Oswestry football would have lost it's identity without Morda United

IN recent weeks the Oswestry football scene has been rife with rumours that Morda United were no more.
The small club on the border of Oswestry that is known far and wide was on the brink, and at times I think that was the case.
As most people know I am heavily connected to the yellows with my dad being a former player, secretary, interim manager, groundsman, net putter upper, to name a few, and personally I have played for the first and reserve team (not very well, but they all count).
And some people might see this post as being a little biased towards the club, but I think if Morda did go under, and didn't come back, Oswestry would lose some of it's identity in football circuits.

Morda were once a giant in football in these parts, and judging by the reaction to the back page of the Advertiser a few weeks ago, they still are a giant.
They won numerous trophies in the 70's and 80's which people like myself and Matt Turner have heard about countless times from our fathers. But there is no doubt Morda were a power house around here.
Both in the Welsh system and the English system they were so well known and are still so well known.
You go right down to Aberystwyth and then across through the Midlands, and teams remember the name Morda United.
At once stage at the start of the 90's Morda were in the top Welsh League with the likes of Newtown and Llansanffraid (Now TNS), and they even won that league in 1991.
They moved to England, were successful, then dropped back into the County League due to financial issues.
And after a recent purple patch in the new 'Mercian League' the club have made a sad, but very very wise choice to move back to Wales.
The powers that be and the politics that come with football seem to be trying to stop that, but for the sake of the historic club and for Oswestry football, I hope the move comes off.

Like I have said in the past there is a lot of clubs in Oswestry, maybe too many. Other clubs further out such as St Martins and Ellesmere have great histories.
But clubs that have been in recent years, FC Oswestry Town and Oswestry Villa, Lynclys, aren't as well known for their history as Morda.
(FC Oswestry Town are different, could be argued they have the history, but also argued that the history lies with TNS).
Currently when people look at Oswestry football, they look at TNS. A huge name as they are a pro club, but that is in Wales.
I think in terms of Amateur clubs Morda lead the way though, and people look to Morda when they think of football in the area.

Some people will look at a Welsh move as a step backwards. In terms of playing, maybe it is, but after the turbulent summer that Morda have had, it is the way forward.
People will look at the move in a negative light because of the success Morda have had, but remember, Morda is a small village that in terms of football have been punching above their weight for years.

At the moment, with a Welsh move hopefully imminent, there is renewed optimism.
An old head back in charge in the form of Colin Turner, a bunch of young and hungry lads looking for success.
That can only be good for the village and for the Oswestry football scene.
Morda will survive, and I am certain they will be the driving force in the area again, in terms of name, and in terms of playing.