Wem Town

A BRIEF
HISTORY
Although the early origins of the football club are unknown, it is a fact
that football was being played in the town long before the outbreak of
the First World War.
In 1950, Wem Town were one of twelve clubs to be invited to
participate in the newly reformed Shropshire County Football League,
alongside Cravens Arms Town, Dawley Athletic, Donnington Wood,
Hadley CW, Lilleshall Miners, Madeley Miners, Montgomery Town,
Salopian Engineers, along with the reserve sides of Shrewsbury Town,
Oswestry Town, and Whitchurch Alport.
Wem ended their first season in seventh position, winning eight,
drawing five and losing nine games, conceding 46, two goals more
than they had scored. Their second season in the league, resulted in a
third placed finish out of ten clubs, two points behind the previous
seasons champions Lilleshall Miners. Donnington Wood won the
league with a seven-point advantage.
Their third and final season in 1952/53 was a disaster, winning just
four games and drawing once from 20 outings seeing the North
Shropshire side finish bottom and with that came relegation and a
return to local village football.
Wem made a brief return to the County league in 1961 and finished
third behind Llanymynech and champions Oswestry Villa. But
following a mid-table finish in 1962, they found themselves returning
to local football once again in1964.
The 1970’s saw the rise and success of Wem Town Colts with the
Town club considered to be a poor relative. But all that changed in
1973/74 season when the league formed two new Division’s, one
North & One South. Wem Town were invited to join along with several
other local sides including Weston Rhyn, Belvidere Colts.
The loss of clubs such as Donnington Wood, Shifnal Town, Newport
Town, Ludlow Town, Bridgnorth Sports and Broseley Athletic in the
late 70’s and early 1980’s saw the league’s standard diminish, so it
26