Following arguably the most successful season in Tamworth's history, and what seemed like almost no time before the pre-season for 2025-26 came around, Andy Peaks took his Lambs squad to near neighbours Lichfield City at the Trade Tyre Community Stadium, off Brownsfield Lane, to take on the (promoted to the) Northern Premier League Midland side on their own 3G surface.

A large travelling following welcomed The Lambs back into action, with the squad comprising many recognisable faces and new signings committed to the forthcoming season, and a number trialists.

Peaks fielded two sides, with just two players featuring in each half as Haydn Hollis, sporting the captain's armband, played the whole game while the trialist Lambs keeper spent 80 minutes between the posts.

Playing in a smart white Lambs Academy kit, Tamworth kicked off towards the clubhouse end of the tidy and welcoming City ground and former Brackley man Alfie Bates struck over the bar from distance early on.
Tyler Roberts, who signed from AFC Fylde, sent in a teasing cross for Jordan Ponticelli, but he saw his low shot blocked, and Tom Tonks spent no time getting back into the swing of sending his long throws into the box, which were plentiful in the first half.
The only goal of the game came after 24 minutes and involved another new signing, with ex-Lowestoft Town midfielder Harvey Sayer impressing down the right. Sayer dinked the ball into the box at a perfect height for Ponticelli to steal in behind his marker and direct a cushioned header over the City keeper from 18 yards to the delight of the Lambs following. (0-1, 24 mins)
Sayer was provider again on 28 but Kennedy Digie was denied by the home defence, while the Tamworth keeper was rarely troubled by a Lichfield side that worked hard, but the closest they came to an equaliser was when a right sided throw was flicked up an onto the roof of the net.
More Tonks throws throughout the remainder of the half caused problems with Digie getting on to the end of three to force problems at the back for the home side while Tonks also hit the cross bar with a launch from the left as the half ended with The Lambs holding the lead.

HT: 0-1

The second half saw four outfield trialists line up alongside four of last seasons squad and two new signings with former Northampton Town player Rueben Wyatt in attacking midfield and AFC Fylde’s Joe Riley in the centre of the park.
Wyatt headed over the bar midway through the half, and thought he may have notched a goal late on only to be denied by the offside flag.
In between those incidents the Lambs keeper was forced to be on his guard to tip a 40 yard effort from City over the cross bar and he made way for a second trialist keeper with 10 remaining and a late high bouncing effort from distance had to be dealt with to ensure Peak’s side recorded victory as the pre-season minutes ticked up for the squad, and will continue next at Ryan Beswick’s Quorn on Tuesday night.

Lichfield City:
(unknown)

Tamworth:
1st half: Trialist, Curley, Digie, Hollis, Cockerill-Mollett, Tonks, Bates, Trialist, Ponticelli, Sayer, Roberts
2nd half: Trialist (Trialist 81), Hollis, Fairlamb, Cullinane-Liburd, Trialist, Wyatt, Trialist, McGlinchey, Trialist, Trialist, Riley

Attendance: 750