By Albatross
November 30 2005

It's time for a closer look at Hartlepool United's FA Cup opponents. Tamworth have been around for more than 70 years, and the Conference outfit are currently about as high as they've ever been. However, they've yet to get past FA Cup Round 2..... Tamworth were formed in 1933, following the collapse of an earlier senior club in the form of Tamworth Castle. Joining the Birmingham Combination, they moved to their current ground - The Lamb, from which they take their nickname - a year later. They joined the Birmingham & District League (later the West Midlands League) in the mid 1950s. By the end on the 1960s they were a dominant force in that league - by 1971/2 they had won three titles and finsihed 2nd on goal difference another twice in the space of nine seasons. During this period, they reached the FA Cup 1st round for the first time - in 1966/7, losing to Gillingham; three years later they went one better, beating Torquay before a heavy loss - again to Gillingham - in Round 2. A replay thumping against York the following season though would prove to be their last action in the competition proper for some time.

Having outgrown the West Midlands League, they sought advancement by joining the Southern League in it's Division 1 North in 1972/3; in 1979/80 they transferred through to the Northern Premier Lehue, but after four years of struggle moved back into the Southern League in the Midland division. However, the struggle continued: they won just two league games in 1983/4, conceded an average of more than three a game, and found themselves once again back in the West Midlands League in 1984/5.

Following a period of consolidation, they began to hit their stride again in 1987/8. The FA Cup saw them go on a fantastic run that took them from the Preliminary Round right the way through to a First Round Proper tie with Colchester that they lost 3-0. They won the West Midlands League, gaining access again to the Southern Midland; three consecutive top 4 finishes followed, not leading to promotion, but in 1988/9 they won the FA Vase. After nine seasons of being one of the strongest teams in the Southern Midland, they won the title - and promotion to the Southern Premier - in 1996/7; from their they built up gradually, finally winning promotion to the Conference in 2002/3, a season after finishing as runners-up. 2002/3 also saw them making an impression in another national competition, reaching the FA Trophy final: however, although strong favourites to beat unfancied Burscough at Villa Park, they lost out. There have been a number of appearances in the FA Cup proper in recent years as well - but not much giant-killing; until the win at Bournemouth, the Lambs hadn't done better than a replay defeat against a league team in over 30 years.

Unusually for the Conference, Tamworth remain a part-time outfit - one of a rapidly diminishing number. As a result they are finding life tough. However, as Bournemouth found out, former Poolie and now Player/Manager Mark Cooper is capable of coaxing more out of the side than some would expect - and no doubt he'll be keen to get one over on us and lead his charges into the third round for the first time in the club's history.