Newtown Sports Junior Football Club are an established football club based in Malvern, who provide opportunities for boys up to the age of 18 and girls up to the age of 16 to train, play and enjoy football.

Newtown Sports started back in 1979, when Mick Morris, together with Ron Handy and Ken Door, established an U15 team for his son and his mates, because the team they used to play folded. Mick’s reasoning for calling the team Newtown Sports was because he obtained sponsors from various shops in Newtown Road, including Janden Sports shop which has long since gone.

Newtown Sports U15s – 1979

Back Row: Reg Box, Ron Handy, Martin Jones, Mark Jordan, Nigel Stimson, Steve Prince, Andy Bizzell, Mark Buxton & Mick Morris (Coach)

Front Row: Darryl Bayliss, Julian Langford, Shaun Nolen, Paul Morton, Melvyn Trigg, Paul Smith, Shuan Morris & Tony Burton

The ground at Lower Howsell had no changing rooms; only an old building which was a disused toilet block. In those days, the Club looked after the ground, cut the grass, marked out the lines, and even re-seeded the pitch. Starting members Ken Dawe, Dave Ilsley, Doug Lanford-Holl, Alan Wilson-Webb, Ron Handy, Ken Dawe and Don Loader did most of the work turning the disused toilet blocks in to changing rooms. These remained in existence until the Council built the new changing rooms in 1996.

Newtown Sports concentrates on Junior football for children and youth, but once entered a Senior team in to the Malvern League that won many trophies. The Seniors disbanded in 1986 when Don Loader ran the Club single-handedly until 1991. when a new Committee was formed, including Nick Taylor, Robin Longmore and John Oakley. Don Loader, and his ever present wife Annette, retired from Newtown Sports in 2003, when Martyn Twinberrow stepped in to be chairman.

In Feb 2003 the Club became the first football club in Malvern to attain the Football Association’s Charter Standard award, which was quickly followed in July 2003 with the Charter Development Standard award. The Charter is a prestigious accreditation through which the FA seeks to establish, reward and encourage good practice at grass roots levels so that parents and children can demand a minimum standard of provision. To become recognised in this way, all of the club’s coaches had to complete FA coaching courses, attend child protection training and agree to adhere to codes of conduct. By completing these official FA training courses, the Club is able to demonstrate to parents that their children can play at the club in a safe environment and receive quality football coaching. In addition to this, the Club has many Level 2 and several Level 3 qualified coaches and a Development Plan that has been endorsed by the Worcestershire FA.

April 2006 was a very proud time for the club when it was recognised by the Football Association for its work within the community and awarded the prestigious accolade of FA Charter Standard Community Club; which is the highest award the FA can bestow on a grassroots Club like ourselves.

Saturday 13th September 2003 saw another small piece of history as the first competitive all girl football match at the mini-soccer age group was played in Malvern for the first time, as a Newtown Sports Junior Girls U12s played against Broadway United Girls.

The Club has been on several football tours over the years. The first one was in 1983 when 3 teams and accompanying parents travelled to Yugoslavia.

Over the years Newtown Sports teams have won many league titles and cup finals, let alone runners-up prizes. Perhaps one of the best team performances was the 1988 team that won 3 cup finals, the league championship and they also beat a pick of the league team.

As well as having successful teams, the Club has produced some successful individuals. Several players have gone to professional Clubs, such as, Mark Shepherd to Kidderminster Harriers, Craig Humphries to Cheltenham Town, Peter Nightingale to West Bromwich Albion and Gareth Downs to Norwich City. The Club has also been helped by famous players, most notably Greg Downs who won a FA Cup Final medal with Coventry City. Greg managed a team for 3 seasons before moving back to Norwich.

Hopefully, most of the children who have passed through the ranks have gone on to play at their own level and enjoyed the sports for many years.