When he formally opened Droitwich Spa’s King George Playing Fields ground in November 2022, former England international Kevin Keegan said the pitch would have been “like Wembley” in his playing days.
The one-time England boss, who managed the exciting Newcastle team of the 1990s, was impressed by what he saw as he toured the facilities before taking part in a Q&A session. And when you consider the side only started playing Saturday football in the 1999/2000 season, it’s quite the rise.
For a man who has graced some of the finest stadia in football to speak about the club in such glowing terms must surely excite fans, players and staff alike.
In recent seasons, Borehamwood have shown that, with the right investment, it’s possible to knock on the door of the EFL. And Wrexham grabbed the headlines last season, with many fans backing them for promotion again this year. Will it be long before the public sits up and takes notice of Droitwich Spa? After all, football loves a comeback story and UK punters enjoy sports betting, so it may be time to notice this tiny town.
The club originated as a Sunday league side called Droitwich St Peters in 1985. After 15 years of Sunday football, the club joined the Midland Combination Division 3 in 1999, finishing 4th and gaining promotion.
They began life in Division 2 with a new name – Droitwich Spa – and finished 7th in their first season. After 5 years at that level, the club was promoted to Division 1 in 2007. And from there on, the club’s progress was somewhat stunted for a period of time.
The team initially found the step up a challenge and was in and around relegation for the first few years. But they avoided the drop and spent 15 consecutive seasons in the First Division.
In 2013/14, the club won two trophies, the Worcestershire Junior Cup and the Evesham Nursing Cup, but struggled in the league and only narrowly avoided falling back into Division 3.
The 2014/15 season was one of highs and lows. With the club firmly rooted to the foot of the table after a poor start to the campaign, a change of management saw the team rise to end the year well away from the relegation zone.
Despite some tough times, the club continued going from strength to strength, winning the Presidents Cup in 2016 and finishing 3rd in Division 2. The following year, Droitwich Spa were Division 2 champions.
But a month after the season ended, they were docked points for fielding an ineligible player. The lost points saw them not only miss out on winning the league but also slip out of the promotion places. So, despite all that hard work, and the initial euphoria, they would start the new season still in Division 2. This coincided with a temporary move away from their home ground while renovation works were completed.
For the 2018/19 season, the club transferred to the West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1, where they finished 3rd. They also won the Worcestershire Junior Cup.
Then Covid arrived and brought football to a halt.
In the first season back after the pandemic, Droitwich Spa won the league. In 2022, they returned home to the ‘Kingy’ when the refurbished ground was opened by King Kev. Now, with the right foundations in place, the club has ambitious plans to continue its rise up English football’s pyramid.
