Brixham v Crediton 29.4.23

WELCOME TO WALL PARK !

Brixham AFC, Wall Park Road, TQ5 9UE

Members of:

KITCHEN KIT SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE

TCS SOUTH DEVON LEAGUE

PIONEER YOUTH LEAGUE

MANAGEMENT TEAM

President: John Charles

Chairman: Phil Thomas

056504 phil.thomas71@hotmail.com

Club Secretary/ Dean Hopper

HONOURS

S W PENINSULA LEAGUE EAST CHAMPIONS 2023

RUNNERS-UP 2022

SOUTH DEVON LEAGUE PREMIER RUNNERS-UP 2014, 2022

SDL GEORGE BELLI CUP RUNNERS-UP 2013, 2014

DEVON PREMIER CUP RUNNERS-UP 2014

DEVON COUNTY U 18’S LEAGUE SOUTH CHAMPIONS 2022

DEVON COUNTY U 18’S LEAGUE CUP RUNNERS-UP 2022

PIONEER U15’S CUP WINNERS 2018

PIONEER U12’S CUP RUNNERS-UP 2022

PIONEER U10’S CUP RUNNERS-UP 2022

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the businesses and individuals who sponsor our club, your support is greatly appreciated.

Some comments and views that may be contained in this publication may not necessarily be the views of the club. Matchday magazine point of contact fishprog@hotmail.com

Slayersdreams 2022 ©

‘

BRIXHAM BILLY’

Which page is Billy hiding on today?

WALL PARK WATCH

Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to Wall Park for this, our last home league match of the season. A particular welcome of course to our friends who have made the journey from Crediton, a safe journey home to you all.

Also a welcome to Nathan Dallow of match sponsors The Torbay Composite Company and his guests who we trust will enjoy their afternoon. As ever, we are extremely grateful for the invaluable support of our sponsors.

We are also pleased to welcome today SWPL Secretary Phil Hiscox, who will present the League Champions trophy after the match.

Having finished in the lower reaches of the table last season, Crediton have had a remarkable season this time around, being beaten only by Okehampton before losing to us twelve days ago. They will have something to prove today, not least because they are in a remarkably tight battle with Okehampton to secure the runners-up spot. I have to say that in my opinion Crediton are the best side we’ve faced in this League by a country mile and to come second would be no more than they deserve. That said, it would be a pity not to stretch our remarkable winning streak by just a couple more matches. A fascinating contest is in prospect!

We finish our league campaign away at Holsworthy on Monday next, kick-off for this one is at 2pm. We then make the trip to Cullompton on Monday 8th for the Champions Bowl match against St Blazey, winners of the West division, kick-off again 2pm. We are running a coach to Cullompton, seats £10, and as usual Dave Davey is the man to see. We hope as many of you as possible will support the Fishermen for this last game.

On which note, can I thank you all for your tremendous support this season. It’s been a fabulous journey with innumerable high points and I’ve enjoyed (almost!) every minute of it. I hope you have, too. Next season will be interesting to say the least, and I for one can’t wait for August to come around so we can do it all again. Enjoy the match, and let’s hope for a win for the Fishermen!

Back issues of ‘Fishermen’s Tales’ are available at £1.50 post free. If you want more than one we’ll do you a deal! Email your requirements to fishprog@hotmail.com or speak to Ian.

LOTTERY WINNERS !

Draw date 24 April at the Rugby Club

Numbers 7 - 14 - 23 - 32 Jackpot not won

Consolation prizes:

£50 Mike Heather (Bell) £20 S T Wills (Rugby Club)

£10 D Hopper (BAFC), Jeff Budd (Bell), L McKee (Rugby Club)

Next Jackpot £10,000

Draw 2 May 6pm at Brixham AFC

GET YOUR TICKET FROM THE BAR TODAY AND WIN TEN GRAND FOR A POUND !!

THE GAFFER TAPE

So long sought after - so long pursued. Last Saturday we finally reached the summit and today the trophy the club has been so desperately trying to win finally reaches our hands! What an effort by all involved. The players last week for starters and throughout the season have just continued to show sheer determination and excellence in every battle that has been presented.

In front of so many wet Fish fans last week we got the job done with a powerful and commanding performance against a dogged and disciplined Holsworthy side. Capping the skipper’s well worked team goal to put us one up, up stepped Ewan Howarth with an absolute screamer of a strike that was worthy of clinching any major trophy!

To do it in front of so many of the people who have supported us so loyally not just this season but over many years was a brilliant way to wrap it up. The lads have been truly humbled by your support, travelling near and far to places like Wiltshire and Dorset, and in large numbers despite having so many away games to fit in. The support I can assure you all has been greatly appreciated by us all and today we hope you’ll join in and enjoy the celebrations with us.

So today brings down the curtain on our Wall Park fixtures, and despite what will certainly feel like a party atmosphere we couldn’t have chosen tougher opponents to be up against. We saw first hand just how good a side Crediton are when we narrowly beat them at their place 2-1. A really well-organised and free-flowing side, well-drilled by Jack and Ben, will make this afternoon a really entertaining encounter I am sure. The home record we are so proud of will undoubtedly be under threat if we are not at our best.

Let’s hope it’s another three points, and then the celebrations can really begin! Enjoy the game.

Couchy & Ports

The club was established in 1910, holding their first general meeting on 10 September, and joined the Exeter and District league. After World War 1 the club was reformed as Crediton AFC before reverting to it’s previous name in August 1919. They won the East Devon Senior Cup in 1934, beating Topsham St Margarets 2-1 in the final. In 1963 the club were champions of Division One, earning promotion to the Premier Division.

Although they were relegated back to Division One in 1966, the club were champions the following season and promoted back to the Premier Division. Finishing bottom in 1969, the club were promoted again in 1985. They were Premier Division champions in 1988 and runners-up the following season. After finishing fourth in 1990 the club moved up to Division One of theWestern league. A third-place finish in 1993 saw them promoted to the Premier Division, where they remained until 1996 when they finished bottom of the table and were relegated to Division One.

In 1998 Crediton resigned form the Western League due to travelling costs, dropping into the Devon County League. Following the merger with the South Western League in 2007, Crediton were placed in Division One East. After the re-organization in 2019 the club were elevated to the Premier Division East.

The club moved to their Lords Meadow ground in 1976

Best FA Vase performance: First round, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2017–18.

Some of our other friends

JT MOTORS, Lower Manor Road

HAMMER AND NAILS, Bolton Street

THE PANTRY, Summercourt Way

…

MARE AND FOAL SANCTUARY, Fore Street

BRIXHAM BARBER & SALON, Bolton Street

YES @ THE EDGE, Fore Street

SMARDONS, Bolton Street

DAVID’S, Bolton Street

BRIXHAM TYRES, New Road

BURTON HOTEL, Burton Street

CROWN & ANCHOR, The Quay

FORE SEASONS, Fore Street

Car servicing and repairs

Ironmongery and garden requisites

General store

Charity shop

Gents hairdresser

Charity shop

Newsagents & general store

Fish and chip shop

Tyre replacement

Public house

Public house

Fruit and veg shop

SHOAL OF STAR FISH

Lennie Pegg, Tom Mortimore, Alfie Lloyds, JJ Evans, Lewis Round.

APhoto: Stuart Richards

Back row, LR:

Sean Adderley, Alfie Collings, Ben Hopkins, Danny Gaze, Grant Fisher, Ewan Howarth, Scott Robinson, Tom Dunlop, Steve Parkin (physio).

Front Row, LR:

Aaron Wellington, Ryan Keates, Morgan Harford, Kieran Parkin (captain), Jason Couch (joint manager), Tim Porter (joint manage r), Reece Somers, Charlie Johansen, Jake Chisholm. Inset, LR:

Mark Ashworth, Ryan Beattie, Mark Newbould, Graham Mercieca,

UP FOR THE CUP !

WALTER C PARSON LEAGUE CUP

Semi Finals

Axminster 1 Okehampton 1 aet (pens 1-4)

(at Newton Spurs)

Liskeard 2 Newton Spurs 1 (at Ivybridge)

Final May 13 at Launceston, 2pm

Liskeard v Okehampton

ISUZU FA VASE

Holders: Newport Pagnell Town

Final (May 23 at Wembley)

Ascot United v Newport Pagnell Town

BAYSIDE GRAPHICS ST LUKE’S BOWL

Final (May 5 at Coach Road)

Tiverton v Willand

HERALD CUP

Holders: Kingsteignton Athletic

Semi Finals at Stoke Gabriel

Ivybridge Res v Newton 66 (May 3)

East Allington 1 Kingsteignton 2

Final May 19 at Stoke Gabriel

WALTER C PARSON CHAMPIONS BOWL

Brixham v St Blazey

(May 8 at Cullompton, 2pm)

PIONEER U13s PLATE

Final (May 21 at Coach Road)

Brixham v WBB Yellow

PIONEER U12s PLATE

Semi Finals (Apr 30)

Brixham v Chudleigh

Kingskerswell v KM United White

GEORGE BELLI CUP

Apr 22

Group A

Ivybridge 5 Brixham 3

Paignton Saints 1 WBB 2

Group B

Buckfastleigh 2 Kingsteignton 3

Waldon 10 Elburton 1

Apr 29

Group A

WBB v Ivybridge

Group B

Kingsteignton v Newton 66

May 6

Brixham v WBB

WHAT HAPPENED

FAV - FA Vase. DSL - Devon St Luke's Bowl. WCP - Walter C Parson League Cup.

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE EAST

(correct to April 26)

BRIXHAM AFC - CLUB HISTORY

The club was formed in 2012 when Brixham United and Brixham Villa merged in the South Devon League. Brixham Villa had been a club since 1953 and had previously won the league in 2007, while Brixham United had previously competed in the Western League between 1976 and 1981. After finishing runners-up in the South Devon League the club were promoted to the South West Peninsula League Division One East in 2014. The League was restructured in 2019 and Brixham were promoted to the Premier Division East, having finished in third place the previous season. Floodlights were installed and the first home match under the new lights was on 10 September 2019, a 2-1 win over Bovey Tracey. The club narrowly missed out on promotion to the Western League on a points-per-game basis over the next two Covid-affected seasons, and finished runners-up to Torpoint Athletic last season. The club’s Wall Park ground was previously the home of Brixham United.

Brixham AFC is a FA Charter Standard club affiliated to the Devon County FootballAssociation.

GROUND REGULATIONS

Admission to and the right to remain within the ground is strictly on condition that any person attending SHALL NOT commit any of the following acts:

Fail to comply with the directions of a steward, club official or police officer.

Encroach onto the playing area or adjoining parts.

Climb on any building, wall or fence.

Chant or sing any song of a racist, obscene, discriminatory or offensive nature. Use racist, obscene, discriminatory, offensive or threatening language or gestures. Damage or deface any property, notice or advertisement within the ground.

Consume alcohol other than within designated areas.

Fail to control and take responsibility for the behaviour of minors attending with them.

THE CLUB RESERVES THE RIGHT OF ADMISSION.

Vehicles and their contents are left entirely at the owners risk. The club accepts no responsibility or liability for any loss or damage to vehicles or their contents, or to any personal property brought to the ground.

TODAY’S MATCH SPONSOR TheTorbayCompositeCo

ABOUT US

We are The Torbay Composite Company Ltd - we supply, design and install some of the finest composite products on the market, including composite decking and composite fencing. We also specialise in glass balustrade systems, exterior cladding and general landscaping. We mainly work within Torbay and South Devon; however we have had projects in Portishead, Bristol and as far as Telford, Shropshire.

* Passionate about enhancing outdoor living spaces.

* Quality products for a high-end finish.

* Personal, honest service from start to finish.

* Family-run business with a wealth of experience.

www.torbaycomposite.co.uk | info@torbaycomposite.co.uk

TODAY’S BALL SPONSOR SouthDevonMedia

The designers of Fishermen’s Tales, South Devon Media is a Brixham-based organisation specialising in print design and procurement. From small one-off jobs like a handful of business cards or leaflets to regular multi-page magazines, we will design and source the printing of whatever you need, when you need it and at competitive prices.

Printing is done either in-house or utilising a range of contacts gathered over more than 40 years in the trade.

Individuals and businesses across the county and beyond have entrusted us with their printing requirements - you can too!

To discuss your next print job call Ian on 07913 038551 or email fishprog@hotmail.com

THE BLUE ARMY ON TOUR !

AXMINSTER TOWN

Tiger Way EX13 5HN

56 miles, 75 minutes

BOVEY TRACEY

Mill Marsh Park TQ13 9FF

20 miles, 40 minutes

BRIDPORT

St Marys Field DT6 5LA

67 miles, 90 minutes

CREDITON UNITED

Lords Meadow EX17 1ER

37 miles, 50 minutes

CULLOMPTON RANGERS

Speeds Meadow EX15 1DW

42 miles, 55 minutes

DARTMOUTH

Longcross TQ6 9LW

7 miles, 35 minutes (via ferry)

ELBURTON VILLA

Haye Road PL9 8HS

30 miles, 50 minutes

ELMORE

Horsdon Park EX16 4DB

51 miles, 60 minutes

HOLSWORTHY

Upcott Field EX22 6HF

69 miles, 90 minutes

HONITON TOWN

Mountbatten Park EX14 1AW

45 miles, 55 minutes

IVYBRIDGE TOWN

Erme Valley PL21 9ES

23 miles, 40 minutes

NEWTON ABBOT SPURS

Recreation Ground TQ12 2AR

15 miles, 30 minutes

OKEHAMPTON ARGYLE

Simmons Park EX20 1GE

50 miles, 65 minutes

PLYMOUTH MARJON

The Campus PL6 8BH

36 miles, 55 minutes

SIDMOUTH TOWN

Manstone Lane EX10 9TF

41 miles, 60 minutes

TEIGNMOUTH

Coombe Lane TQ14 9EX

19 miles, 35 minutes

TORRIDGESIDE

Donnacroft EX38 7BU

66 miles, 90 minutes

TORRINGTON

Vicarage Field EX38 7AJ

67 miles, 90 minutes

THE STAND-BY CREW 2022-23

(All matches 2.30pm kick-off unless stated otherwise)

SOUTH DEVON LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION

(correct

to April 28)

TODAY'S FIXTURES

Chudleigh v Brixham, Elburton v Buckfastleigh, Paignton S v Waldon

CREDITON v BRIXHAM 17.4.23

Photographs: Josh Goodman

A couple of rather dubious characters spotted in the crowd ...

PENINSULA LEAGUE UPDATE

Thursday 20 April

Elmore 3 Teignmouth 4

Friday 21 April

Elburton 3 Torridgeside 4

Saturday 22 April

Brixham 2 Holsworthy 0

Bovey Tracey 4 Elmore 1

Bridport 1 Ivybridge 1

Dartmouth 1 Newton Spurs 5

Honiton 2 Cullompton 0

Okehampton 6 Torrington 0

Teignmouth 3 Axminster 1

Monday 24 April

Elmore 2 Torrington 2

Holsworthy 1 Bridport 5

Tuesday 25 April

Teignmouth 0 Brixham 2

Wednesday 26 April

Elmore 2 Elburton 1

Holsworthy 2 Bovey Tracey 4

Torrington 1 Axminster 0

Thursday 27 April

Holsworthy v Dartmouth

Teignmouth v Ivybridge

Saturday 29 April

Brixham v Crediton

Axminster v Bovey Tracey

Honiton v Holsworthy

Okehampton v Bridport

Sidmouth v Dartmouth

Teignmouth v Elburton

Torridgeside v Elmore

Monday 1 May

Holsworthy v Brixham (2pm)

Bovey Tracey v Torrington

Elburton v Newton Spurs

Honiton v Dartmouth

Teignmouth v Okehampton

Torridgeside v Axminster

WALTER C. PARSON CHAMPIONS BOWL BRIXHAM (EAST CHAMPIONS) v STBLAZEY (WEST CHAMPIONS) BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 8

SMALL FRY FIXTURES

April 30

U16s Season finished

U14s Season finished

U13s No match

U12s Home v Chudleigh (11.00) Plate SF

U11s No match

U8s Season finished

May 4

U12s Home v Fusion (6.30pm)

FISHERMEN’STALES now also available online!

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So, ultimately, FA chiefs finally made the only sensible call they could have made in granting an extension to the season for clubs at Steps 5 and 6. But even though that affords the likes of Sandhurst Town, Brook House, Horndean and Bacup Borough a bit of breathing space from their ridiculous end-of-season fixture avalanche

Sandhurst having to play 11 games in 10 days at one point – there is a bigger picture to consider here.

Tackling congested fixture pile-ups come March and April is no new dilemma for clubs these days, and therein lies the problem. On average, you can expect to lose at least two or three league fixtures over the course of the season, but on the odd year of extraordinary weather patterns such as this, contingency plans have to be put in place. It’s not necessarily the regulation league season which is causing the problem – there are enough Saturdays and Tuesdays in the calendar to comfortably take in a 46-game season – but the numerous cup competitions which clubs are often obliged, or felt pressured to, compete in.

Take my old friends down at Fleet Town, for example. These days, the Blues ply their trade in the Wessex League Premier but that just scratches the surface of a gruelling first-team campaign which also takes in FA Cup, FA Vase, Wessex League Cup, Hampshire Senior Cup, Southern Combination Cup, Russell Cotes Cup and Aldershot Senior Cup. Eagle-eyed readers of The NLP’s extensive fixtures page may have noticed that there are some regional or district cup competitions still trying to get through delayed second or third round matches. Indeed, for some, the backlog of fixtures is often so great that the competitions have. in the past, been carried over into the pre-season of the following campaign. Sadly, though, one of Non-League football’s great institutions is also implicated here – the County Cup. Recently we saw two instances of National League clubs having to all but relinquish their challenge for honours at the semi-final stage due to fixture clashes.

Firstly, in Hampshire, we heard that Aldershot Town had been informed by the Hampshire Senior Cup sub-group that their semi-final tie against Basingstoke Town HAD to be played on Tuesday April 18. But the Shots – proud six-time County Cup winners - had already rearranged their crucial National League game with Wealdstone for that date, meaning that despite their best efforts to arrange an alternative date, they had no choice but to fulfil their fixture but field their Under 21 academy side.

“The club wanted to move the fixture to give our supporters an opportunity to attend both our League fixture with Wealdstone and Cup fixture with Basingstoke but regret that unfortunately a choice between the two will have to be made,” a club statement confirmed. “We’re incredibly proud of their achievements so far in this year’s Hampshire Senior Cup and will be supporting the youngsters from Wealdstone.”

And, it was the same story along the south coast at Worthing. Following the postponement of their National League South game with Cheshunt to a waterlogged pitch, the match was put back to the only available date left available, Tuesday April 25. This, however, had been listed just 24 hours before the Rebels’ already scheduled Sussex Senior Cup semi-final against Hastings United. Despite constant dialogue with the National League and Sussex County FA to see if the congestion could be eased, a solution could not be found owing to “multiple factors”, again meaning Worthing had to field an under-strength side for the Hastings game with play-offs still very much in the offing. Club chairman Barry Hunter commented: “Naturally this creates a huge conflict as it schedules us to play four games in eight days, which is not possible without compromise. “We would also plan to speak with the Sussex FA at the end of the season in the hope we could work with them and other clubs to find ways to avoid the congestion experienced this season.”

Barry is right, discussions do need to be had. Most supporters have some very fond memories from their club’s respective County Cup competitions and take great pride in claiming regional bragging rights should their club be lucky enough to lift the trophy. But the fact remains that County FAs such as Hampshire and Sussex can’t expect the likes of Aldershot and Worthing to put their whole season on the line at this crucial stage when there is still so much to play for in the league. If anything, they should be supporting their member clubs in their quest to achieve a highest possible league position. I mean, it’s in their best interests, right?

The plight of Aldershot and Worthing – and no doubt other clubs up and down the country – will once again place the future of the County Cup into doubt.

Personally, I like to think they still have a part to play in the fabric of a Non-League season, but unless there is more understanding and flexibility in the fulfilling of priority fixtures, then the more difficulty I have in making an argument for it to remain on the modern-day fixture list.

Something, somewhere along the line surely has to give.

By Jon Couch

TODAY’S CREW