ALCESTER TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB
Club Officials
Chairman Steve McAdam 07392 846290 srmcadam@sky.com
Finance Director & Vice Chairman
Ian Chester 07881 508522 ianchesteri@btinternet.com
Fundraising Officer
Gary Williams 07766 664289 garywilliams1@talktalk.net
Head of Junior Football & Child Welfare Officer
Simon McAdam 07565 526035 simonjmcadam@sky.com
Adult Club Secretary Phil Tattersall 07703 020499 tatsphil58webheath@gmail.com
Junior Club Secretary
Marcia Cox 07968 387831 marciaccox22@gmail.com
Marketing & Communications Officer
Dan Archer 07903 418411 dan_archer@hotmail.co.uk
Facilities & Groundcare Manager
Paul Dipple 07800 966956 dipple09@hotmail.com
Football Development Officer
Aaron Blackwood 07581 729008 a.blackwood@perfect-personnel.com
Life President
Jim Kenyon 07711 240732 jim.kenyon@jakwater.co.uk
Manager Aaron Blackwood
Ast. Manager Tony Round
Head Coach Ryan Faulkner
Coach Colin Tomlinson
Coach Ryan Dipple
Physio
Georgia Armond
Equipment Manager David Kilgallen
At Alcester Town FC, we strive to reduce our footprint on both our facilities and the surrounding community. We kindly request that visitors utilize the designated bins for waste disposal while on our premises.
Thank you for your understanding and support.
NEXT HOME GAME
Saturday Oct 4th
KO:15:00 Hellenic Division 1
Mr Chairman
WELCOME
Good afternoon and a warm welcome to everyone joining us at Stratford Road for today’s cup fixture. A particular welcome goes to the players, staff, and supporters of Ludlow Town FC – we hope you enjoy your visit and the hospitality on offer.
It’s great to be back at home again so soon after our long-awaited return to Stratford Road last weekend. The support we received was fantastic, and it made that day all the more special. After ten games on the road, being back on our own turf felt like a real turning point and I’m sure the players felt the lift from the crowd too.
Today, we turn our attention to cup competition. These matches bring their own kind of excitement knockout football always adds a bit of edge, and it gives us a chance to test ourselves in a different way. We know Ludlow will provide a stern challenge, but it’s one we’re ready for, and I’m confident our lads will give it everything out there.
Off the pitch, work continues behind the scenes to improve our facilities and infrastructure. The progress being made is not just about meeting requirements - it’s about building a lasting foundation for the future of this football club. From the new floodlights to the clubhouse improvements, everything we do is with the long-term success of Alcester Town in mind.
As always, I want to thank the volunteers, committee members, staff, players and of course our incredible supporters. Your commitment and energy are the heartbeat of this club, and it’s been brilliant to see Stratford Road coming alive again.
Let’s get behind the team once more today and create the kind of atmosphere that makes this place special. Enjoy the match, and let’s hope we’re celebrating a place in the next round come full-time.
Up the Romans !
Steve McAdam
Aaron Blackwood
THE GAFFER
Good afternoon and welcome to Stratford Road!
It’s great to see you all back here at home as we host Ludlow Town in what promises to be an exciting cup fixture this afternoon. A warm welcome to Ludlow’s players, staff, and supporters, I hope you enjoy your visit and have a safe trip back after the match.
Cup games always bring a different kind of energy. They offer an opportunity to test ourselves outside the usual league rhythm and give us another platform to show what this group is capable of. Ludlow are a strong side and we’re expecting a tough challenge, but it’s one we’re looking forward to.
Our return to Stratford Road a couple of weeks ago was long overdue and it felt brilliant to finally walk out in front of our home support after such a tough run of away fixtures. That early-season schedule was demanding, but it also helped to forge a strong mentality in the group. We’ve learned a lot already about ourselves and each other and that experience will only serve us well as the season goes on.
• Momentum is everything in football, and days like today can help build it. With your backing from the sidelines, we want to make Stratford Road a place where teams know they’re in for a real battle. That starts with hard work, togetherness, and belief… qualities I’ve seen in abundance from the lads in recent weeks. Let’s enjoy the occasion, play our football, and keep pushing forward.
Up The Romans!
CLUB HISTORY
The History of Alcester Town Football Club has its roots in the Town's History and its Schools. Alcester Old Boys Football Club was formed after the First World War by pupils of Alcester Grammar School.
Shortly after this, in 1927, the Club became Alcester Juniors and joined the Stratford League becoming Champions of the first Division in their first season. The team played on a pitch by the Spittle Brook and later at the bottom of Bleachfield Street by the river, on what was known locally as the 'Soccer Beds.'
Sometime later in the 1950's the Club became Alcester Town Football Club, sharing their Stratford Road Ground with a Sunday side - 'The Black Horse'. They won a number of Cups, with their finest result being the 1-0 defeat of Alvechurch in the Birmingham Cup.
Alcester Town's most successful years came at the tail end of the 80's and the start of the 90's. In 1989/90 Alcester finished runner-up in the Midland Combination Division Two, this meant promotion to Midland Combination Division One.
The following season, 1990/91, Alcester went on to finish champions of the Midland Combination Division One and secured a place in the Midland Combination Premier for the very first time in Alcester Town's history. Alcester managed two seasons in the Midlands League's top division, in the first year finishing a respectable 13th from 21 sides competing. Second season Alcester finished rock bottom of a league hosting twenty sides.
Unfortunately the success of Alcester Town led to its downfall. Despite attempts to move to a new ground the Club were not able to improve their Stratford Road facilities. They needed to build a new covered stand to house 200 people to remain in the Midland Combination and so in 1993, due to lack of funds for the improvements the Club folded. However, one bright moment for Alcester Town was the success of Paul West who was transferred to Port Vale Football Club for £8,000 in January 1991. As part of the deal, Alcester Town hosted Port Vale Football Club in a friendly ahead of the 1991/92 season. Alcester were captained by Colin Saunders, whilst Port Vale had Neil Aspin, Martin Foyle and Trevor Wood in their squad to name just a few.
Was it just a coincidence that at the same time that Alcester Town was disbanded, Alcester Athletic competed successfully in the Mid Warwickshire, Central Warwickshire, Evesham Ambassador and Mercian Junior Festival Leagues and created sides form Under 6's to Under 16's. In September 2007, Alcester Town formed a new adult side playing in the Stratford Alliance - Cutler Division. In their 1st season they finished 4th in the league and got to their 1st Cup Final. So Football is well and truly back on the map in Alcester. In June 2008, Alcester Town merged with Alcester 2000 to create one of the largest youth organisations in the area. With twenty teams from under 6's to Adults and Veterans and girls and boys teams and over 200 members. The club have won several trophies over the last twelve years, including league championships, many Cup successes together with league sportsmanship awards.
The 2012/13 season saw Alcester Town once again join the Midland Combination Leagues, finishing 5th in the Midland Combination Division Two. The 2014/15 season saw a restructure of the Midlands League's and the then Midland Combination Division Two changed to Division Three. Despite leading the race for the title for much of the season, a late collapse saw Alcester finish 3rd.
Promotion to the Midland Football League Division to 2 was finally secured in 2019 and the team remained in the MFL until 2024-25 season where a sideways move to the Hereford Premier League was made. The team went unbeaten in the league throughout the 24-25 season earning promotion to Step 6.
THE VISITORS
Ludlow Football Club has a long history, originally being founded in 1890.
We have many teams within the club ranging from: Juniors – u8's-u16's – Various Herefordshire Leagues Ladies – Adults - Midwest Counties Womens League Reserves – Adults – Herefordshire Premier League First Team – Adults – Hellenic League Division One
The First team, after a break from football was reset in 2017 where they competed in the West Midlands Football League Division Two. Ludlow struggled in the first two seasons before having a successful third season being in the runners up spot before Covid hit and put a stop to Football.
Ludlow moved leagues in 2020, enteringthe Salop Leisure League Premier Division (Shropshire) who gained NLS Feeder League status. Ludlow's first season started well as they were in second place before football was again cut short due to Covid.
Once football restarted the next two seasons saw a 4th & 2ndplace finish. It was however in the 2023/24 season that saw all the hard work pay off and Ludlow to go onto win the league with 87 points losing only once.
Ludlow applied to be promoted into Step 6 Football and after getting accepted they were placed into the Hellenic League Division One for the 2024/25 season.
The first Shropshire team to play in the league.
Stat Pack Club History
EMERGING TALENT PROGRAMME
Last Friday saw the launch of the Emerging Talent Programme and what a start it was! With over 50 enthusiastic youngsters turning up in their boots and kits, the evening was nothing short of a huge success!
From the very first whistle, the energy was electric. Our junior players threw themselves into the session with smiles on their faces and a real eagerness to learn.
The focus of the session was on ball mastery, movement, and confidence in possession. Across the age groups, the kids showed fantastic progress – trying new skills, taking on challenges, and most importantly, enjoying the game. Whether it was dribbling through cones, passing under pressure, or finishing drills, the effort and enthusiasm on display were second to none.
What really stood out was the atmosphere. Parents and coaches alike commented on the buzz around the pitches, with plenty of encouragement, laughter, and support. The session wasn’t just about football – it was about building confidence, resilience, and a sense of belonging.
We’re proud to provide a pathway that helps local boys and girls develop their game while staying connected to their community club. Friday proved that the appetite for football in Alcester and the surrounding area is stronger than ever, and we can’t wait to build on this momentum in the weeks ahead.
A massive thank you goes to our coaching team for delivering such a high-quality session, and to the parents for their continued support. But most of all, thank you to the kids – your energy, commitment, and love for the game are what will make this Development Centre so special.
Here’s to many more fantastic Fridays at our Emerging Talent Programme (ETP)!
JUNIOR ROUNDUP
September 2025
The Alcester Town Juniors continue to go from strength to strength, both on and off the pitch, with another month full of football, fun, and community spirit.
On the Pitch
It was a fantastic weekend for the junior section, with 16 Alcester teams competing across three leagues and producing some brilliant football. A huge well done to the players for their teamwork, and a big thank-you to the coaches and supporters who make every matchday so positive.
A special mention goes to our youngest teams — the U8 Romans and U8 Juniors — who both play in the Evesham Ambassador Football League. Last week they faced each other in the league and came off the pitch smiling, showing exactly what grassroots football is all about.
The coaches for these teams have done an incredible job developing our youngest players. Well done to Dan Archer, Shaun Stephens, Dave Holdstock, Joel Bennett, and Paul West – keep up the great work!
Off the Pitch & Socials
This October, our U13 Juniors will be travelling abroad to compete in the Football Cup Barcelona Tournament (25–26th October). They’ll take on teams from across Europe in what promises to be an incredible opportunity –hopefully with some sunny Spanish weather too!
The players should be hugely proud of themselves, having raised the money for their tickets over the past 12 months through their own hard work and fundraising efforts. A brilliant achievement and a memory they’ll carry forever.
Fundraising
We continue to work hard raising funds across the club, and this week our focus is on growing entries into the Club Lottery!
• Just £1 a week
• Pick six numbers between 1–59
• Numbers are knocked off each Saturday in line with the National Lottery
• The first to cross off all 6 wins 50% of the cash pot – with the other 50% going straight back into the club
To enter, please contact Gary Williams on 07766 664289 or alcestertownfootballclub@gmail.com
Thank You
As always, a huge thank-you to all parents, volunteers, and sponsors who make it possible for our young players to enjoy their football each week. The junior section isn’t just about results – it’s about community, friendships, and building the future of Alcester Town FC.
IN FOCUS
This week our spotlight turns to the Alcester Town Rangers U18, a side that has shown good progress. Managed by Kam Sandhu since they were U8’s with 3 of the players starting at the club when they were 5 years old!!
The team are competing in the Ambassador Evesham Football League (AEFL) which has a very open & competitive U18’s Division
With 8 new players in squad they have integrated well as 2 have joined from the U16, 2 have rejoined the team & the other 4 have previously played with half the team & were recruited by their mates.
A big focus in training has been on keeping a good shape & game management which has resulted in not conceding any goals in open play in the first two home games.
It is also pleasing that 5 different players have already scored in the first 3 games.
In terms of results, the Alcester Town Rangers U18 currently sit in 5th place in the league and have set themselves a target of a top 3 finish and a good cup run - hopefully following in the footsteps of last years U18’s who won the League Cup.
There have already been some good performances this season – not least the the recent 2-1 win over TDMS which reversed the result in the pre season friendly, where the lads showed great character.
What is most pleasing is the camaraderie within the squad as several of the players have strong friendships and it’s clear they enjoy playing together, wearing the Alcester badge with pride.
With continued hard work, the hope is that some of these players will progress to the senior side, with 2 of them having already played in a preseason friendly for the first team.
The whole team are looking to forward to a challenging training session with the first team this week & learning from Aaron’s excellent coaching.
JACK COLE
This season we’re giving supporters the chance to know the lads behind the shirts a little better. From dressing room banter to favourite meals and footballing heroes, it’s time to shine a spotlight on one of Alcester Town’s first-team regulars.
This week, we catch up with Jack Cole.
Football Questions
Q. How did you first get into football?
A. After school football and the football development centre
Q. Who was your footballing idol growing up?
A. David Beckham
Q. Best player you’ve ever played with?
A. Matthew Smith
Q. Toughest opponent you’ve faced?
A. Weymouth
Q. Favourite position you’ve played in?
A. Striker
Q. Best goal you’ve ever scored (or seen)?
A. Overhead kick when I was younger
Q. Most memorable moment in an Alcester Town shirt so far?
A. Winning the Hereford league
Q. If you could play at any stadium in the world, which would it be?
A. White Hart lane
Q. Which teammate is the biggest joker in the dressing room?
A. Jord Adams and Wicko
Q. Who’s the most serious before a game?
A. Tristan Robert’s
Off the Pitch
Q. What’s your day job outside football?
A. Business Executive at Aston Villa
Q. Favourite food?
A. Chicken Wings
Q. One song that gets you pumped before a game?
A. Tell me what you want
Q. TV series or film you can watch on repeat?
A. Suits
Q. Dream holiday destination?
A. Seychelles
Q. Hidden talent most people don’t know about?
A. Great singer
Q. If you weren’t a footballer, what sport would you play?
A. Golf
Q. Who would play you in a film about your life?
A. Andrew Garfield
Q. First car you owned?
A. Ford fiesta
Q. If you could invite three people (dead or alive) to dinner, who would they be?
A. Harry Redknapp, Sydney Sweeney, Robert Downey Jr
Full Name: Jack Cole
Age: 26
Position: LWB
Joined Alcester Town: 4 years ago Previous Clubs: Highgate, Redditch United and Inkberrow
Proudly sponsored by:
2025/26 SQUAD
FIXTURE & RESULTS
AUGUST
Sat Aug 02
Tue Aug 05
Sat Aug 09
Sat Aug 16
Sat Aug 23
Mon Aug 25
Sat Aug 30
SEPTEMBER
Tue Sep 02
Sat Sep 06
Sat Sep 13
Sat Sep 20
Sat Sep 27
Tue Sep 30
OCTOBER
Sat Oct 04
Sat Oct 18
Tue Oct 21
Sat Oct 25
NOVEMBER
Sat Nov 08
Sat Nov 15
Sat Nov 22
Sat Nov 29
Stonehouse Town Wellington
Malmesbury Victoria Carterton
Thame United Reserves
Bewdley Town
Brimscombe & Thrupp
Woodford United
Cheltenham Saracens
Chipping Sodbury Town
Wantage Town
Ludlow Town
Cheltenham Saracens
Ludlow Town
Clanfield 85
Cradley Town First
Shortwood United
Newent Town
Brimscombe & Thrupp
Stonehouse Town FC Stratford
DECEMBER
Sat Dec 06 Sat Dec 27
JANUARY
Sat Jan 03 Sat Jan 10 Sat Jan 17
Sat Jan 24
Sat Jan 31
FEBRUARY
Sat Feb 07
Sat Feb 21
Sat Feb 28
MARCH
Sat Mar 14
Sat Mar 21
Sat Mar 28
APRIL
Mon Apr 06
Sat Apr 11
Sat Apr 18
Carterton Redditch Borough
Woodford United
Cheltenham Saracens
Ludlow Town
Bewdley Town
Thame United Reserves
Clanfield 85
Malmesbury Victoria
Wantage Town
Newent Town
Wellington
Chipping Sodbury Town
FC Stratford
Redditch Borough
Shortwood United
MATCH REPORT
The Romans started brightly and were rewarded for their early intensity with a well-crafted opening goal. A slick passage of play down the right flank saw Liam O’Donnell deliver a precise outswinging cross into the box. Jack Cole timed his run to perfection, losing his marker with a sharp feint before meeting the delivery with a powerful header into the bottom corner giving the home side a deserved 1–0 lead inside the opening 15 minutes.
Buoyed by the early goal, Alcester continued to press, looking lively in possession and causing problems for the Wantage back line. However, the visitors gradually settled into the contest and found a route back into the game shortly before the interval.
A corner from the left wasn’t dealt with at the near post, and a Wantage player capitalised on the lapse in concentration, glancing a header beyond Alcester keeper Sam Hart to level the score at 1–1 going into half-time.
The momentum shifted after the break, with Wantage growing in confidence and enjoying the lion’s share of possession.
Alcester found themselves under increasing pressure, particularly from set-pieces. The warning signs were there when a looping header from another corner struck the crossbar following a scramble in the box.
Wantage eventually made their dominance count midway through the second half. After Alcester failed to
fully clear a corner, the ball was recycled on the right wing and delivered back in by Owain Wheeler. His high, looping cross appeared to be aimed towards a teammate but instead sailed over everyone in the box and dropped into the far top corner leaving Hart rooted and putting the visitors ahead 2–1.
To their credit, Alcester rallied in the closing stages, pushing bodies forward in search of an equaliser. Despite their efforts, clear-cut chances proved elusive, with Wantage defending resolutely and seeing out the final minutes to secure a hard-fought away win.
The result means Alcester's winless run continues, but there were positives to take from their attacking display in the first half. The focus now turns to cup action, as they prepare to welcome Ludlow Town to Stratford Road.
SQUADS
Jack Atkinson
Adam Bourn
Josh Bowen
Luke Brown
Aaron Bunn
Ashley Bunn
Jack Cole
Cameron Crook
Kian Davies
George Davis
Harrison Dodd
Billy Eric Duggins
Luke Dugmore
Christopher Dyson
Henry Gibson
Samuel Hart
Woody Hawkett
William Haycock
Dan Jarvis
Louis Jones
James Lev
Connor McCarthy
Daniel Murphy
Jack Nicholls
Liam O'Donnell
Joe Reynolds
Arran Richmond
Drew Ricketts
Tristan Roberts
William Robert Skelton
Kyle Stenson
Jake Wicketts
Daniel Williams
Luke Wyatt
Aaron Xavier
Ryan Young
Jack Beaumont
Josh Bull
Ryan Clarke
Charlie Clent
Keanu Ryan Cooper
Jack Davies
Connor Davies-Austin
Aaron Dovey
Kieran Dovey
Jack Dwyer
Thomas Dwyer
Charlie Edwards
Sean Evans
Calum Gibbons
Louis George Griffiths
James Hammond
Ian Havard
Harry Hurst
Harry Jones
Ryan Lewis
Cameron Ashton Dennis Marsh
Jack Marston
Morgan Millard
Harley Morris
Jordan Morris
Woody Norman
Thomas Poyner
Jamie Richards
Liam Taylor
Regan Tonkinson
Zach Venables
Ellis Wear
Reece Williams
Zac Williams