Malvern Town F.C.

Malvern Town

Full name	Malvern Town Football Club
Founded	1947
Ground	Langland Stadium, Langland Avenue, Malvern (Capacity: 4,000)
Manager	Ray Pearce
League	West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
2010-11	Midland Football Alliance, 23rd (relegated)
Home colours Away colours

Malvern Town Football Club is an English football club based in Malvern, Worcestershire. The club's first team play in the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division and have twice reached the third qualifying round of the FA Cup.

History

Malvern Town were formed shortly after World War II and joined the Worcestershire Combination in 1955, becoming champions at the first attempt. They remained in the league, later renamed the Midland Combination, until 1979 and only twice finished outside the top ten, although they never managed to claim another title. For the 1979-80 season they switched to the West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division but found success harder to come by. In 1992 they were relegated to Division One but two years later returned to the higher level despite only having finished 9th due to league reorganisation and they were the only side in the top 10 that season to have floodlights.

In the 2003-04 season the team were West Midlands (Regional) League champions and were promoted to the Midland Football Alliance. In 2006 a third-place finish was enough to secure a place in the newly-formed Southern League Division One Midlands.

Malvern Town finished in a credible 17th placed finish in the Southern League Division One Midlands in the 2006-07 season, but thereafter the club's fortunes have suffered dramatically. In the 2007-08 season Malvern finished bottom but one of the league, and were only reprieved due to the resignation of Berkhamsted Town from the league. In the 2008-09 season, Malvern Town finished 22nd of 22 teams - this time there would be no reprieve, and they were thus relegated to the Midland Football Alliance for the 2009-10 season. During the course of that season, Malvern suffered a number of extremely heavy defeats - the worst coming against Chesham United away when they were beaten 11-0.

Former Chairman, Paul Pallett, left the club during the close season after 10 years at the helm, but appointed former Hook Norton manager and ex-Malvern Town player Chris Palmer as manager before leaving.

Chris Palmer's reign at Malvern Town came to an end just before the beginning of the 2010–11 season, with Palmer and chairman Richard Bond leaving the club. The club appointed management team Martin Stephens and Richard Webb, bringing them in from Archdale 73 and appointed former Swindon Town coach Mick Hartley who will be coaching both the first team and reserves. Richard Webb left the club after a short spell at Langland Stadium, forcing Martin Stephens to search for a replacement number two. That void was filled by former Malvern Town, Huddersfield Town, Swindon Town and Worcester City player Darren Bullock, who had ironically left Archdale 73, where he replaced Stephens and Webb.

Stan Cullen was announced as the club's new Chairman on March 11th 2011, and five new committee members joined the club as a result. However Nigel Soley, the Director of Football, left and is now manager at rivals Malvern Rangers. Ray Pearce and former Swansea City player Mark Tipton will manage the side until the end of the season. Ray and Colin Brown are two of the new committee members along with Alex Peck, Rob Arnold and Steve Hughes.

Malvern Town reserves are currently entered in the Worcester Saturday League, and are also managed by Ray, Colin and Steve Hughes. The club has long-term plans towards becoming a Football League club by the year 2020, however having been relegated to the West Midlands Regional League for the 2011-12 season this may prove difficult to accomplish unless there is a change of fortune at the club.

Along with Darren Bullock, Bobby Shinton is a famous ex-player of the club. The committee is: Stan Cullen (Chairman), Margaret Scott (Secretary), Heidi Barlow (Treasurer), Ray Pearce, Colin Brown, Alex Peck, Robert Arnold, Steve Hughes. Director of Football Brian Scott died in May 2011 aged 67, and it is hoped that the club's current stand will be renamed in his honour shortly.

Les Jones, formerly manager of Malvern Town's neighbours Malvern Rangers, became the club's latest manager in June 2011.

Club records

• Best league performance: 17th in Southern League Division One Midlands, 2006–07
• Best FA Cup performance: 3rd qualifying round, 1981–82 and 1986–87
• Best FA Trophy performance: Preliminary round, 2006–07 (only entry to date)
• Best FA Vase performance: 4th round, 1974–75 and 1976–77

Sources

• Malvern Town at the Football Club History Database
• Mike and Tony Williams (2006). Non League Club Directory 2006. Tony Williams Publications Ltd. ISBN 1-869833-54-6. 

External links

• Malvern Gazette - Malvern Town F.C. page
• - The Official Malvern Town F.C. website
• - Malvern Town F.C. Twitter page
• - Malvern Town F.C. YouTube page

Coordinates: 52°07′00.19″N 2°18′14.67″W / 52.1167194°N 2.304075°W / 52.1167194; -2.304075