CALLOW End-based Old Bush Football Club is celebrating its tenth anniversary this month and looking forward to the coming season following some major developments at the club.

At the club's recent annual general meeting, manager Daniel Badham announced that Spring Lane-based Willie Thorne Snooker Club was sponsoring the club's kit and the club would be known as 'OBFC Willie Thorne' for the new season.

The Old Bush FC, originally formed by pub landlord John Lewis and regulars Andy Growcott, Andy Long, Simon Duffett and Steve Bourne played their first three season in the Malvern League Division Two and in the third season picked up the championship trophy.

The team then entered the Worcester & District League Division Three being promoted in the first season after two seasons in Division Two promotion was gained again and the following season, 1998, they were again promoted, now to the Premier Division.

This move unfortunately took the team away from their village pitch because Premier Division teams needed showers and changing rooms.

A season later the club was back in Division One and back to the village pitch and followed a difficult season with many of the better players retiring, relegation was only just avoided.

Last season, Daniel Badham took over the manager's post and in a more positive season the team finished in seventh spot, several young players were brought in and had performed well.

Work on a new pavilion on the Callow End sports field was started in March 1998 and an FA grant and £2,000 raised by the club resulted in a shower extension to the pavilion.

This is still waiting for showers to be fitted as more money is required but parish councillors are currently looking into the project and fingers are crossed.

The club have also decided that the time is right for them to start a Reserve team and that will be competing in the Malvern Football League in the forthcoming season.

Training will commence on Wednesday (July 4) at Callow End Playing Fields at 7pm and the club welcomes U16s of any age for training.

Anyone looking for a change of club or wanting more information can contact Daniel Badham on 07901 667044 (mobile) or secretary Andy Growcott on 01905 831319.