History of Stafford Town 2006

Gordon Evans formed what was then Stafford F.C. in 1976, after a split with Stafford Southend F.C. He then formed a working relationship with Reg Birks, manager of Stafford Rangers F.C. and the Club became the nursery side for the Rangers. The Club played at Burton Manor Sports & Social Club in the old Staffs County League South. The Club moved into the Midland Combination Div. 2 in the 77/78 season, and won the league the following year, being denied promotion to Div.1 because they were a nursery side. Due to financial constraints the Club moved to the Staffs County League North in 81/82 and at that stage changed its name to Stafford Town. They won the Bourne Sports Trophy and Staffs Vase in 1984, and shortly afterwards they went into the Staffs Senior League. After losing the Vase Final in ‘88 the team moved from Burton Manor to Stafford Cricket & Hockey Club in 1990. Then, in the early 90’s Stafford Town merged with the highly successful Sunday League team MSHD who had just won the Midland Sunday Cup. In 1991/92 they just missed out on the Staffs Senior League, despite losing only 2 games all season. After finishing 3rd in the same league the following season, they were accepted into the Wet Midland Regional League playing at Rowley Park Stadium. In their 1st season they secured the Championship and in order to gain promotion, they had to move to Marston Road, the home of Stafford Rangers. During the 90’s the Club had a number of managers: Paul Kelly, Chris Curtis and Finally Alan Sommerville took over the reigns. The 1999/2000 season was without doubt Towns most successful. The Club won West Midland Regional League Div.1 and were duly promoted to the Midland Football Alliance, they were also runners-up in both the Staffs FA Vase and a League Cup. Towns first season in the MFA saw them have a superb Cup run beating both Padget Rangers from the Doc Martins Div.1 and Moor Green from the Doc Martins Premier Division. They then drew Harrow Borough in the 3rd qualifying round, and despite drawing away at Harrow Borough, they lost 3-1 in the replay at Marston Road. . Following a disastrous season in 03/04, Gordon Evans returned to the Club as chairman. At the end of that season the Club decided to leave Marston Road, move back to Rowley Park, and drop down into the West Midland Regional League Div.1 to regroup. The current management team of Steve Dockerty and Calvin Bailey were then appointed, and have succeeded in building the nucleus of a good side. The beginning of the 05/06 season was the formation of an Under 17’s side, playing in the Lichfield & District League. It also saw what was Stafford Rangers Ladies asking to move, to be part of Stafford Town F.C. as associate members currently calling themselves Stafford Ladies. The 2006/2007 season saw them become Stafford Town Ladies. In September of 2006 the Club became a Charter Standard Community Club, and is the only one within the Stafford area. It was also awarded Charter Standard Adult Club of the year by the FA for the whole of Staffordshire in 2006, and voted Charter Standard Community Club of the Year in 2007. The Club now has male teams at U8’s, U9’s, U10’s, U11’s, U12’s,U13’s, U15’s, , U17s, U18’s and an adult team and reserves, and has female U10’s, U12’s, U14’s, U15’s, U21’s plus a ladies adult team and reserves. This season will also see the formation of disabled football with adult, U17’s and U14’s teams (25 teams in total). For the 20008/2009 season the team will remain at Rowley Park Stadium, playing in Division 1 of the West Midland Regional League, but sometime in the 2008/2009 the Club hopes that it will have its own ground behind the Cricket Club on Riverway, Stafford.