Evesham Town F.C was an association football club from Evesham, Worcestershire, active before the Second World War.
| Full name | Evesham Town F.C. | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | the Robins[1][2] | ||
| Founded | 1919 | ||
| Dissolved | 1938 | ||
| Ground | Crown Meadow | ||
| |||
History edit
The club played its first match against the Norton Barracks, in front of 200 spectators, in February 1891.[3] The club played at a minor level until 1906.[4]
The club re-formed in 1919[5] and by November was attracting 2,000 spectators for home matches in the Worcestershire League.[6] It took a major step in 1921 by entering the FA Amateur Cup for the first time[7] and reached the final of the 1922–23 competition, losing 2–1 to London Caledonians after extra-time, in front of a crowd of 15,000.[8]
The Robins joined the Birmingham Combination in 1926–27, their best season coming in 1930–31, when they were runners-up to Nuneaton Town;[9] the key match between the two sides, at Crown Meadow in April, saw Nuneaton win with a late penalty, while Evesham hit the woodwork three times and missed a penalty.[10]
The two clubs met in the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup in the same season, Evesham again coming up short, losing 4–2 in a replay at Highfield Road, Barnett in the Evesham goal also saving two penalties;[11] in the original match, with the score at 1–1 and Evesham dominating, Knight was forced to leave the pitch because of a head injury, and Evesham had to finish with ten men.[12]
The club suffered a serious blow in 1935 when a storm demolished the wood and corrugated iron stand at the Crown Meadow.[13] The club was already £120 in debt,[14] which would increase to £250 the following year,[15] and would make a trading loss in 1937–38 of £130.[16] Its final demise came at the start of the 1938–39 season, the club having to resign from the Birmingham Combination, with gate receipts averaging only £11 per match.[17] A new club, Evesham United, started up after the war as a replacement.
Colours edit
The club originally played in red shirts[18] (from which it took its nickname the Robins), white shorts,[19] and black socks.[20] In October 1935, due to the club's financial difficulties, it accepted a new set of colours donated by the supporters' club of white shirts and black shorts, with a robin badge,[21] and hooped socks.[22]
Ground edit
References edit
- ^ "Evesham Town 5, Bloxwich Strollers 2". Tewkesbury Register: 9. 11 April 1931.
- ^ "Death of Henry John Field". Evesham Standard: 1. 4 January 1947.
- ^ "Norton Barracks v Evesham Town". Worcestershire Chronicle: 5. 28 February 1891.
- ^ "Studley League". Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger: 10. 28 April 1906.
- ^ "Thirteenth season unlucky". Tewkesbury Register: 9. 9 July 1932.
- ^ "Worcester League". Evesham Standard: 7. 8 November 1919.
- ^ "Evesham Town Football Club". Evesham Standard: 5. 9 July 1921.
- ^ "Caledonians conquer Evesham in extra time". Athletic News: 2. 23 April 1923.
- ^ "Birmingham Combination 1919–1954". Non-league matters. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Vital match won". Midland Counties Tribune: 8. 24 April 1931.
- ^ "Famous trophy won". Midland Counties Tribune: 1. 10 April 1931.
- ^ "Evesham Town 1, Nuneaton Town 1". Tewkesbury Register: 9. 4 April 1931.
- ^ "25 years ago". Evesham Standard: 12. 23 September 1960.
- ^ "25 years ago". Evesham Standard: 12. 27 May 1960.
- ^ "Evesham Football Club". Evesham Standard: 5. 20 June 1936.
- ^ "50 years ago". Gloucestershire Echo: 5. 11 April 1988.
- ^ "Evesham T. resign from Combination". Birmingham Daily Gazette: 11. 27 October 1938.
- ^ "Evesham Town's final practice". Tewkesbury Register: 9. 22 August 1931.
- ^ "Scots' defence triumphs". Westminster Gazette: 10. 23 April 1923.
- ^ "Evesham Town Football Club, Worcestershire, 1922–23". JB Archive. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Evesham Town accept supporters' offer". Birmingham Daily Gazette: 14. 18 October 1935.
- ^ "Evesham Town F.C. 1937–38". Evesham Journal. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
- ^ "Evesham Town Football Club". Evesham Standard: 1. 14 September 1895.
- ^ "Charity football at Evesham". Tewkesbury Register: 7. 11 November 1939.