FOR many football fans of a certain generation any walk through Victoria Road in Oswestry remains poignant.

For it was on the site where their fathers, grandfathers and great-grandfathers once ventured to watch their hometown club.

Victoria Road became home to Oswestry Town Football Club in 1875 and was the site of more than a century of trials and tribulations with the club competing in the Shropshire League until 1924 when they stepped up to the Birmingham League where they would remain until 1959.

In 1960 the club switched to the Cheshire League where they competed for 15 years until a brief four year stint in the Southern League.

In 1979 the club joined the Northern Premier League but soon financial troubles began to impact the club as well as concerns over the future of their home.

Border Counties Advertizer: Oswestry Town Youth in 1975.

Oswestry Town in 1975.

1988 would prove to be the club's last and culminated in relegation before folding the same year.

Sadly the club's final season had failed to provide much joy for the club's long-suffering supporters with John Rodgers' men enduring a miserable start to the season with defeats against Hyde United, Rhyl, Marine and Morecambe before opening their account with a point against South Liverpool.

The poor run continued with defeat to Chorley and Gateshead while crashing out of the FA Trophy to GM Vauxhall Conference side Kidderminster Harriers.

Hopes of a revival were stirred when the Blues salvaged a point against Witton Albion but their troubles continued with defeats to Caernarfon Town and Southport.

A battling to a point at Bangor City was followed by a first win of the season against Goole before throwing away a three goal lead in a 3-3 draw at Buxton.

Defeats by Bangor City, Barrow and Worksop Town followed before Oswestry celebrated a 2-0 win over Workington Town.

A run of five defeats against Hyde United, Frickley Athletic, Horwich RMI and two defeats against Marine culminated in the sacking of Rogers with Bryn Jones taking the helm.

Border Counties Advertizer: Storm damage at Victoria Road in 1977.

Storm damage at Victoria Road in 1977.

Hopes were high after his first game ended with a 2-2 draw at Matlock Town but defeats against Worksop Town and Workington Town kept the Blues in the relegation zone.

The run of defeats continued as Buxton, Rhyl and Matlock Town prevailed to leave Jones' side bottom of the table.

A heavy defeat at leaders Chorley was followed by defeats against Gainsborough and Horwich but battling draws against Gateshead and Morecame kept hopes of a great escape alive.

Oswestry beat Southport 2-0 in a match marked by the arriva of the police after the referee was targeted by visiting club officials.

Draws against Barrow and Frickley Athletic and a win over Gainsborough followed a defeat at Goole Town as the border club continued to battle.

On April 2, 1988 the club played at Victoria Road for the final time but suffered a 2-1 defeat against Mossley in front of 553 fans as townspeople looked to mark the end of an era.

Border Counties Advertizer: Victoria Road today. Picture: Google.

Victoria Road today. Picture: Google.

Oswestry celebrated their first away win of the season the following week with Witton Albion defeated but their campaign ended in defeat at Mossley.

At the end of the season the club folded and for five years the town had no football club.

However a club rose from the town five years later and climbed through the Welsh football pyramid from its new Park Hall home until merging with TNS to create the modern day club in 2003.