MALVERN Town captain Lewis Platt believes stability has been and will continue to be the major reason behind the club's success. 

Town are back at Step 4 for the first time in 14 years after last season's promotion from the Hellenic League Premier and kick-off their 2023/24 league campaign against Bideford AFC at home on Saturday.

Malvern have progressed through the levels in recent years, climbing from Step 6 all the way back to Step 4 in the last 4 years. The club have relied on a core group of players throughout that period and now Platt believes the side's strong core of long-term Hillsiders will help the team in the season ahead.

"I think we have got seven or eight lads who are in our squad this season who played for Malvern when we were at Step 6," he added. "It is not a club that has got a high turnover of players each season.

"The majority of the squad has been on the journey and then we have added bits of quality along the way.

"There are a lot of clubs out there who will have a high player turnover, they will bankroll it for a couple of years and then players leave.

"There is a togetherness at Malvern, not just in the first team squad but the under-18s, the development team, and the two women's sides as well.

"Every single team in the club get behind each other, it has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but we are on an upward trajectory."

Platt also paid tribute to those people behind the scenes who have helped the club off the pitch to ensure success can happen on it. 

"The volunteers are probably more important than any player, to be honest," added Platt.

"Without them, we would not be where we are, there is no doubt about it. It is a cliche, but it is true, there is a real family feel to the club.

"From the ground staff to the people who work behind the bar to the media manager it really is a family feel and everyone knows everyone."