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Shifnal Town

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A BRIEF<br />

HISTORY<br />

Although the record books reveal the<br />

existence of a <strong>Shifnal</strong> <strong>Town</strong> Football Club as<br />

far back as the 19th century, the modern<br />

day club was founded as recently as 1964,<br />

originally being named St Andrews Club F.C<br />

Youth.<br />

As members of the local Wellington and District League, the club’s<br />

first significant event was the involvement of the current Club<br />

President and as a result, the organisation of the club improved,<br />

and the first change of identity occurred, with the resurrection of<br />

another historic name from the town’s footballing past, <strong>Shifnal</strong><br />

Juniors being the chosen new title.<br />

The final change of name, to <strong>Shifnal</strong> <strong>Town</strong> came in 1972 and after<br />

lifting the Premier Division Cup again in 1975, the club’s finest<br />

hour in County League membership occurred the following year,<br />

when the Premiership Division Championship was accompanied by<br />

an appearance in the Welsh Intermediate Cup Final, losing to<br />

Cardiff College at Knighton <strong>Town</strong> F.C.<br />

1977 saw election to Division One of the West Midlands (Regional)<br />

League. Just two years later, the Divisional title was won, and with<br />

the Club able to boast much improved facilities at the council<br />

owned Admirals Park, promotion to the Premier Division was<br />

obtained. Back to back Premier Division championships followed in<br />

1981 and 1982, but promotion to the Southern League was Denied<br />

due to the absence of floodlights. The 1982/3 season saw <strong>Shifnal</strong>’s<br />

best ever F.A. Cup Run, when the giant killing exploits took them<br />

to the fourth qualifying round, where only a 4-1 Defeat at Alliance<br />

Premier Division Boston United prevented progress into the<br />

competition Proper. The same season also saw <strong>Shifnal</strong> pull off a<br />

shock victory over Boston’s divisional colleagues Telford United in<br />

the Shropshire Senior Cup, to set up a final meeting with<br />

Shrewsbury <strong>Town</strong>, who lifted the cup with a narrow 1-0 success.<br />

Sadly, 1985 was to bring catastrophic news, with the compulsory<br />

sale of the land on which Admirals Park stood.<br />

26

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