Sixways (Worcester Raiders)

Welcome to the most recent instalment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.

For this instalment, myself and AFC Finners headed to Worcester for some Hellenic Premier Division action. The game saw Worcester Raiders take on their local rivals Malvern Town. The game was held at Sixways, a ground that Worcester Raiders share with rugby club, Worcester Warriors, and has the been the centre of lots of controversy recently. The ground is primarily built for rugby, so it was sure to be an interesting experience watching a football match there.

The ground is situated on the outskirts of Worcester, just off junction 6 of the M5. It is around a 15 minute drive from the city centre of Worcester, which plays host to a lot of landmarks. These include Worcester Cathedral, the Edward Elgar statue, and Gheluvelt Park. There are plenty of eateries and places to grab a drink in Worcester, including a cocktail bar called Keystones which offers some cocktails based on TV shows and characters. After we took in the sights of Worcester, we headed to the stadium.

A History Of Worcester

The city of Worcester was founded by the Romans about 50 AD. It stood on the Roman road from Wroxeter to Gloucester so a considerable amount of traffic passed through. Soon Worcester was a flourishing little town. In Roman Worcester, there were many craftsmen such as blacksmiths, carpenters, bakers, and potters but many people were farmers.

By the late 2nd century there was an iron industry in the town. Worcester was probably surrounded by a ditch and an earth rampart with a wooden palisade on top. However, in the 4th century Roman civilization declined. The last Roman soldiers left Britain in 407 AD. Afterward, Worcester was probably abandoned.

However, the site was not abandoned for long. By the mid 7th century the Saxons had started a new settlement by a ford in the River Severn. The old Roman settlement gave its name to the new Saxon town. The Saxons called a Roman settlement a ceaster. They called this one Weogoran ceaster. Weorgoran means people of the winding river. In time the name changed to Worcester.

In 680 AD Worcester was given a bishop and a cathedral. Once it was the seat of a bishop Saxon Worcester grew rapidly. (The church was very wealthy and powerful in those days and having a bishop was a great asset).

In the late 9th century Worcester was made a burgh. Alfred the Great created a network of fortified settlements called burghs across his kingdom. In the event of a Danish attack, all the men in the area could gather in the burgh to fight them. Worcester would have been surrounded by a ditch and rampart, probably with a wooden palisade.

However, in the year 1041, Worcester was raided (cough). The king sent a tax collector to Worcester and the townspeople murdered him. The king then sent an army to punish the citizens of Worcester. The townspeople fled to the island of Bevere but the king’s men plundered Worcester. However, the town soon recovered and continued to prosper.

In Medieval Worcester, there was a weekly market and after 1218 an annual fair. In the Middle Ages fairs were like markets but they were held only once a year. Buyers and Sellers would come from all over Herefordshire and Worcestershire to attend a Worcester fair. The number of fairs increased during the Middle Ages and by 1500 there were four.

In Worcester, the main industry was making woolen cloth. Wool was woven. Then it was fulled. That means it was pounded in a mixture of clay and water to clean and thicken it. Wooden hammers worked by watermills pounded the wool. Afterward, the wool was dyed.

Tudor House was built in the early 16th century. Kings School was founded in 1542. The Royal Grammar School was given a charter by Queen Elizabeth in 1561. Worcester was given a mayor in 1621. In the 16th century, the wool trade was still the lifeblood of Worcester but in the 17th century, it began to decline.

King Charles was beheaded in 1649 but his son persuaded the Scots to try and put him on the throne. He came to Worcester in 1651. Oliver Cromwell went to meet him. At the battle of Worcester in 1651, the royalists were crushed and Charles II was lucky to escape. The fighting disrupted trade and left Worcester impoverished but the town soon recovered.

During the 20th century, major industries in Worcester were sauce making, printing, and light engineering. However, manufacturing industry declined and the service industries became more important.

In the 21st Century, Worcester continued to flourish. In 2005 the University of Worcester gained full university status. There are two celebrities buried in the cathedral: King John I and Stanley Baldwin.

It's All In The Name

A raider is defined as someone who attacks an enemy within their territory. Using this information, it can be assumed that the Worcester Raiders chose their name to make each game difficult for their opponents, whether at home or away at their opponents' grounds.

Notable People From Worcester

• Simon Andrews- Motorcyclist

• Charles Hastings- Physician

• Stephen Dorrell- Former Secretary Of State For Health

• William Morris- Founder of the Nuffield Foundation

• Melissa Nicholls- Paralympian

A History Lesson From AFC Finners

Worcester Raiders began as a youth team in 2001 and expanded to a senior team in 2009, when they joined the Worcester and District Football League. They were promoted in their first season after joining the West Midlands Regional League Division Two in 2013. After being purchased by the owners of Premiership Rugby club Worcester Warriors, they relocated to the Sixways Stadium in 2020. They were promoted to Hellenic League Division One in 2021.

They were promoted in 2022 despite losing the playoff final because Walton Casuals went out of business. They had a scare earlier this year when the gates to Sixways were locked due to Worcester Warriors going into administration. Fortunately, they were able to reach an agreement with the Warriors' administrators to continue playing at Sixways.

Honours

🏆 Worcester & District Football League (Promoted: 2013)

🏆 West Midlands League Division Two (Promoted: 2014)

🏆 West Midlands League Division One (Promoted: 2019)

🏆 Hellenic League Division One (Promoted: 2022)

An Interview With Worcester Raiders chairman: Steve Harris

GG: Could you tell us a bit about Worcester Raiders FC?

SH: Worcester Raiders began as a youth club in 2001 and joined the Worcester & District Football League in 2009 after forming a senior side.

GG: How long have you been chairman of Worcester Raiders, and how did the opportunity come about?

SH: I was appointed Chairman in May 2020 after the previous chairman, Kevin Jenkins, who had been with the club since its inception, decided it was time for someone else to take on the role. I had previously sponsored the club for several years.

GG: There's been a lot of talk about Worcester Raiders in the media recently, how has all that drama impacted your season?

SH: To be honest, it's been a very stressful time, but the way everyone in the community has responded is why I love this club and football so much. To be third in the league at this point in the season when we didn't even know if we could play is a testament to how well everyone has pulled together; the team spirit has been incredible.

GG: What is it like playing football at a stadium built primarily for rugby?

SH: Without a doubt, having one of the largest non-league grounds outside of the football league has its benefits, one of which is attracting big global companies to sponsor us. The playing surface is among the best 4G surfaces available. The disadvantage is that it could be the opposition's cup final at our stadium, and I'm sure every team will try harder to win here.

GG: What are the aspirations of the club in the future?

SH: It's always been my vision to play in the  Football League, but we're a long way away. However, we are gradually laying the groundwork for the club to grow. We arrived at Sixways three years ago with no junior network of teams; this has since changed, and we now have junior teams for under-21s. As a club, we were only founded 20 years ago, but we are slowly but steadily growing our fan base; in the last 12 months, we have had two crowds of over 1000 people; it is undoubtedly a large project.

GG: What does the club mean to the community of Worcester?

SH: Without the recent assistance of the local community, we might not have a club right now, so I think it goes without saying what the club means to them all.

GG: Do Worcester Raiders have a star player?

SH: Cliché, but they are all stars to me this season, we reached the highest round of the FA Cup this season in the club's history, many players could have easily left Sixways given the circumstances, but they all stuck it out, huge credit to them.

GG: If you had an unlimited budget, and you could bring one player to Worcester Raiders, who would it be and why?

SH: It would have to be a fan favourite, someone who all football fans in Worcester would come to watch. Many of our fans have supported Aston Villa over the years as one of the closest Premier League teams, so I would go with Jack Grealish for the team as we would sell out Sixways. But, as a Welshman, I would have adored Gareth Bale in his prime because he was unstoppable.

GG: What is it like running a non-league football club?

SH: I'm sure every chairman would tell you it's a lot of work, another full-time job that can take over your life, but football is a bug with highs and lows. I recently appointed Dicky Newman as vice chairmen and gave him a list of what I do; he said he was exhausted just reading it. Even at Steps 5 and 6, we are dealing with football agents, some very good and some not so good, which is unheard of at this level of football.

GG: Finally, can you tell us what people can expect if they were to visit Worcester Raiders FC?

SH: For sure, a warm welcome, as many fans have enjoyed the experience more this season than ever before. We changed the stands where the fans sat to a smaller stand, which we believe has added a better community spirit because fans are not as spread out. We've also added two matchday mascots, Ronnie and Reggie, which the kids adore, as well as a matchday souvenir shop, which the groundhoppers adore.

Matchday: Worcester Raiders 2-3 Malvern Town

On a cold Tuesday afternoon, we drove to Worcester. We arrived at Sixways on time, but we were far too early, with no one else in sight. There was free parking available at the stadium which we used. We took advantage of the opportunity to complete a ground circuit. The ground is made up of four stands, with one two tiered stand. How many clubs in the Hellenic League can boast that? Finners thought it was hilarious that the council offices were on the opposite side of the ground; don't ask me why. We decided to have lunch at the Marston's pub in the Blackpole neighbourhood. It was a little disappointing that the pub had almost nothing to eat, but the food we did get was adequate at best.

We entered the stadium as soon as we returned to the ground and paid £3 for the privilege. We took advantage of a club promotion in which the first 50 people who emailed them received a free programme and pin badge, so we took them up on their offer. At the stadium, there is a club shop that sells scarves, bucket hats, and bobble hats. The people we met were extremely friendly and welcoming. It's always nice to arrive at a location and be greeted with open arms.

There is food and drink available at the stadium, with pasties and chips being the most popular options. I avoided these due to my current decision to limit myself to two meals per day. I must admit that a family near me bought chips and curry sauce that stank, and the food wasn't much better (just kidding). There were a variety of pints available at the ground, but for £5 a go I think they're hedging their bets there.

We posed for a photo with Worcester Raiders mascots Ronnie and Reggie (no prizes for guessing who they're named after) before taking a seat near the halfway line. The game drew a sizable crowd, over 700 in fact, which is unusual for a Hellenic Premier Division match. The atmosphere was fantastic for 700 people, with both contingents making a lot of noise and encouraging each other. It has to be said that everytime I have seen Malvern Town play, their fans have been fantastic: vocal, loud, friendly, excellent.

Teamsheet

Worcester Raiders

Manager: Karl Gormley

Ryan Young

Samuel Carey

Ethan Patterson

Brogan Halpin ⚽️

Jay Sauntson

James Timmins

Jade Ferron

Luke Gaffney

Joe Billingham (c)

Jordan Murphy

Isaac Cooper ⚽️

Substitutes

Richard Smith

Syrus Warren-Paul

Shay Willock

Vanylson Silva

Harry Stratford

Malvern Town

Manager: Lee Hooper

Kieron Blackburn

Lewis Platt (c)

Luke Payne

Adam Sauntson

Carrick Hill ⚽️

Jack Horrell

Ben Hayes

Joe Bullock

Matt Turner

Lewis Spurrier ⚽️

Harry Clark

Substitutes

Sam Judge

Dave Reynolds

Phil Harris

Joe Bates ⚽️

Harry Wickett

In a frantic start to the game, Worcester Raiders striker Jordan Murphy fired straight at the Malvern Town goalkeeper. Following that, Malvern went straight up the other end and came within inches of scoring after Lewis Spurrier's shot was hooked over the bar on his weak foot. The visitors had the advantage, but Halpin's quick reaction to Cooper's drag-shot that deflected off the keeper and off the inside of the post gave Worcester Raiders the lead against the odds. Malvern Town were threatening going forward, and Clark's spectacular header came within inches of tying the game. Malvern deserved a goal for their efforts, and with a minute left in the half, centre-back Hill scrambled the ball over the goal line to give them what they deserved. At halftime it was 1-1.

Turner almost found a diving Clark in the box after the break with a header that hit the top of the crossbar. Malvern was clearly in the lead, and their first-ever goal, a screamer, put them ahead. Spurrier received the ball on the edge of the box, dug it out of his feet, and then unleashed a stunning 25-yard strike into the top corner of Young's goal. The opposition appeared to be in complete control and appeared to be extending their lead. Cooper's beautiful 25-yard free kick, on the other hand, appeared to earn Worcester Raiders a point. The drama wasn't over as Joe Bates converted a penalty kick in the dying moments. Worcester Raiders' situation worsened in the closing minutes when striker Murphy was dismissed for dissent. The game ended 3-2, with a very good Malvern Town side taking the three points and moving closer to the title.

Scores On The Doors

Atmosphere: 6/10

Food and Drink: 5/10

Stadium: 7.5/10

Welcome: 9/10

Overall Experience: 8.5/10

GG