Chair 'proud' to celebrate club's 150-year history

The chairman of one of the oldest football clubs in the country said celebrating its 150th anniversary has filled him with "real pride".

Royston Town Football Club, which plays in the Southern Football League, the seventh tier of English football, dates back to October 1875 when the team played in Saffron Walden, Essex.

Steve Jackson, who has been the chairman of the club for the past 14 years, said: "Generations have supported and safeguarded the Crows, and I'm proud to continue that tradition."

As part of the celebrations, Royston Town has released a series of 19th and 20th Century photographs of its former players.

The club's early matches were often informal affairs, played on rough pitches and organised through word of mouth against neighbouring villages and towns across Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

The Crows first recorded colours were amber and black and the club became a focal point for local life in the early part of the 20th Century.

The team's earliest honour came in the 1911-12 season, when they won the Creake Charity Shield after beating Wisbech 1-0 in extra time.

Following the First World War, Royston Town grew stronger and moved to their current home at Garden Walk after a group of businessmen acquired the freehold for the site for £200.

Jackson said: "[The club] brings people together, creates lifelong memories and gives the town something to rally behind."

Several decades later, Royston Town enjoyed their first major success when they were promoted to the Herts County Premier Division in 1966-67 and went on to be champions in 1976-77.

Chris Watters, who has experienced Royston Town as a player, a coach and now as its manager, said the club was not like any other he has been involved in, adding: "There's a real sense of togetherness here – from the dressing room to the boardroom to the terraces.

"Reaching 150 years isn't just about history; it's about the people who care deeply about this club and what it stands for. I'm incredibly proud to play my part in that journey."

In 2018, the Crows turned up at Stockport Georgians for their Manchester Premier League match but they were short of players.

They told their hosts they were drafting in the 43-year-old father of one of their regulars.

What they did not reveal was the dad in question was former Manchester United and England midfielder Paul Scholes.

"We had eight or nine of our senior players missing and Paul said he'd be happy to help out if we were ever short as his son Arron plays for us," said Mark Howard, the club's manager at the time.

Jackson said he was now focused on his responsibility to "protect and grow the club for the future".

Last year, the side unveiled a new home shirt featuring a design inspired by cave carvings believed to be linked to the Knights Templar, which were found in 1792 in Royston Cave.

The Crows have been recently investing in youth development, supporting women's football and strengthening its ties with local schools and organisations, Jackson said.

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