Maldon & Tiptree Football Club Nears ‘Multi-Million Pound’ Acquisition

Non-league football club Maldon & Tiptree FC is potentially being acquired by new owners in a transaction described as a “multi-million pound” deal. The club previously reached the FA Vase semi-finals during the 2002-03 season. The Drewitt-Barlow Organisation (DBO), headquartered in Chelmsford, is currently engaged in discussions regarding the purchase of the club and its 20-acre stadium property. Maldon & Tiptree presently competes in the Isthmian League North Division, which represents the eighth level of English football. The team advanced to the main draw of the FA Cup in both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons. DBO chairman Barrie Drewitt-Barlow stated, “Our aim is to implement a strategy that understands the ‘capacity’ and ‘capabilities’ of the club right now, and look how we can build on those areas, for the club to achieve greater things.” He further commented, “As an investment, we can see the potential in this club and want to help it grow, with the right people in place to make it a success. Obviously, on field success is a huge factor to attracting good sponsors for the club but, to make it successful, we need the fans and the fan club association, to work in conjunction with us, to make it as much of a success as possible.” Maldon & Tiptree maintains strong connections with Colchester United, a League Two team, as Colchester United chairman Robbie Cowling’s company holds ownership of Maldon Stadium. Cowling remarked, “During my ownership, the stadium has proudly hosted an FA Cup first round round fixture against Morecambe and a second round televised fixture against Newport County.” He added, “I will always be a supporter of Maldon & Tiptree FC and am committed to ensuring Colchester United continues working with the club to provide a pathway to professional football for academy and grassroots players.” According to the proposed plans, Mitchell Cowling, Robbie Cowling’s son and the club’s current general manager, is expected to remain with Maldon & Tiptree in the role of sporting director. His responsibilities will include identifying and recruiting new players for the team, which is presently positioned 15th in the league table. Established in 1946, the club’s past managers include former England winger Peter Taylor, who departed in the summer of 2023. DBO intends to utilize the stadium for various non-football events. Managing director Aspen Drewitt-Barlow indicated that they anticipate finalizing the acquisition “real soon” following the completion of due diligence. He further stated: “Through our business contacts in Essex, we have already secured a three-year deal worth £350k, for kit sponsorship, stadium re-naming and a club signage deal from a local company, with a further £200k, three-year player sponsorship deal from another local business.”