Bromsgrove Sporting F.C.

Lore & Background

Bromsgrove Sporting was formed in 2009 when a supporters' trust, dissatisfied with the ownership of Tom Herbert at Bromsgrove Rovers, sought to buy the club out of administration. When the administrator chose another buyer who later failed to pay and was bankrupted, the consortium created a new team to preserve non-league football in Bromsgrove. On 2 June 2010, they secured the lease of the Victoria Ground, initially agreeing to share it with Rovers, but Rovers were expelled from the Southern League in August 2010 and dissolved, leaving Sporting as sole tenants.

The club began in the Midland Football Combination Division Two for the 2010-11 season, finishing third. After successive promotions, they reached the Midland Football Combination Premier Division for 2012-13. In 2014, they won their first silverware, the Smedley Crooke Memorial Charity Cup, beating Paget Rangers 4-1. The 2016-17 season saw them go unbeaten in the league to win the MFL First Division title, gaining promotion to the MFL Premier Division, and they also reached the FA Vase semi-finals. The following season, they won the MFL Premier Division at the first attempt, securing back-to-back promotions to the Southern League Division One Central.

In 2018-19, after finishing second in the league, Sporting won the play-offs, beating Corby Town 4-3 in the final before 2,943 fans, to reach the Southern League Premier Central. The 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons were curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic, though they won the Red Recruitment Trophy in 2021. The 2021-22 season saw a dramatic downturn, with the club sliding into the relegation zone before rallying to finish 18th. The 2022-23 season was similarly mixed, finishing 18th again. In January 2024, Tim Flowers took interim charge, and later Paul Smith and Scott Adey Linforth managed the side, with Linforth securing the club's highest league position and points tally.

Reader's Guide

Bromsgrove Sporting's significance lies in its origin as a supporter-led phoenix club that rapidly ascended the non-league pyramid, demonstrating the resilience of community football. From its founding in 2009 after the dissolution of Bromsgrove Rovers, the club achieved three promotions in four seasons, reaching Step 3 of the pyramid by 2019. Their attendances consistently ranked among the highest at their level, with an average of 979 in the curtailed 2019-20 season, reflecting strong local support. The club's journey includes notable cup runs, such as the FA Vase semi-final in 2017 and a televised FA Cup match against Grimsby Town in 2021. Despite periods of struggle, including relegation battles in 2021-22 and 2022-23, the club maintained its Step 3 status. The legacy of Bromsgrove Sporting is as a model of fan ownership and a testament to the ability of a supporters' trust to sustain non-league football in a town after the loss of its previous club.

Did You Know?

• Bromsgrove Sporting was founded in 2009 by a supporters' consortium after the administrator of Bromsgrove Rovers chose a buyer who later failed to pay and was made bankrupt.
• In the 2016-17 season, Sporting went unbeaten in the league, earning the nickname 'invincibles', and reached the FA Vase semi-finals.
• The club's record home attendance of 3,349 was set on 11 March 2017 for an FA Vase semi-final first leg against Cleethorpes Town.
• In the 2021-22 season, 40 different players appeared for the club, reflecting a high turnover in playing personnel.