement from professional football.
Relegation and Return to Success
In the 2005–06 season, Tamworth finished in a relegation spot in the Conference National. However, they were lucky and avoided being relegated. This happened because another club, Canvey Island, left the league. Also, Scarborough had points taken away, which helped Tamworth stay up.
Despite this, the club's form was not good. In January 2007, managers Mark Cooper and Richard Dryden were dismissed. Two days later, former Tamworth managers Gary Mills and Darron Gee returned to lead the team.
Under Mills and Gee, Tamworth played better. But they were eventually relegated at the end of the 2006–07 season. They finished in 22nd place. Again, they were almost saved because Boston United was relegated two divisions due to money problems. However, Altrincham was saved instead, and Tamworth went down to the Conference North.
After finishing 15th in the 2007–08 season, Tamworth worked hard to get back to the Conference National. By the end of April 2009, they achieved their goal. They finished first in the Conference North, earning promotion back to the higher division.
