Get the lowdown on our next opponents: Tamworth.
The Opposition
Tamworth’s rise into what is looking like an established National League outfit has been nothing short of outstanding, masterminded by their manager, Andy Peaks.
It’s been just three seasons since the Lambs won the Southern Premier League Central, and fast forward to the present, Peaks’ side sit comfortably mid-table in the fifth tier, with an outside shot at a top seven a possibility for the second year in a row, a remarkable feat given where they were less than a decade ago.
The only club in the division to play on a 3G artificial pitch, Tamworth secured back-to-back promotions after a 1-1 draw with Warrington Town mathematically secured the title and were largely tipped for relegation, but defeated the odds in impressive fashion to finish just four points below the play-off places.
Peaks’ aggressive and intense style was invaluable to their success, but it was the work rate and camaraderie within the dressing room that drove the Lambs to not just survival, but a comfortable top half finish in their maiden campaign in the National League.
The performances of Haydn Hollis, Jas Singh and Tom Tonks allowed them to remain consistent and competitive, while Dan Creaney’s 16 goals propelled them to an impressive finish, something which he took into the current campaign after returning on loan from Solihull Moors until January. The forward has notched six goals this term, more than any other player aside from Manny Duku, who has now departed alongside Creaney, spending half-a-season at the Lamb Ground after his move from Solihull in the summer before moving on to Rochdale last week.
While a real blow to lose both players, Tamworth will maintain high hopes of a strong end to the campaign owing to their consistency, proven over the last few years, with the introductions of Oliver Lynch, Alfie Bates, Stefan Mols and Kwaku Donkor proving to be key additions, while Kennedy Digie and Beck-Ray Enoru have continued their form from last season at each end of the pitch.
As such, with the exception of their 7-1 win defeat to Solihull being the largest deficit in any game this season, Tamworth have maintained consistency in patches, enjoying a ten-game unbeaten run between September and October, while more recently they have enjoyed a streak of three games without defeat heading into Saturday’s clash, though they were unable to extend it to four after Tuesday’s clash with Wealdstone was postponed.
The Manager
Andy Peaks
Former AFC Rushden and Diamonds boss Andy Peaks has been in the Tamworth dugout since February 2022, and has enjoyed huge success at the Lamb Ground during his short stay so far.
Having begun his coaching career with spells as assistant manager at AFC Long Buckby and Daventry Town, Peaks would continue his run as assistant when he joined Mark Starmer’s management team in May 2012 at Rushden, bringing a wealth of United Counties League experience as well as his notable career history with the Diamonds where he was eighth in their all-time appearance list, having played 205 times for the club between 1992 and 1997.
He would take over control of first team affairs in a caretaker role following Starmer’s resignation in March 2014, and was installed on a permanent basis a month later, guiding the club to a League and Cup Double in the United Counties League in his first full season at the helm. Peaks then led them to the play-offs twice before winning promotion to Step 3 at the end of the 2017/18 season.
He would go on to spend a total of nine years as manager of Rushden, departing in February 2022 when he joined Tamworth. He would enjoy near instant success at the Lamb Ground, initially enjoying an unbeaten run until the end of his first season. He would go on to guide the club to a comfortable tenth place finish before overseeing back-to-back title-winning campaigns, with the Lambs rising from the Southern League Division Central to the National League in just two seasons under Peaks’ watch.
One to Watch
Tom Tonks
Tom Tonks first signed for Tamworth in the summer of 2020, and has since gone on to make over 100 appearances for the club.
The veteran midfielder began his career with Brocton and later Tipton Town before joining Halesowen Town in July 2013, spending two years at the Grove Recreation Ground before moving to Stourbridge in June 2015.
He spent a handful of months with the Glassboys before making the switch to AFC Telford United in December 2015, before returning to the War Memorial Athletic Ground after spending the latter half of the 2015/16 campaign in Shropshire.
A brief stint at Solihull Moors then preceded third and fourth spells with Stourbridge in September 2017, either side of a switch to Alvechurch in 2019, before linking up with The Lambs for the first time in 2020.
After spending the last couple of months of the 2019/20 campaign at the Lamb Ground, he featured for Stafford Rangers and Rushall Olympic from where he signed for The Lambs again in November 2023, becoming an integral part of the Championship winning side in 2023/24, and saw him remain in Staffordshire to make over 100 appearances as they have risen to the National League from the Southern League in just two seasons, while his trademark throw-ins saw him in the national media spotlight during The Lambs’ FA Cup run last season.
Tamworth’s Tom Tonks celebrates victory following the Emirates FA Cup first round match at CR MOT Centre Community Stadium at The Lamb, Tamworth. Picture date: Friday November 1, 2024.
Recent Form
Truro City 0-0 Tamworth
Tamworth 1-1 Rochdale AFC
Tamworth 3-1 Gateshead
Tamworth 0-2 FC Halifax Town
Solihull Moors 7-1 Tamworth
Tamworth 0-2 FC Halifax Town
Last Time Out
Tamworth made their longest ever journey for a competitive match, down to Cornwall to face Truro City for the first time, and were held to a goalless draw by the struggling Tinners.
Despite pre-match rain soaking the pitch, blue skies appeared before kick-off as the home side started brightly, attacking the end occupied by the travelling supporters. Early pressure saw Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain deliver dangerous crosses, with Tyler Harvey and Lirak Hasani both going close, while Jas Singh and Aidan Stone were quickly called into action at either end. Chances were limited in a stop-start first half disrupted by injuries, with Oliver Lynch and Ben Acquaye both requiring treatment, the former forced off early on. Tamworth threatened mainly from set pieces and Tom Tonks’ long throws, with Jordan Ponticelli denied by an excellent Stone save late in the half. Truro also had moments, but neither side could find a breakthrough and it remained goalless at the interval.
Tamworth made changes at the break and continued to push, forcing Stone into further saves as Ponticelli, Teo Kurtaran and Stefan Mols all went close. Tonks’ throw-ins also continued to cause constant problems, while Singh dealt calmly with Truro’s efforts at the other end. The hosts nearly struck the decisive blow with less than 20 minutes to go, but Harvey dragged wide, before Tamworth responded with two low shots well saved by Stone. Truro were then reduced to ten men late on when Will Dean was sent off, and Brandon Forbes’ curling free kick was punched clear as he was denied a debut goal. In stoppage time, Kennedy Digie missed a final headed chance, bringing a close to a goalless draw that saw the points shared.
