MALVERN Town’s promotion to their highest-ever level holds positive economic impacts that stretch wider than just the club itself.
Town got a second bite of the cherry after last season’s heartbreaking play-off final loss to Evesham United, qualifying for the play-offs again and winning it all with a 3-2 triumph over Shaftesbury.
The final brought a capacity crowd of 2100 – The Hillsiders’ best-ever attendance – but with the club set for their first-ever season in the seventh tier of the English Football Pyramid, the whole town can expect to benefit, according to Malvern Hills District councillor Beverley Nielsen, who attended the game.
“This historic promotion by Malvern Town Football Club is not only fabulous news for the club and all its fans but for the town itself,” said councillor Nielsen, economic development and tourism portfolio holder at the district council.
“Following promotion, we can expect to see greater numbers of visitors to the town for home games, adding to the steadily rising attendances which the club has witnessed over the past year.
“It was tremendous to see over 2,100 people at the sell-out final and in future a lot of people visiting will look to make a weekend of it – staying and spending locally. This will help our many independent retailers and hospitality.
“It will add to our growing reputation as a beautiful and exciting destination, especially following our recent recognition as the best place to live in the Midlands, our recent bid for the Town of Culture and the many events which are held in the town.
“It will enhance our successful reputation with continuing investment into the town into our businesses, culture and sports.
“I really hope it will raise aspiration amongst young people too, given we have so many talented young people achieving in sports, arts and science, and I hope they will recognise that there’s a future for them here as we really need them to thrive and contribute to our growing place.”
Town mayor Marilyn Birks added: “I’m thrilled. The football club does a lot of work to help and support the community.
“They do some great work opening up the building for different things.
“It’s a hub as well. These extra things (that will come with promotion) will be great.
“The club is an important place for people even if they don’t go to the football. I think the support will grow even further and galvanise people to come together.”
DELIGHTED: Malvern mayor Marilyn Birks is hoping Malvern Town’s promotion will galvanise more people in the town to come together (Image: Newsquest)
PROMOTED: Malvern Town triumphed over Shaftesbury in the play-off final to secure promotion to their highest-ever level (Image: Hillside Throttle Photography)
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Following the victory, Malvern Town chair Chris Pinder thanked the support of local businesses throughout his time with the club.
“We’re very lucky, for a small town we are very well-supported,” he said. “Not just by spectators but by local businesses, it helps us create a sustainable football club, enables us to invest in infrastructure and we do think that’s a very important thing – without the infrastructure you don’t have that foundation to keep going up the levels. That is what we will keep doing.”
Mr Pinder added that should Malvern be able to sustain just half of their play-off final attendance, then they will cope well at the level above.
“If we can get half this amount of people coming to watch on a regular basis next year we will be absolutely fine at step three (seventh tier),” he said.
