Praise and Grumble

From the four newly promoted sides into the Conference, few would have expected Tamworth FC to be the side holding their heads highest in the division almost a quarter the way through the current campaign, only having lost once thus far in league competition.

Success breeds success

It certainly seems the case for the Lambs that success breeds success after returning to the Conference following on from their two-year stint in the Conference North.

The side escaped the dreaded scenario of tumbling down the divisions after their relegation in 2007 and returned in glorious fashion earlier this year, attaining promotion as Champions of Conference North and securing the title in April 2009.

Keeping faith

The team are lead by former Leicester City midfielder and ex-Notts County manager, Gary Mills, who's kept faith in the majority of last season’s young squad.

They've taken confidence from their early season form and performances, and are looking to stay in the top half of the table for the remainder of the campaign,  spurred on by the now seemingly realistic aspiration of achieving a play-off spot.

Rod Hadley, Tamworth’s General Manager and Secretary says, “The expectations has always to do as well as possible but the start has certainly ensured that we are looking at the top end of the table as a final placing rather than fifth from bottom which based on the clubs last venture in the top division would have been seen as a success.”

League football

Hadley also believes the town of Tamworth, with a population of just 75,000, would be ready for league football, something the club has never experienced since its formulation in 1933.

“The leap into the Football League would be coped with as we have an experienced team on and off the pitch. The Directors are fully aware of the criteria required to gain access in to the League and will be working hard to ensure that in the event of promotion the club will be able to take the step up with the minimum of fuss."

“The Town will get behind the team but in the current economic climate it is difficult for fans to find the cash for games as the area suffers from high unemployment figures,” said Hadley.

Potential

To see the potential the club has, in 1989, around 26 thousand supporters witnessed Tamworth draw with Sudbury Town 1-1 at Wembley in the FA Vase Trophy Final.

It was a record turnout for the competition and remained unbeaten only as recently as 2007- after Truro City took on AFC Totton at the new Wembley, in front of 27,754 spectators.

The replay, four days later at Peterborough’s London Road, finished 3-0 to the Lambs.

In 2003 the club also reached the FA Trophy Final, losing 2-1 to Burscough in front of 14,265 spectators. A victory would have seen the club accomplish a league and cup double, as this season the side had also won promotion to the Conference.

Finances

Tamworth’s unrelenting winning mentality is a perfect example for all non-league sides to follow. Their blueprints go totally against those clubs who feel the need to over commit themselves financially, in order to compete in a division with ‘bigger players’ than themselves.

“There is no danger of Tamworth FC living beyond their means as the directors have given all areas a budget which has to be adhered to. With a significant investment from the Directors the club showed a small profit for the last financial year and we hope that the trend will continue,” explains Hadley.

“It seems that some clubs never learn as every season there are teams starting on minus points because of chasing the dream with money that is not there.”