Evesham Town
Full nameEvesham Town F.C.
Nickname(s)the Robins[1][2]
Founded1919
Dissolved1938
GroundCrown Meadow
1919–35 colours
1935–38 colours

Evesham Town F.C was an association football club from Evesham, Worcestershire, active before the Second World War.

History

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

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

The club played at the Crown Meadow.[23][24]

References

  1. ↑ "Evesham Town 5, Bloxwich Strollers 2". Tewkesbury Register: 9. 11 April 1931.
  2. ↑ "Death of Henry John Field". Evesham Standard: 1. 4 January 1947.
  3. ↑ "Norton Barracks v Evesham Town". Worcestershire Chronicle: 5. 28 February 1891.
  4. ↑ "Studley League". Bromsgrove & Droitwich Messenger: 10. 28 April 1906.
  5. ↑ "Thirteenth season unlucky". Tewkesbury Register: 9. 9 July 1932.
  6. ↑ "Worcester League". Evesham Standard: 7. 8 November 1919.
  7. ↑ "Evesham Town Football Club". Evesham Standard: 5. 9 July 1921.
  8. ↑ "Caledonians conquer Evesham in extra time". Athletic News: 2. 23 April 1923.
  9. ↑ "Birmingham Combination 1919–1954". Non-league matters. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  10. ↑ "Vital match won". Midland Counties Tribune: 8. 24 April 1931.
  11. ↑ "Famous trophy won". Midland Counties Tribune: 1. 10 April 1931.
  12. ↑ "Evesham Town 1, Nuneaton Town 1". Tewkesbury Register: 9. 4 April 1931.
  13. ↑ "25 years ago". Evesham Standard: 12. 23 September 1960.
  14. ↑ "25 years ago". Evesham Standard: 12. 27 May 1960.
  15. ↑ "Evesham Football Club". Evesham Standard: 5. 20 June 1936.
  16. ↑ "50 years ago". Gloucestershire Echo: 5. 11 April 1988.
  17. ↑ "Evesham T. resign from Combination". Birmingham Daily Gazette: 11. 27 October 1938.
  18. ↑ "Evesham Town's final practice". Tewkesbury Register: 9. 22 August 1931.
  19. ↑ "Scots' defence triumphs". Westminster Gazette: 10. 23 April 1923.
  20. ↑ "Evesham Town Football Club, Worcestershire, 1922–23". JB Archive. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  21. ↑ "Evesham Town accept supporters' offer". Birmingham Daily Gazette: 14. 18 October 1935.
  22. ↑ "Evesham Town F.C. 1937–38". Evesham Journal. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
  23. ↑ "Evesham Town Football Club". Evesham Standard: 1. 14 September 1895.
  24. ↑ "Charity football at Evesham". Tewkesbury Register: 7. 11 November 1939.
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