Bromsgrove Rovers

History of the Club

Bromsgrove Rovers were formed in 1885 and initially played in the local Studley & District League, during which time they played on at least four grounds before arriving at their current Victoria Ground home in 1910.

The club were promoted to the Birmingham & District League in 1898, where they were runners up in the 1904-05 season. The club switched to the Birmingham Combination in 1908, where they were to remain until 1954 when it was absorbed into the Birmingham & District League (later renamed the West Midlands (Regional) League. Rovers were champions of the Combination on two occasions (1946-47 & 1959-60) and runners-up on four other occasions.

In 1972 the club joined the Southern Football League, initially in Division One North. In 1979 the league was re-organised and they were placed in the Midland Division, which they won in 1985-86 to gain a place in the Premier Division.

The most successful period in the club's history is without doubt between 1991 and 1998, particularly under the management of Bobby Hope. In the 1991-92 season a remarkable run saw them win 15 home games in a row and pip Dover Athletic to the title with a game to spare. This saw Bromsgrove promoted to the Football Conference, the highest level of non-league football in England.

Home game at Victoria GroundThe remarkable form from the promotion season continued during the 1992-93 season. Bromsgrove were one of smallest clubs in the Conference, yet managed to finish runners-up to the eventual champions Wycombe Wanderers.

The following season saw Bromsgrove Rovers get past the first round (proper) of the FA Cup, claiming their only ever league scalp with an away victory over Northampton Town. After another away victory in the second round (against fellow Conference side Yeovil Town), Bromsgrove were drawn at home to Barnsley. A capacity crowd of 4,893 - although it looked many more - was in attendance for the game. Bromsgrove were 1-0 up with just two minutes of time remaining, when Barnsley scored two late goals to end up winners. In post-match comments, the Barnsley manager Viv Anderson described his team as "the luckiest in the world".[citation needed]

During this time Bromsgrove Rovers also won the Conference League Cup (or "Spalding Cup" at the time) two years in a row during the 1994-95 and 1995-96 seasons, they were the first team in the competitions history to win it back to back. The 1995-96 final saw Bromsgrove involved in a high scoring 10-2 aggregate victory over Kettering Town.

Bromsgrove Rovers were eventually relegated from the Conference in 1996-97. By this time Bobby Hope had left as manager, and many of the club's finest players had also either left, retired, or were past their best. These included the inspirational captain Kevin 'Psycho' Richardson, Paul Webb (who controversially left to join local rivals Kidderminster Harriers), Chris Hanks (Rovers' all time top-scorer) and Martyn O' Connor, who went on to have a successful league career with Birmingham City.

Since then the club have been in almost constant decline. Their relegation to the Southern League Premier Division in 1996-97 was followed by relegation to Division One West in 1998-99 and then to the Midland Football Alliance in 2000-01. Promotion back to the Southern League was gained at the first attempt, but the club still finds itself a long way removed from its successes of the early 1990s. From an average support of 1,500 per game (in the first Conference season) attendance is now frequently in the mid 400s.

In the 2006-07 season, Bromsgrove reached the playoffs, as they finished runners up to Brackley Town. They defeated Evesham United 1-0 in the semi-final then came from a goal down in the final to beat Willenhall Town 2-1 in the final, returning to the Southern League Premier Division for the 2007-08 season.

In the 2007-08, after a bright start, a poor run of results saw manager Rod Brown dismissed. Duane Darby was put in temporary charge and initial results saw the team climb back into the top half of the table. Needing only three wins to guarantee Premier Division status (out of the last 10) the team plummeted to an abysmal run of results, with Darby still in control, which included defeats at already relegated Cheshunt and Cirencester Town. A final day defeat at Rugby Town (Rod Brown's new team) confirmed a terrible season.

Darby was sacked after a poor start to the 2008/09 Season, with Rod Brown returning to the Club from Rugby.

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