The Game
Argyle vs Alvechurch. Home Park. Saturday, 7 November. 3pm. Emirates FA Cup Round One.
About Alvechurch
Alvechurch were founded back in 1913, when they were known as Alvechurch Juniors. By the 1920s, they had changed their name again – now going by Alvechurch Swifts. The club folded before the war and eventually disbanded but was soon re-established. The village locals managed to raise enough money to provide the club a permanent home, Lye Meadow.
They joined the Worcestershire Football Combination League and soon won their first division title. They established themselves as a force at the level, winning the league four times in 12 years. During the 1960s, they also enjoyed success in the FA Amateur Cup – making it to the final at Stamford Bridge. They first qualified for the Emirates FA Cup in 1971 after beating Oxford City in a record-breaking six game qualification deadlock. Two years later they joined the West Midlands League and won the Premier Division Championship along with three other cup competitions – a season considered their best ever. They also reached round three of the FA Cup after knocking out Exeter City and King’s Lynn Town, the furthest they have ever made it.
Later in the 70s, Alvechurch entered the Southern League and finished third in their debut campaign. Ownership struggles resulted in a duo of relegations and the club being closed in 1993. However, it was resurrected by a group of supporters as Alvechurch Villa the following year. The name was eventually changed back to its original and they once again enjoyed success in the Midland Combination Premier League. Since then, they have bounced between the regional midland league's and Southern League and are looking to make it to step two of non-league under Kyle Storer in 2026/27.
The Gaffer
Current Alvechurch player-manager Kyle Storer came through the academy ranks at Leicester City as a youngster. The Nuneaton-born midfielder featured for Bedworth United, Tamworth, Hinckley Town and Atherstone Town before moving to home-town club Nuneaton Town. He spent three years there, making over 100 appearances for the Boro.
Next came four years at Kidderminster Harriers in the National League, in which Storer scored 13 times. Six months followed at Wrexham and then nearly three years at Cheltenham Town. Whilst with the Robins, Storer helped the Gloucestershire side achieve promotion into the Football League. He featured regularly for Cheltenham in Sky Bet League Two before opting to sign for Solihull Moors in 2018.
Five years followed at Solihull in the National League, in that time Storer surpassed 600 career appearances. Brief stints then came at Nuneaton, Telford United, Kettering Town and then at Alvechurch. He arrived at Lye Meadow as a player-manager back in June 2025 but has primarily served as the second half of that title. Currently competing in Southern League Premier Division Central, Storer has Alvechurch in the play-off places, with games in hand on those above.
Ones to Watch
35-year-old forward Danny Newton began his career at Hinckley United before further stints at Nuneaton Town, Barwell and Brackley Town. The scouser then had goalscoring spells at Leamington, Tamworth and Stevenage – winning Player of the Year at each of those clubs. Moves followed to Solihull Moors, Boreham Wood, Brackley and then Harborough. This season, Newton joined Alvechurch on loan from Harborough after signing a one-year contract extension.
Miracle Okafor is now in his second stint at Alvechurch having previously played for the non-league side back in 2019. He was initially at Scunthorpe United and had a loan at Frickley Athletic before the permanent switch to Alvechurch. Further spells followed at Guisley, Stourbridge, Khalsa, Halesowen, Tamworth, Brackley and Worksop before Okafor found his way back to Alvechurch in the summer. Since signing, the forward has been in impressive form, netting regularly for the step three non-league side.
Jamey Osbourne joined Alvechurch from Solihull Moors, having previously established himself as a National League player. The midfielder began his career at Hednesford Town in 2008, where he started as a youngster, and established himself in the Pitmen's first team in the 2009/10 season. He would then go on to spend the next four-and-a-half years there. Osbourne then joined Redditch United in 2015, before moving to his hometown club Solihull Moors for the start of the 2016/2017 season.
Team News
Tom Cleverley's squad will be boosted by the returns of both Owen Oseni and Michael Baidoo for the visit of Alvechurch. The Argyle head coach stated in his pre-match press conference that the aforementioned duo will be involved in the match.
Malachi Boateng will be available for selection from the start of the game having successfully played 15 minutes against Reading last weekend. Murphy Cooper is back available having missed the Reading fixture with a personal issue.
Joe Mwaro is also expected to return to action this weekend too, but will play his first minutes back for Jamie Lowry's Under-18s side as he edges closer to full fitness.
The Strip
We will be in our green home kit for the FA Cup clash at Home Park.
Argyle TV
Supporters unable to attend Argyle's Sky Bet League One fixture against Alvechurch on Saturday can follow the action live on Argyle TV.
We are unable to sell individual match passes for this fixture due to competition regulations. However, Argyle TV subscribers can access the live audio commentary as part of their subscription.
3pm - Kick-off at Home Park, with live commentary from Charlie Price, who will be joined on co-commentary by Aaron Cusack.
Click here to access Argyle TV and view our subscription and match pass options.
