Page 28 - Keynsham Town FC v Shepton Mallet 240821

Shepton Mallet Town FC originated from the amalgamation of three local teams in 1933, and
they won the Somerset Senior League Premier Division title in 1949,1959,1974 and 1975,
as well as lifting the Somerset Senior Cup in 1950 and 1965.
Manager Richard Fox took the club into the Western League in 1976, finishing runners up in
their first season and gaining promotion to the Premier Division. Relegated two seasons
later, ex.Bristol City player Bryan Drysdale regained promotion for the side in season 1981 -
2 when they won the 1 Division title, but four years later at the end of the season 1985-6
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the original club folded and dropped out of the Western League.
A new club called Shepton Mallet AFC was formed for season 1987-8 starting back in the
County league in division 2, and reaching the Premier division three seasons later after two
promotions. Manager Alan O’Leary brought them their only success in the 1990s, winning
the Somerset Senior Cup in 1997-8 after a thrilling final against local rivals Radstock Town.
Then after a 15 year absence, manager Roger Smith took the side back into the Western
League after winning the Somerset Premier League title in season 2000-1. A respectable 7 th
placed finish followed, as did Smith’s resignation early the following season, before former
players Gary Banfield and his assistant Jason Neale took over and achieved another decent
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finish in 9 spot.
A dip in fortune then followed, the club invariably finishing near the bottom of the table and
flirting with relegation more than once, as managers Shane Smith, Malcolm Beck and
Mark(Dusty)Ford followed. Ex Castle Cary manager Kevan Davis then gave the club some
stability and higher placed finishes with four seasons in charge up to 2009, before another
regular turnover in the following three seasons saw Keith Brown, Chris Mountford, Glynn
Shaw and Benji Tricker come and go.

The inspired appointment of ex Paulton Rovers manager Andy Jones in 2012 gave the club
four seasons of success, with promotion in 2 spot in 2013-14, followed by two top 10
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finishes in the Premier division 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. Andy brought a number of ex
Bristol City players to the club such as Scott Murray, Louie Carey, Steve Phillips and Jo
Burnell, not forgetting ex Gas player Jon French as well.
Andy and assistant Ben Cleverley then stood down and Rob Cousins briefly took over before
being replaced by club captain Craig Loxton in September 2016. Still at the helm and now
in his 5 season, Craig and his joint manager Jon Burr for season 2017-18, helped the club
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achieve its highest ever league finish of 6 , as well as taking the club to the final of the Les
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Philips Cup that season before losing a penalty shootout against Buckland Athletic AET.
Last season John Durbin, former manager of Hengrove Athletic joined Craig and Jon and
between them the three introduced a number of new players to the club, who gave the
supporters a great season that saw them in with a chance of another record high finishing
position before the Covid crisis hit all clubs and curtailed the season in March 2020.
Hopefully the new season will be up and running successfully from September, with ex player
and former manager of Bishop Sutton and Oldlands Abbotonians, Dave Stone, helping Craig
and John and Jon Burr taking on the club’s Commercial manager position. Most of last year’s
squad have re-signed which is another big plus for the club.