Explore a timeline of the history of Redditch United FC.
The Reds are one of the longest established football clubs in the Midlands, starting out as Redditch Town in the Birmingham Combination League in 1891.
The club’s debut FA Cup campaign in 1893/94 began in the 1st Qualifying Round with a 4-1 win at home against Singers FC, who five years later would change their name to Coventry City. However, Redditch Town withdrew before facing Hednesford (Town) in the 2nd Qualifying Round, a pattern repeated the following season with victory over Stafford Rangers and withdrawal, before facing the original Coalville Town. The reasons for the withdrawals have not been identified but it wasn’t uncommon for clubs in the 19th Century to either struggle to fund an away trip, find enough available players, or have more important competitions to focus on.
Redditch Town were crowned the first winners of the Worcestershire Senior Cup in 1894.
Redditch Town not only dropped its suffix at the end of the 1896/97 season but also dropped down to compete in local league football, not stepping back up until joining the Birmingham Combination for the 1908/09 season. This was followed two years later by a return to the FA Cup but Redditch were well beaten 6-0 by league rivals Willenhall Pickwick in the 1910/11 Extra Preliminary Round. The final few years before the outbreak of World War I would witness just one FA Cup win for Redditch, 1-0 at Willenhall Swifts in the 1914/15 Preliminary Round but this would lead to the club’s heaviest FA Cup defeat of all time, 8-0 at the hands of Cradley Heath St Luke’s.
The club prospered in the 1930’s and again 20 years later when they were Birmingham Combination champions in 1952 and 1955.
Following the end of World War II an application to the Birmingham Combination was successful and the work to find a team commenced. The first problem that confronted the committee was to find a ground to play on. After several disappointments, the use of Britannia Sports Field was obtained. The search to find a ground of our own continued and it was not until halfway through the next season that the club received an offer from the council for a field now known as The Valley Stadium.
The opening of The Valley Stadium marks a new era for Redditch Football Club. The work building the dressing rooms and other accommodation was undertaken by the Supporters Club. This included a shed from Bridley Moor Farm that was dismantled and re-erected at the ground to form a clubhouse. The first match at The Valley Stadium was against West Bromwich Albion.
Following the end of World War II an application to the Birmingham Combination was successful and the work to find a team commenced. The first problem that confronted the committee was to find a ground to play on. After several disappointments, the use of Britannia Sports Field was obtained. The search to find a ground of our own continued and it was not until halfway through the next season that the club received an offer from the council for a field now known as The Valley Stadium.
In 1971, “United” was added to the club’s name. That same year, Redditch United reached the FA Cup First Round for the first time. A record crowd of 4,500 packed into The Valley Stadium to see Nicky Ingram score in a 1-1 draw against Division Four side Peterborough United. Although Redditch lost 6-0 in the replay, this achievement brought national attention to the club.
The club joined the Southern League and were promoted to the Premier Division at the end of the 1975-76 campaign having scored more than 100 goals in the process.
The current Cedar Road and Town End Stands were erected and opened for the start of the Anglo-Italian Tournament. Redditch United featured in the alongside some giants of Italian Football and hosted Lecco and Cremonese
United were founder members of the Alliance Premier League at the start of the 1979/80 but struggled against the likes of Barnet and Yeovil Town in what would evolve into the Football Conference, now The National League.
The club then plied its trade in the Southern League for more than 20 years, the highlight of which was another run to the first round of the FA Cup in 1989 before losing 3-1 to Conference side Merthyr Tydfil in front of another sell-out crowd.
The club made headlines at the end of the 1997-98 season, playing nine games in nine days.
Before the 3G pitch was installed in 2016, the Valley Stadium was notorious for not draining well. Much like most of the season, there was a spell of very wet weather in Spring and games continued to be called off until those last nine days were choc-a-bloc. One of the ‘nine’ was only called off in the penultimate week and then shoe-horned into, what was by then, the only remaining free day.
At the end of the 2003/04 season, the Reds clinched an historic double promotion. Having secured the Southern League Western Division, the club then won two play-off matches to secure a place in the newly formed Conference North, where they stayed for seven seasons. The Club encountered financial troubles and dropped from the National League North in 2011.
The Reds won the Worcestershire Senior Cup and a number of players made the move into full-time football including Jermaine Hylton who joined Swindon Town and Omari Sterling-James who went to Cheltenham Town.
Having just missed out on the play-offs in 2014/15, the club finished runners-up the following year, only to lose out to Leamington in the play-offs.
Redditch United collaborated with Redditch Borough Council, the FA, and the Football Foundation on a £900,000 investment project. This initiative led to the installation of a state-of-the-art 3G playing surface and significant upgrades to the changing facilities. The revitalised facilities were officially opened by Sports Minister, Tracey Crouch, transforming the once-dilapidated Valley Stadium into a bustling community hub.
Education becomes a cornerstone of the club’s growth, with the establishment of a full-time Academy. This initiative allowed students to pursue college and university level education alongside football coaching, all based at The Valley Stadium. Since its inception, numerous players have progressed through this pathway to senior football at Redditch United and other local clubs. The opportunities have not only fostered football talent but also enabled the club to build its own workforce and contribute to the development of football and sports across the region.
Redditch United Women’s Team do the double as they are crowned League and Cup winners.
The Covid-19 pandemic rages across the globe, meaning that the 2019/20 season is cut short due to national lockdown and Redditch are saved from near-certain relegation. A new season starts later than normal in September 2020 with a new Chairman and Manager. United start strongly under Matt Clarke only for the campaign to be delayed in November and eventually curtailed in February after just 8 league games had been played.
United invest in new classroom facilities and add to their education offer with the formation of a SEND education programme in partnership with Heart of Birmingham Vocational College. This programme allows a unique opportunity to SEND learners to develop their academic and employability skills and is believed to be the only full time SEND education programme based at a football club in the country.
Redditch United become the home of England Walking Football Community hosting both their training sessions and international match days. In this year, the club hosted an International Tournament with teams travelling from Northern Ireland, Wales, The Isle of Man and Peru.
In this year the club suffered the devastating loss of former Captain Tom Rankin. A permanent memorial for Tom was unveiled the following season on the day of their League game against Rushden & Diamonds, the side that Tom played his last game for United against almost exactly a year before.
The Valley Stadium temporarily became the set for the BBC series Shakespeare & Hathaway, serving as the fictional home of Avon FC.
Following a report commissioned by The FA, Redditch United’s social value has been calculated at £3.9 million, including £1.8 million from volunteering and £2.6 million in economic value. The club’s impact on the community continues to grow, with Redditch United in the Community CIC strengthening its partnerships with local schools, community groups, and charities.
The future for The Reds looks extremely bright. The Valley Stadium hosts football for over 1000 players each week with a stadium footfall estimated in excess of 6000 people thanks to the diverse activities of the club and the range of stakeholders the club represents. Key to the club’s ambition is to become an even bigger stakeholder within the local community and be a vehicle to improve civic pride within the town.
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