When these 2 teams last met on Boxing Day, a Kyle McAllister opener was cancelled out by a 90th minute Tamworth goal from Creaney.  The game finished 1-1.

The journey from Tamworth is only about 90 miles.  Given it’s a Bank Holiday and that Tamworth have been in great form (and still within mathematical reach of a play-off spot) there may be some good away support.

Tamworth are going to be very tough opposition.  Before their most recent game, the top form sides over 8 games were Barnet & Tamworth, each gaining 19 points.  An unexpected 2-1 defeat at home to Solihull last time out has rather dented their play-off hopes.

However, the run of form that has seen them win 6 out of their last 9 games has left Tamworth in 10th place.  With just 3 matches to play, they are 6 points behind Gateshead who currently occupy the last play-off spot.  They are vying with Southend and Altrincham on 61 and 60 points respectively and with a worse goal difference.  It begins to look as though their play-off dreams may be over for this season.

Dan Creaney is, by some distance, Tamworth’s top marksman.  He has a remarkable tally of 16 goals this season.  Now 30 years old, he’s a local – born in Nuneaton.  Creaney wears number 9.

Tom Tonks is one of Tamworth’s weapons.  His huge long throws cause chaos to many an opposition.  Tonks wears number 4.

A Tamworth favourite is Jordan Cullinane-Liburd who is a defender who wears number 18.  Jordan (29 years old) returned to his hometown club in the summer of 2023 and was voted Supporters Player of the Year last season.

Tamworth aren’t afraid to concede goals – their defence can be leaky (losing 7-0 to Barnet back in August didn’t help their stats!).  But offensively they do pretty well.  They tend to be better at home than on the road.

Tamworth FC (nickname The Lambs) have had a great couple of years.  In 2022/23 they won the Southern League Premier Division Central on goal difference.  They followed this up with another promotion in 2023/24 when they won the National League North title with 2 games to spare.

Tamworth have previously spent time in the 5th tier (between 2002 – 2007 and again between 2009 – 2014) so they aren’t strangers to this league.  They have never achieved league status since they were formed in 1933.  They have played at The Lamb Ground since 1934.  The ground is named after a pub which no longer exists.

Mark Cooper (remember him?) managed Tamworth between Apr 2004 and Jan 2007.  This was Cooper’s first managerial role.  Cooper was sacked with Tamworth having a bad season in the 5th tier.  The sacking wasn’t enough to prevent Tamworth being relegated that season.  Cooper managed FGR between 2016-2021 and, after a brief spell at Barrow, has been manager at Yeovil since 2022.

Current manager, Andy Peaks, has been in charge since 2022.

Mark Cooper began his managerial career at Tamworth.

Paul Merson was Tamworth’s most high profile signing in 2006, after his dismissal as manager of Walsall.  But Merson only played 1 game for The Lambs.

Tamworth is 14 miles north-east of Birmingham.  It’s in Staffordshire, on the river Tame (which is where the town’s name comes from).  The town was big in Anglo-Saxon times and the Normans built a castle which you could visit.  Local coalfields boosted the town in the Industrial Revolution.  Fans of industrial canal architecture will find plenty to look at around Tamworth.  Robert Peel (a Lancashire cotton mill owner) moved to Tamworth and became a big benefactor of the town in the 18th & 19th century.  His son, Sir Robert Peel, rose to become one of the most famous Prime Ministers of the Victorian era, and served as the town’s Member of Parliament from 1830 until his death in 1850.   He is credited as the founder of the modern day police force (whose officers are still sometimes called Bobbies or Peelers).

Evidence of coal mining activity has nowadays largely gone

Reliant Motors were based in Tamworth.  The Reliant Robin was manufactured there for 30 years – made even more famous by Del Boy and Jeremy Clarkson.

There are 2 massive attractions, both very close by.  The Snowdome is actually next door to The Lamb Ground.  Boasting 2 real snow indoor slopes plus pool, ice rink and ice track, the attraction is hugely popular.  Even bigger, and just a few miles away, is the Drayton Manor Theme Park – find out more at https://www.snowdome.co.uk/ and  https://www.draytonmanor.co.uk/events/christmas.  Both attractions seem to be open on Boxing Day.

If cathedrals are your thing, Lichfield is only 6 miles away.