As we mark the one-year anniversary of the takeover today and the transformation of Wellington Amateurs into Telford Town Football Club, it’s hard to put into words how much we’ve achieved in such a short time. This past year has been nothing short of extraordinary, and I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made both on and off the pitch.

To reflect on just some of our accomplishments, we’ve welcomed an incredibly talented ladies’ team and established a junior section that didn’t even exist 12 months ago. We’ve also secured commercial deals that were previously unavailable, laying stronger foundations for the club’s future. This September, we are set to launch a full-time academy for 16-19 year-olds, and we’ve also organised a large-scale 5-a-side tournament, which promises to be an exciting event for the community whilst our men’s first team currently lead the table by 15 points as well as having 2 cup semi final spots already locked in, some achievement before the end of January and Matthew Boswell and his coaching staff have done an amazing job. Our ladies side only came together in mid June and yet have flown out of the blocks remaining undefeated so far, in 2nd place in the league with games in hand and having scored 96 goals in 10 games conceding just 3 and Elys Davies has to be congratulated for his work with the ladies. Our development side has a cup semi final to look forward to as under the guidance of Andy Evans, Damien Walker and Steve Nico they have really began to shine with some good results in a league where there are some very good sides.

Progress has also been made at our School Grove home, the Key Worker Nation Stadium, where we’ve tackled both minor improvements for supporters and more ambitious long-term plans to enhance the facilities.

Of course, there have been challenges along the way, but our board of directors, which blends new members with familiar faces from the Wellington Amateurs days, has worked tirelessly to overcome them. However, the real driving force behind our progress has been the hard work and dedication of our volunteers, specifically the Wednesday Crew who now have a stand named after them. They are the heartbeat of this club, and without them, none of this would have been possible.

Our vision and goals remain unchanged: we strive to be the best version of ourselves, both on and off the pitch. This ethos is reflected in the incredible commitment from everyone involved with the club. Whether it’s our youngest juniors playing their first-ever game or our senior players fighting for promotion, everyone who pulls on a Telford Town shirt gives everything they have. Off the pitch, our players also back the club wholeheartedly, with events like the recent darts night highlighting their support (even if their darts skills left a lot to be desired!).

The community has truly embraced us, and this is reflected in our growing attendances, which are now far beyond most clubs at Step 7 and even rival many Step 5 and Step 6 sides. We are so grateful for the support we’ve received and are proud to represent Telford.

Our commitment to the community is unwavering. From our Easter egg drive, which saw an incredible number of eggs donated and distributed to local kids, to school visits by our first team, we have prioritized giving back and creating meaningful connections.

Looking ahead, our ambitions are clear. We are targeting promotion for both our men’s and women’s senior sides, who currently sit 1st and 2nd in their leagues respectively. We aim to add even more junior sides this summer, establish a full girls’ junior section, launch our full-time education academy, and expand into disability and veterans’ football. There are also exciting projects on the horizon, including one in particular that we’re eager to reveal once talks are finalised.

While we are ambitious, we are equally committed to building something sustainable. Every part of the club is guided by both short- and long-term plans to ensure we grow responsibly.

On a personal note, seeing so many youngsters proudly wearing the Telford Town shirt has been incredibly rewarding. Watching our attendances grow and lifting the Powell Cup just three months after taking over were also special moments that I will cherish. I would also like to thank everybody at the club Directors, managers, players,
Volunteers, senior and junior coaches, supporters and everyone else who goes above and beyond for this club, every achievement is yours for the work you do.

To our supporters and the community: keep backing us, keep enjoying the journey, and let’s continue building something amazing together. The best is yet to come.

Here’s to the next stage of our journey.

Hayden Dando
Chairman
Telford Town Football Club