Tamworth Football Club is based in Staffordshire, England. The club competes in the National League North, the fifth level in the EFL system.
In 1988, Tamworth returned to the Southern League and a year later won the FA Vase. Tamworth reached the Final of the FA Trophy in 2003. In the same season, they played Burscough but were denied a double, losing 2–1 at Villa Park but in the same season won promotion to the Football Conference, going on to spend four seasons at the highest level of non-League football before being relegated to the Conference North. In 2009 the club gained promotion back to the Conference Premier, and spent five seasons at that level before being relegated. Further relegation in 2018 took the club back to the Southern League.
The team originally played at The Jolly Sailor Ground but after a year moved into The Lamb Ground, named after a pub which formerly stood nearby. The stadium currently has a capacity of just under 5,000 and a 3G artificial pitch which was laid in 2016. Local rivals include Burton Albion and Numeaton Borough.
The town of Tamworth had been represented at football by Tamworth Castle F.C. until the club folded in 1933. This void was filled thanks to a campaign started by a letter from a local businessman in the local newspaper setting in motion the formation of Tamworth F.C. Originally playing next to the Jolly Sailor Pub, the club moved to their present ground, The Lamb Ground, in 1934. Tamworth began life competing in the Birmingham Corporation, before joining the Birmingham and District League, subsequently renamed the West Midlands Regional League, in 1954.
In the 1960s Tamworth won the league in 1963–64 and 1965–66 and finished runners-up on two other occasions, as well as lifting the West Midlands League Cup, Birmingham Senior Cup and Staffordshire Senior Cup in that decade.
In 1972 Tamworth gained promotion to the Southern League, following a third West Midlands League title, but a period of falling attendances and financial difficulties followed. The club returned to the West Midlands League in 1984, and was taken over by a consortium of local businessmen. In 1987–88 Tamworth won the League and were promoted back to the Southern League.
FA Vase win and promotion to the Conference: In 1989 Tamworth, managed by Graham Smith, reached the final of the FA Vase for the first time, one year after gaining promotion back to the Southern League. The final was against Sudbury Town at Wembley and finished in a 1–1 draw, meaning a replay, that was played at Peterborough Utd. Tamworth won 3–0 with two goals from Mark Stanton and one from Ian Moore, lifting the FA Vase for the first time. In 1997 The Lambs won the championship of the Southern League Midland Division and gained promotion to the Premier Division.
In the 2001–02 season, Tamworth narrowly missed out on promotion to the Football Conference, the highest level of non-League football. The following season, however, Tamworth won the championship of the Southern League to gain promotion. In the same season Tamworth also reached the final of the FA Trophy, versus Burscough but were denied a double, losing 2–1 at Villa Park. The club finished the 2005–06 season in 21st position (the last relegation position) in the Conference Premier, the club were spared the drop after Canvey Ireland resigned from the league. They also reached the third round of the FA Cup for the first time that season.
Relegation and return to the Conference Premier: Despite a fairly poor 2006–07 league campaign, Tamworth once again found themselves at the 3rd round stage of the FA Cup. Norwich City beat The Lambs and despite a change in leadership, Tamworth were relegated to the Conference North after finishing in 22nd position.
Tamworth were defeated by Everton in the 3rd round of the FA Cup 2011-12, 2–0 on 6 January 2012. Around 5,000 Lambs supporters made the trip to Goodison Park.
Conference North and Southern League
The 2013–14 season was ultimately one to forget for the Lambs. In a season that included a few highlights such as progress to the 2nd round of the 2013-14 FA Cup where they were beaten 2–1 at home to Bristol City, Tamworth could not survive in the league and finished 23rd, dropping down into the Conference North after five seasons in the English fifth tier.
On the back of the success of the previous season Tamworth subsequently recorded a second successive promotion the following year, winning the 2023-24 National League North title with two games remaining. In the 2024-5 season, Tamworth defeated League One side Huddersfield Town in the FA Cup first round. They then reached the FA Cup third round for only the fourth time in their history after defeating Burton Albion on penalties after securing a 1–1 draw. The draw for the third round proper saw them drawn at home to Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur, a match that they lost 0-3 following a valiant effort.
- Best league position: 15th in Conference National (level 5), 2004–05
- Best FA Cup performance: 3rd round, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2011–12 and 2024–25
- Best FA Trophy performance: Runners-up, 2002–03
- Best FA Vase performance: Champions, 1988–89 (after replay)
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