🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 Telford United (England)

Telford United (England)

Formed in 1872 as Parish Church Institute, the club was based in Telford, Shropshire. They renamed themselves in 1879 to Wellington Town and won their first piece of silverware in 1881 when they won the Shropshire Senior Cup, a competition they have won a total of 34 times, the second most by a club, behind Shrewsbury Town who have the competition 67 times.

In 1892, the club became one of the founding members of the Shropshire League, but within six years they had switched to join the Birmingham & District League. Having not won anything in that division, they switched once again to The Combinations League in 1901 and in the same year won the Welsh Cup, beating Wrexham at the Racecourse Ground in front of 6,000. Wellington won the game 1-0. They wouldn’t play in a Welsh Cup final again until 1905-06 when they won it for the second time, beating Whitchurch, 3-2.

In between the two Welsh cup finals, they returned to the Birmingham & District League, in 1902. This would be a running theme in the early years of the club, jumping from one league to another, never winning any of them.

After leaving again in 1905-06 season, they returned again in 1908 and remained there for a few years, eventually winning their first title in the 1920-21 season. With their first league title secured, the club looked to make an impression in the FA Cup, and in 1925-26 they reached the First round of the competition for the first time. On November 28^th, 1925, they played Doncaster Rovers and lost the tie 2-0.

They managed to get to the First Round once again in the following season, this time having a home draw. They played Mansfield Town on November 27^th, 1926, but once again lost, 2-1.It wouldn’t be until the 1929-30 season that the club would appear in the FA Cup first round again, but once again they were knocked out at the same stage, losing at home to Stockport County, 4-1 on November 30^th, 1929. However, in 1930, the club reached the First round once again, but this time won the tie. It took two matches as the first game, played against Yorkshire club, Wombwell, was drawn 0-0. The replay, played on December 4^th, 1930, saw Wellington win 3-0 away from home and for the first time in their history they advanced to the second round of the FA Cup.

It was there they met Welsh club, Wrexham on December 13^th, 1930. It was here they were knocked out, 4-2 at home. It was a sign of things to come, with the club now getting a taste of winning, they won three league titles in the Birmingham & District League in 1934-35, 1935-36 and then for the last time in 1939-40, which also saw the club win the Welsh Cup for the third time in their history, beating Swansea Town, 4-0 at Gay Meadow in front of 6,000 people.

After World War II ended, the club joined the Chesire County League, having spent one season there back in 1938. They won their first Chesire County title in 1945-46 and then again in the 1946-47 season. They won their third title in that league in the 1951-52 season. It would be the last league title the club would win in their history and the last piece of silverware they would win under the name, Wellington Town.

In 1958 the club moved league once again and played in the Southern League. Playing in the Premier Division in the 1959-60 season, finishing 15^th out of the 22 clubs competing in the division. An 8^th place finish came the season after and a 13^th place finish in the 1961-62 season meant the club were stuck in mediocracy for a few years. A 6^th place finish, was followed by an 18^th place finish the season after, narrowly avoiding relegation by one point. Their mixed fortunes continued in the 60’s, and in the 1964-65 season saw Wellington beat the drop by two points, finishing 17^th. A six point gap meant they avoided relegation again, finishing 13^th in the 1965-66 season. The next season, however, saw the club only six points off the eventual title winners, Romford, although it was a highly competitive league and even though they were so close to the top, they still finished 7^th that season. A 9^th place, 13^th place and 15^th finish followed in the next three seasons before the club changed it’s name to Telford United. The name change occurred due to the growth of the town of Telford.

The new name inspired the club to make it to their first FA Trophy final, however they lost to Macclesfield Town, 2-0. However, it didn’t take long before they got their hand on the trophy, and the following season saw them reach the FA Trophy final for the second time, beating Hillingdon Borough, 3-2.

The 1978-79 season saw the club finish 3^rd in the Southern League, and saw them promoted to the newly formed Alliance Premier League (Now known as the National League). The 1981-82 season saw Telford finish 3^rd, but because champions, Runcorn were unable to gain promotion because their stadium did not meet Football League requirements, Telford applied themselves to take their spot. However, they were unsuccessful and remained in the Alliance League for the following season.

The 1980’s could arguably be seen as the most successful in the clubs history, certainly under the name of Telford United. While they never won a league title, nor gained promotion to the Football League, they did win the FA Trophy twice in that decade, first in 1982-83, beating Northwich Victoria in the final. They reached the final another two times, losing one in 1987-88 to Enfield. After drawing the first final, 0-0, the game went to a replay and Enfield won it, 3-2.

The next final was the following season and Telford United faced Macclesfield Town. The game ended 1-0 to Telford, and that was the last time they won the FA Trophy, however they are still one of the most successful clubs in the competitions history, alongside Woking and Scarborough who have both won the competition three times as well. (Scarborough are also a Forgotten Football Club).

While the clubs success in the FA Trophy remains in the history books, so does their record of being giant killers in the FA Cup. In the 1982-83 season they reached the second round, beating Third division side, Wigan Athletic along the way. The 1983-84 FA Cup saw the club reach the second round, eventually losing to Derby County, 6-1. The 1984-85 season saw the club reach the Fifth round, meeting Everton. They lost the game on February16th, 3-0.

Other major cup upsets were when they beat Burnley in the 1986-87 FA Cup, while beating Stoke City in the 1991-92 in the First round of the competition, losing to Wrexham in the next round, 1-0.

Their final claim to fame came in the FA Cup in 2003-04, when they beat Crawley Town in the First round, 3-2 to set up a tie with Brentford. The Second-round tie saw Telford dismantle the Londoners, 3-0 and progress to the Third round where Premier League sides entered. Hoping to get one of the big boys, they were slightly disappointed as they drew Crewe Alexandra. It did provide an opportunity.to progress and they took that opportunity by beating Crewe, 1-0.

The Fourth round was drawn against London side, Millwall and this proved to be a round to far as Millwall won the game, 2-0. They would be eventual finalists, losing to Manchester United, 3-0. 

The club also reached the semi-final of the FA Trophy that season as well, but where beaten by Canvey Island on penalties. It would prove to be the clubs last involvement in both competitions, with the club dissolving at the end of the season, citing financial difficulties. Their owner, Andy Shaw, pulled the plug in March and the club Telford United, as it was known, ceased to exist.

However, it wasn’t long before a phoenix club was founded by fans, and in May 27^th, 2004, the club AFC Telford United was born. The club has had mixed fortunes, with relegation confirmed in 2022-23 when they finished bottom of the National League North, bringing them to the Premier Division Central of the Southern League.