Stratford Town F.C.

Stratford Town

Full name	Stratford Town Football Club
Nickname(s)	The Bards
Founded	1941 (as Stratford Rangers)
Ground	Knights Lane, Tiddington
Chairman	Jed McCrory
Manager	Chris Hussey (caretaker)
League	Southern League Premier Division Central
2023–24	Southern League Premier Division Central, 6th of 21
Website	http://www.stratfordtownfc.co.uk/
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Stratford Town Football Club is a football club representing the town of Stratford upon Avon, Warwickshire, England, but currently based in nearby Tiddington. They are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division Central and play at Knights Lane.

The club was formed in 1941 as Stratford Rangers, changing their name in 1949. After playing in various local leagues they joined the Worcestershire Combination (which later became the Midland Football Combination) in 1954. In 1957 they switched to the Birmingham and District League, which became the West Midlands (Regional) League in 1962, but rejoined the Combination in 1970. In 1975 they took the unusual step of joining the Hellenic League, which does not normally include teams from Warwickshire. After two unsuccessful seasons they rejoined the Midland Combination once again, where they remained until becoming founder members of the Midland Football Alliance in 1994.

The club entered financial difficulty in 1998 and were reformed to become Stratford Town F.C.

On 20 April 2013, a 1–1 draw with Stourport Swifts sealed the Midland Alliance title and promotion to the Southern Football League for the first time in the club's history, where they initially played in Division One South & West. After two seasons in the Division One South & West, Stratford Town earned promotion to the Premier Division via the play-offs with a 3–2 win against Larkhall Athletic on 4 May 2015. They successfully retained their status the following season.

The 2021–22 season saw The Bards reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their history, defeating National League North side Boston United 3–2 in a fourth qualifying round replay after an initial 1–1 draw at the Boston Community Stadium.^[1][2] Stratford were drawn at home to League One side Shrewsbury Town, with the match televised on ITV4.^[3] Despite scoring first, they were eventually defeated 5–1 in front of a sell-out 2,800 spectators at Knights Lane.^[4]

Stratford Town moved into the Knights Lane ground, Tiddington in the 2007–08 season. They played their first league match there against Barwell on 16 February 2008, losing 1–0 to a Stuart Spencer goal.^[5]

The record attendance is 2,800 for the FA Cup first round match against Shrewsbury Town on 7 November 2021.^{[citation needed]}

As of 17 August 2024 ^[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Pos. Nation Player GK  ENG Maxx Clutterbuck GK  ENG Callum Smith DF  ENG Finley Brennan DF  ENG Chris Hussey DF  ENG Paul McCone DF  ENG Dan Vann DF  ENG Lewis Wilson DF  ENG Alex Worley MF  ENG Jack Cund MF  ENG Josh Hawker MF  NIR Dan Lafferty MF  ENG Lewis Ludford-Ison

Pos. Nation Player MF  ENG Michael McGrath MF  ENG Devonn O'Sullivan MF  ENG Tom Solanke FW  ENG Kieron Berry FW  ENG Callum Ebanks FW  ENG Andre Wright FW  ENG Owen James FW  ENG Jamie Molyneux FW  ENG Tyrell Skeen-Hamilton FW  ENG Charlie Williams

The Southern Football League does not use a squad numbering system.

As of 26 May 2022 ^[6]

• Stratford Town F.C. players
• Stratford Town F.C. managers

• Mike and Tony Williams (2006). Non League Club Directory 2006. Tony Williams Publications Ltd. ISBN 1-869833-54-6.

• Official website

52°11′38.94″N 1°40′34.90″W / 52.1941500°N 1.6763611°W / 52.1941500; -1.6763611