Stowmarket Town are nicely poised for a shot at back-to-back promotions

Mid Suffolk side Stowmarket Town are thriving in their first ever season at Step 4 level. The Gold and Blacks, now managed by Paul Musgrove, were awarded promotion from the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division based on their unrivalled performance across the disjointed 2019/20 and 2020/21 campaigns.

Stow had been building to Step 4 football throughout that period under former boss, Rick Andrews. Andrews had systematically hauled the club off its knees out of the doldrums of the Thurlow Nunn First Division to become Thurlow Nunn Premier Division contenders. Andrews resigned from his role in early 2021 due to personal reasons, with his assistant Musgrove assuming the reigns alongside experienced coach Richard Wilkins.

The Gold and Blacks have had the benefit of external financial backing in recent seasons. Local racehorse owner and entrepreneur Tom Morley has helped to fund a string of high-profile signings in the last few seasons. Stow even paid a transfer fee to Step 3 neighbours Leiston to acquire left back Seb Dunbar, who played a pivotal role in the team’s dominance in the Thurlow Nunn Premier Division.

Stowmarket Town: A squad the envy of many Step 4 clubs

There is no doubt that many of the Stow squad would be in demand among fans if a non-league fantasy football platform was offered this season. The leading online betting sites only focus on fantasy sports contests in the professional leagues for the time being. But you can be sure the likes of former Cambridge United playmaker Reggie Lambe, fellow Bermudan international Willie Clemons, former Linfield defender Chris Casement and former Ipswich Town midfielder Jack Ainsley would all feature heavily in the fantasy XI of non-league enthusiasts.

Musgrove has assembled an impressive first team squad at Greens Meadow, with several of last season’s players still heavily involved. Star striker Josh Mayhew remains an integral part of the club, although former Hitchin Town striker Luke Brown has helped to share the load in the final third. The likes of Reggie Lambe and Willie Clemons – the latter of which was the subject of National League interest last year – are also weighing in with goals. Meanwhile Step 4 stalwarts Tom Bullard and Joe Jefford have provided a solid base in central defence and seasoned right back Ollie Brown remains a force at both ends of the pitch.

Stow started the 2021/22 Isthmian North season slowly, but have gathered a head of steam in the last couple of months. With just four defeats in their opening 21 league games and just one loss on home soil, their form at Greens Meadow has been the bedrock of their rise towards the Isthmian North summit. A stunning 1-0 win at promotion rivals Canvey Island with ten men proved their resilience and durability, while their comprehensive New Year’s Day hammering of Coggeshall Town showed an altogether different side brimming with flair and firepower.

With just over half of the season elapsed, Stow, Aveley and Canvey Island are threatening to pull away from the rest, creating a three-way tussle for the Isthmian North title. Musgrove’s men showed great strength of character to battle to 3-2 home win over lowly Witham Town in their most recent encounter, helping them to keep pace with an Aveley side they narrowly defeated back in early December.

Significant progress for Stow – on and off the pitch

Off the field, the club has secured a 99-year lease at Greens Meadow from Mid Suffolk District Council and the Church Trust, both of whom are landlords of the stadium. It’s hoped that this will be transformational for Stow, enabling the club’s committee to forge ahead with plans to redevelop areas of the ground, including a new stand behind the goal at the ‘Barside’ end.

Stowmarket Town chairman Neil Sharp said: “Knowing that we now have a home takes a great deal of pressure off the club.

“However, we don’t have time to stand back and admire the effort, we need to keep driving forward and [we] will do just that.”

With the Gold and Blacks looking like Step 3 material, it’s safe to say the good times are likely to continue for a while yet.