Market Drayton Town F.C.

Football in Market Drayton has roots which go well back to 1893. Records show that the main game that season was against Blackburn Rovers. As other games were also played against Shrewsbury, Wellington and Oswestry, Drayton must have had a team of some repute.
Three teams were operating in the town up to the end of 1930, Little Drayton Rangers playing on the Kings Avenue, the Phoenix on the Talbot, and the Town team called the Nomads on the Maer's ground, which is now the site of the Palethorpes factory. This ground was very well maintained and included a spectator stand for 500 and reasonable dressing room accommodation.
The Town club was reformed in 1946, running two teams - one in the Shrewsbury and District League, and the other in the Market Drayton and District League. The President was Eustace Bowles with 26 notable and respected citizens as Vice-Presidents under the Chairmanship of Mr J Pugh. Mr A Cartwright was both the Manager and Secretary. The Shrewsbury League players consisted mainly of men from the RAF stations at Tern Hill and Stoke Heath, symbols of the good relations existing between the town and the services. The club officials were encouraged in their efforts by those enthusiasts who match after match supported the team both home and away. The gates during this period were the envy of every other club in the county.
In season 1952-3 the Town club successfully applied for membership of the Shropshire County League, the County's senior league. The club finished reasonably well and played in the Challenge Cup Final against Newport Town on the Gay Meadow. The Draytonians lost in a hard fought match.