Congleton Town flying the flag for community-owned clubs

Congleton Town will be flying the flag as the last remaining community-owned club in the Fourth Round of the FA Vase on this Saturday.

Town, who play in the North West Counties Premier Division at Step 5 of non-league football, and their opponents Malvern Town, are resuming the competition in unusual circumstances.

Neither side has played a competitive fixture since their third round games back on 19th December due to lockdown, and the subsequent suspension of the season.

Sadly for the club, however, the game will be taking place behind closed doors due to government restrictions.

Chris Rowley, the club’s senior football director for the past five years, said: “The stop-start nature of football at present has been a real challenge, and we’re naturally disappointed that such an important game in the club’s history can’t be shared with the club’s fans, many of whom have found being away from the ground for such a prolonged period to be very difficult personally.

“There’s been great support for the club for those fans during such a difficult time and it seems like the supporters and the community feel even more part of what’s going on as a result of community ownership.”

The club have stayed loyal to the group of players that have taken them to this stage, which marks the joint-furthest that they have ever progressed in the competition. We wish them all the best for the rest of the competition.