by Peter Scherer
Following last weekends FA Cup exit, we now focus on the third and final qualifying round of this years FA Trophy, where we host Southern Premier League South Malvern Town.
Our visitors were promoted last season via the play-offs, but it’s not been a good start for them at Step 3. They had been bottom of the table with two points from their first seven games and having gone out of the FA Cup at the first attempt, 0-4 to Redditch after a replay. So Lee Hooper’s side were still seeking their first win of the season, until Tuesday night. A fighting second half comeback against fellow strugglers Gloucester City gave them a 5-2 win and lifted them off the bottom.
Hooper was the club captain in his playing days, but has been manager for over eight years, reaching his 400th game in charge last April. He made his debut for the club as a 15 year old and spent most of his 17 year playing career with the club.
They have already used four goalkeepers this season, all loanees, with Jenson Kilroy making his debut from Walsall on Tuesday night. West Brom teenager Louis Brady had been first choice, he previously played for Sutton Utd and Rushall Olympic. Wolves Adam Harrison and Charlie Binns from Bristol Rovers have also played.
Young defender Ben Baxter was signed from Hartpury last season and soon earned his place in the promotion winning team.
Luke Payne is an experienced defender who joined our visitors in June 2022 from Cinderford Town. He spent part of his early career at Truro City and has also played for Tuffley Rovers, Slimbridge and Bishops Cleeve.
A Malvern legend, Lewis Platt is a defender and former Captain, who came through the junior ranks before making his first team debut. Apart from one year, he’s been at the club for 11 of the last 12 years.
Dennis Digie is a centre back who started his career with Kidderminster. Moves to Redditch, Yate Town, Cinderford, Lye Town and Wulfrunians soon followed, before a return trip to Redditch. He started last season at Quorn, before joining Coventry Sphinx in February, from where he moved pre-season to our visitors.
Matt Fulloway s another defender, he came from Sporting Khalsa at the start of last season. He’s also played for Stourport Swifts and Redditch.
Another long server is defender Charlie Johnson in his third season since arriving from Hartpury. He’s played for Cirencester, Evesham and Yate Town too
Central midfielder Levin Francis is in his fifth year at Malvern, since arriving from Slimbridge. He was a Swindon Town Junior, during which time he was loaned to Highworth and Chippenham.
Reece King is a central midfielder too. He started out at Buxton, moving on to Stourbridge before he first arrived at Malvern in March 2024. He started the following season at Bromsgrove, from where he joined our visitors last November.
Midfielder Joe Tumelty came off a two-year career break to join our visitors. He was previously at Swindon Supermarine, Yate Town, Hereford, Frome Town and Larkhall Athletic. He is currently team captain.
Matt McDonald is a midfielder in his fourth season with the club. He also spent time at Hereford Pegasus last season on a dual registration.
It was back in August 2020 that midfielder Joe Bullock came to Malvern. He was previously with Hereford Pegasus, but made his 200th Malvern appearance last season.
Attacking midfielder Jay Malshankyj came from Bishop Cleeve in pre-season. He’s played for Weston Super Mare, Yate Town, Melksham Town, Cirencester Town and Taunton Town too after starting out in the Forest Green Academy.
James Church is another midfielder, but he’s come through Malvern’s own junior ranks o get his first team break.
Winger Kobe Chong came from Stourbridge in pre-season. After starting at West Bromwich Albion, he spent two years in Italy with Cagliari, before returning to the UK with Solihull Moors. Banbury, Redditch and Sutton Coldfield were his next stops, before joining Peterborough Utd in 2021. After a loan at Peterborough Sports he moved onto Telford, Nuneaton, Alvechurch, Barwell, Kings Lynn, Kettering, St.Ives and Worcester before joining Stourbridge last November.
Striker Austin Samuels was a pre-season signing from Quorn. His career started when Wolves signed him from Newbridge Rangers. He was loaned to Kidderminster, Bradford City and Aberdeen before joining Inverness Caledonian Thistle following his release.
His next move was Morton before returning to England with Rushall. Spennymoor, Alfreton and Shifnal followed before spending joined Quorn in November last year. He has Championship, League Two and Europa League experience.
Fellow striker Ryan Brunt has played over 120 games in Leagues One and Two, scoring 20 goals. He started out at Bristol City and Stoke City, being loaned to Nantwich, Luton Town, Tranmere Rovers and Orient, before a permanent move to Bristol Rovers. Further loans at York City Stevenage and Plymouth Argyle followed, before moving onto Exeter City. He played for Bath City and Chippenham too, returning to action with Malvern January 2025 after a four-year career break.
Finally brothers Sam and Harry Clark complete the squad. Striker Sam came from Pershore Town in June 2024, where as winger Harry is a longer server, having made his 250th appearance last season. Harry has also played for Worcester Raiders and Worcester City.
Kick off is 3pm, all the usual catering facilities are available, so come down to the Vibrant Doors Arena and help make sure we are in the hat for Monday first round proper draw.