Tamworth FC

Date: Saturday Nov 06 2010
Ground: Lamb Ground
Comp: FA Cup 1st Round
Match: Tamworth 2 Crewe 1 HT: 1-0
Rodman 15, Thomas 55: Westwood 88

ATT: 1,776
Additional: Entrance £14.00, Programme £2.50, Coffee/Tea £1.00
Lamb Ground in pictures

This was an irresistible cup tie; not too far away in the southern tip of Staffordshire, a new ground, with a good potential for a cup upset. And upset it turned out to be in the end, with the Conference club beating League Two Crewe Alexandra, 2-1. For a Conference or above club Tamworth made a refreshing change with its lack of petty rules and regulations. It was a really pleasant surprise and scores ten out of ten for hospitality. As my eight-year-old and I milled about the entrance a steward, seeing that we weren’t regulars, invited us through the big doors to have a look at the ground before deciding where to go. It was ticketed, but you could pay at the turnstiles for a ticket and were even allowed back out, as we were a tad early and wanted a wander round before kick off. £14 for adults £8 for children. Effortless laissez-faire efficiency – showing how it should be done.

The hospitality was superb throughout, the double average crowd prompting no problem for the staff. Slightly disappointing that there was less than 2,000 in though. I was expecting a few more. Around 300 Crewe fans nestled in behind one goal. We sat in the main stand, fairly shallow, just rising seven or so rows back, housing around 400.

Main Stand

Behind one goal was the home fans’ terrace, a wide sweeping terrace, with large flat step at the back. A covered terrace ran down the other side, with interesting ‘Heath Robinson’ style TV gantry.

Home Terrace

TV Gantry

The ground has been in use since a year after Tamworth FC’s inception in 1934. The reason for the Lamb Ground and the Lamb nickname is that the ground sat near the Lamb Inn pub.

Crewe ended up the sacrificial lamb.

The game was a classic FA tie. Right from the off Tamworth were up for it. As with a lot of cup games, you could tell, almost at a subliminal level, that Crewe had the better calibre and quality, but Tamworth were more up for it, and endeavour triumphed over missed kicks and flailings. Sometimes Tamworth were brilliant, as in their second goal. An absolute beauty from Thomas curling the ball over the keeper in the top corner from outside the box. We were lucky enough to be standing right behind the goal when it curled in. A goal to win any cup tie.

Tamworth’s determination unsettled Crewe throughout and Tamworth could have had more goals in an entertaining first half. The Lambs’ keeper was probably the man of the match, though, saving a few one-on-ones to keep the Alex at bay, especially in the first half. A really entertaining game and a great club.