Gradually the playing standards began to improve, as did the ground.  New, larger dugouts were built between the pitches, railings were erected on the far side of the first XI pitch, netting was put up behind the goal and the club bar was completely refurbished at a cost of £15,000.

In the summer of 1997 a group of hardy alcoholics travelled down to London for a pre-season tour game against Old Meadonians and triumphed 3 - 2.  Mark Baldwin was the star turn both on and off the pitch.

In the 1997/98 season the first XI, based on the solidity of a back five consisting of Nigel Morris, Mark Baldwin, Oliver Ross, Simon Butler and Alan Potts, finished runners up in the Premier Division behind Causeway.  They would have taken the title had they not narrowly lost out in a winner takes all final game of the season against the eventual champions.  There was disappointment also for the second XI as they lost out 1 - 0 in the Junior Cup final against Walsall Phoenix despite dominating for most of the game.

In the 1998/99 season the first XI had to settle for runners up spot again, but this time in unusual circumstances.  Having thought that the title was out of their reach going in to the final game of the season at home to Kynoch, they opted to rest any players carrying injuries because of the upcoming Senior Cup final.  As it turned out, a combination of freak results involving the other teams challenging for the title meant that if they had won, they would have won the league.  Unfortunately they drew 1 - 1, conceding a goal in the final few minutes.  Worse still they lost to Smethwick Hall on penalties in the Senior Cup final.  The second XI continued their improvement by finishing fourth in Division Two but earning promotion by default.  The fifth XI also had a great season, finishing second in Division Nine to earn promotion under the astute captaincy of Mick Henzell.

The major setback in amongst all of the optimism of this season was the passing away of Alan Thompson.  Tomo, along with Dave Pointon, was very much the heart and soul of the football club at this time and it was he who was responsible for the sudden turn around in fortunes of the club.  Once again club members acted as pall bearers at his funeral and a tree was planted at Castlecroft in his memory.

To sum up this decade, it started in a blaze of glory, then the club suffered from the loss of several important figures but the structure of the club was now as good as ever.