Brixham v Holsworthy 22.4.23

FISHERMEN’S TALES

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 07725

HONOURS

S W PENINSULA LEAGUE EAST RUNNERS-UP 2022

Slayersdreams 2022 © ‘

Which page is Billy hiding on today?

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

BRIXHAM BILLY’

WALL PARK WATCH

Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to Wall Park. A particular welcome of course to our friends who have made the lengthy journey from North Devon, a safe journey home to you all. Also, a very warm welcome to Dan Joselin of match sponsors Fore Seasons and his guests who we trust will enjoy their afternoon. As ever, we are extremely grateful for the invaluable support of our sponsors.

A brief glance at the League table might lead you to suppose that today’s match will provide easy pickings for the Fishermen. Appearances can be deceptive, however: Holsworthy may have won just four away games all season, but in the last month they have won at Okehampton and gained a highly respectable 2-2 draw at Crediton, so we should not underestimate the task that lies ahead this afternoon. We can expect yet another tough battle, something to which we have become accustomed over the last few weeks. In particular, Holsworthy always prove difficult opponents on their own pitch and will no doubt be eager to put an end to our unbeaten League run. That said, if we can avoid defeat we will seal the championship this afternoon, unless of course we lose our last three matches and Okehampton win theirs while overturning a hefty goal difference. A victory for us today will render Okehampton’s results irrelevant.

As you come through the gate next Saturday for the Crediton game you’ll be offered a card, which will permit you to claim either a half-price beer or a free soft drink at the bar, or a free tea or coffee from the kitchen. It’s not much, but it’s just a small gesture to say thank you for your support throughout this remarkable season. We’d rather like you to come back in August and share the fresh challenges which are likely to lie ahead.

We are at Teignmouth on Tuesday night (6.30pm) and then next Saturday Crediton come here for our last home first XI match of the season (3pm). Let’s have a good turnout; persuade a friend to come with you if you can. We finish with the return match at Holsworthy on Bank Holiday Monday - note that this is a 2pm kick-off. 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 18 April at the Bell

Numbers 8 - 17 - 19 - 23 Jackpot not won

Consolation prizes:

£50 Tracy (Coventry) £20 Shane Charles (JC)

£10 Ross Mogridge (JC), J Couch (BAFC), Rick T (Bell)

Next Jackpot £10,000

Draw 24 April 6pm at the Rugby Club

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

THE GAFFER TAPE

Good afternoon everyone.

First and foremost, I think every one of the near 250 who attended the match at Crediton on Monday night would agree that it was a great advert for the SWPL. Two teams with two different styles of play going at it for the full ninety minutes and neither giving an inch.

We started brightly and scored a fantastic goal through Charlie Johansen. That set the tone for the first thirty minutes where we pretty much dominated territorially and had the lion’s share of chances. Scoring the second through a Kieran tap-in was deserved after some more great work by CJ. That second goal acted as a catalyst for Crediton. They certainly finished the half stronger and despite not really threatening Grant’s goal they did push us back, and enforced their quick movement and passing style on us. We knew they had to come out and try to get at us in the second half, and we did our best to ensure the lads knew that they’d have to weather probably the first fifteen minutes. We came through that unscathed and then kicked into gear gain, Scott and CJ both going through one on one yet being thwarted by some excellent work by the Crediton keeper. Despite them scoring with ten minutes to go, in truth we didn’t feel uncomfortable, seeing the game out without any major fuss.

It finally puts us at the top of the table for the first time this season. Closing the gap on Crediton and Okehampton over recent weeks has been tough but each game, each three points has slowly allowed us to first close the gap and now finally reach the summit. The lads have worked so hard over the last few weeks to remain resilient and together. It’s a credit to them that Monday really allowed so many people to see what we’re all about - and that’s despite having played so many games recently compared to a much-rested Crediton. Spurred on by some brilliant Brixham support the lads stood up to the challenge and sent our Fishy fans home with big smiles on their faces!

Fresh from another vital win and three points away at Cullompton, the lads are now in touching distance of the prize at the end of the journey. A few changes to rest some legs, but the lads did everyone proud again and produced a sterling performance which epitomised just how hard-working and together this group is. A Sean Adderley goal in the first half and a Kieran Parkin second midway through the second half gave us too much of an advantage for a hard-working Cullompton side to claw anything back from.

Today’s visitors have seen a decent upturn in recent results and we’ll have to be resilient and hard-working to produce another victory. Patching up the injuries to both Chis and CJ will undoubtedly make it tough, but our squad has great depth and despite the tired legs the lads will be raring to go with your loyal and fantastic support. Enjoy the game.

Couchy & Ports

The club was formed in 1891 by a group of local businessmen who met to decide whether the club should play football or rugby. The club began in the North Devon League, winning the Devon Junior Cup in 1939.

1949 saw the club move to their present home, Upcott Field, and in 1952 Holsworthy joined the Plymouth & District League, winning the championship in 1969 and retaining it the following year. In 1971 the club joined the South Western League, spending over thirty years in the League without ever winning it. They did however win the Devon Premier Cup in 1972 and again in 1979. In 2003 they moved to the Devon league, winning the title at the first attempt, joining the South West Peninsula League in 2007 as founder members.

Honours:

Devon Premier Cup Winners 1972, 1979 Runners-up 1970

Devon Senior Cup Winners 1954 Runners-up 1968, 1969

Devon Junior Cup Winners 1939 Runners-up 1937

Devon League Champions 2004

Plymouth & District League Champions 1969, 1970 Runners-up 1968, 1971

North Devon League Champions 1924, 1976 Runners-up 1923

Torridge Cup Winners 1939, 1979, 1998, 2002, 2003

FA Vase best performance: First Round Proper 1977, 1979, 1980

Last season:

27.11.21 Holsworthy 1 Brixham 0

Steele-Flood, Robinson, Dunlop, Wellington, Adderley, Bowden, Leech, Parkin, M Harford, Burt, Hopkins. Subs Chisholm, Worthington.

2.4.22 Brixham 4 Holsworthy 0

Fisher, M Harford, Gaze, Ashworth, Adderley, Newbould, Leech, Somers, Parkin, C Harford, Robinson. Subs Dunlop, Griffiths, Harding. Scorers: Parkin, Robinson, Somers, Gaze.

Our all-time League record v Holsworthy:

Record victory: Feb 29 2020 and Apr 2 2022 Brixham 4 Holsworthy 0

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

CO-OP, Great Rea Road

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

Convenience store

STAR FISH ! STEVEPARKIN

Born Sheffield, 27 October 1975 (Scorpio)

Nickname Parks

Age 47 Height 5ft 8 Weight 13st

Occupation Facilities supervisor

Lives Paignton

Marital status Married

Children Three

Position on pitch Left back/physio

Former clubs Watford, Crediton, Buckfastleigh, Galmpton

Best player played with Robert Page, Bruce Dyer

Best player played against Sol Campbell

Favourite other team Sheffield Wednesday

Favourite food Chinese

Favourite holiday destination Cornwall

Favourite TV show Game of Thrones

Dogs or cats? Dogs

Night in or night out? In

Hobbies outside football Golf

Which person in the world would you most like to meet? Tiger Woods

Photo: Stuart Richards

UP FOR THE CUP !

WALTER C PARSON LEAGUE CUP

Semi Finals

Axminster 1 Okehampton 1 aet (pens 1-4) (at Newton Spurs)

Liskeard v Newton Spurs (Apr 25 at Ivybridge)

Final May 13 at Launceston, 2pm

WALTER C PARSON CHAMPIONS BOWL

St Blazey v Champions of East Division (May 8 at Cullompton, 2pm)

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, 7.15pm)

Tiverton v Willand

HERALD CUP

Holders: Kingsteignton Athletic

Quarter Finals

Ivybridge Res 3 Paignton Saints Res 1

Kingsteignton 5 Ilsington 4 aet

Stoke Gabriel Res 2 East Allington 3

WBB 1 Newton 66 2

Semi Finals

Ivybridge Res v Newton 66 (May 3)

East Allington v Kingsteignton (Apr 26)

PIONEER U13s PLATE

Final (May 21 at Coach Road)

Brixham v WBB Yellow

PIONEER U12s PLATE

Semi Finals (Apr 30)

Brixham v Chudleigh (11.00)

Kingskerswell v KM United White

GEORGE BELLI CUP

Apr 15

Group B

Buckfastleigh 6 Elburton 1

Chudleigh 4 Waldon 1

Apr 19

Group B

Chudleigh 0 Kingsteignton 2

Apr 22

Group A

Ivybridge v Brixham

Paignton Saints v WBB

Group B

Buckfastleigh v Kingsteignton

Waldon v Elburton

Apr 26

Group A

Ivybridge v Paignton Saints

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE EAST

(correct to April 19)

Where did this season go? It doesn’t feel all that long ago the new campaign was kicking off. Suddenly we’re on the final straight and some are already through the finish line.

On Good Friday, National League South Ebbsfleet United joined the Non-League champions’ list following in the footsteps of Worksop Town, Macclesfield and Berkhamsted when it comes to Steps 1-4.

On Easter Monday it was the turn of South Shields, who were on course for the NPL Premier title back in 2020 before covid hit, and NPL Division One Midlands outfit Stamford. Last Saturday afternoon Hashtag United, Chatham Town and AFC Totton joined the list.

Easter Monday also saw the National League biggie. The showdown between Wrexham and Notts County, that has been marked on the calendar for some time.

The pair showed up in north Wales having set the bar at new heights – both on 100 points, both with more than 100 goals and both miles ahead of the rest of the division.

But, as we know, only one is guaranteed to go up with just one automatic promotion spot into the EFL. While there is a growing sense that could become two in the near future, and that is surely the way to go, it has brought the drama to this year’s promotion race.

And this game didn’t disappoint. In case you missed it, former England keeper Ben Foster made a stoppage-time penalty save to help Wrexham to a 3-2 win and put them firmly in the driving seat for the title seeing as they also boast a game in hand.

Time for any more twists? We shall soon see but the two sides have produced incredible seasons and it does feel harsh one may not go up.

That’s because the play-offs are a lottery. It would be a cliche if it wasn’t so true. Anything can seemingly happen. And while the bubbly is popped around the country to toast titles, it’s the post-season play-offs that squeeze a season’s worth of drama into a one-off tie. They are unscripted, unadulterated, adrenaline-fuelled, action-packed games.

From next season they will also be introduced at Step 5. The overwhelming positive reaction to the FA’s announcement shows the people are largely getting what they want. They keep seasons alive for so many teams. And that brings fans through the turnstiles.

There are so many dynamics to the games. Often a team has been in the mix all season, pushing for the title and then they have to deal with the disappointment of missing out late on. At the other end of the scale are the teams who didn’t necessarily expect to be there but they’ve been in the groove and gatecrash the qualifying places on a hot streak. Nobody wants to play this team.

And that’s the thing about the play-offs. A team may have finished 20-odd points ahead of an opponent, but that doesn’t always mean a whole lot in a one-off game where the stakes are at their highest.

If you’ve ever experienced your team in the play-offs you may well also subscribe to the view they are probably the worst way to lose. A season’s work up in smoke in the blink of an eye.

The nature of football – sport in general, really – and the promotion system means there are far more disappointed teams at the end of the season than there are happy ones.

But my mind is taken to a quote from Notts County boss Luke Williams in the build-up to their huge clash with Wrexham.

“I don’t think there has ever been a player on an open-top bus sulking because they didn’t win the title,” Williams said.

Worst way to lose, but certainly an exciting way to win. Here’s to the play-offs, when they roll around.

By Matt Badcock

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 19)

TODAY'S FIXTURES

SMALL FRY UPDATE

PENINSULA LEAGUE UPDATE

Saturday 15 April

Brixham 1 Bridport 0

Bovey Tracey 2 Elburton 0

Dartmouth 1 Cullompton 4

Holsworthy 1 Teignmouth 0

Honiton 1 Torrington 1

Ivybridge 1 Okehampton 1

Newton Spurs 1 Axminster 2

Monday 17 April

Crediton 1 Brixham 2

Tuesday 18 April

Elburton 2 Plymouth Marjon 1

Elmore 3 Dartmouth 3

Wednesday 19 April

Cullompton 0 Brixham 2

Bovey Tracey 4 Bridport 0

Ivybridge 1 Honiton 0

Sidmouth 3 Torridgeside 1

Thursday 20 April

Elmore v Teignmouth

Friday 21 April

Elburton v Torridgeside

Saturday 22 April

Brixham v Holsworthy (3pm)

Bovey Tracey v Elmore

Bridport v Ivybridge

Dartmouth v Newton Spurs

Honiton v Cullompton

Okehampton v Torrington

Teignmouth v Axminster

SMALL FRY FIXTURES

April 23

U16s Season finished

U14s Season finished

U13s No match

U12s Away v KM United Red (11.00) at Malborough Rec

U11s Home v WBB Blue (9.30)

U8s Season finished

Monday 24 April

Elmore v Torrington

Holsworthy v Bridport

Tuesday 25 April

Teignmouth v Brixham (6.30pm)

Wednesday 26 April

Elmore v Elburton

Holsworthy v Bovey Tracey

Torrington v Axminster

Thursday 27 April

Holsworthy v Dartmouth

Teignmouth v Ivybridge

Saturday 29 April

Brixham v Crediton (3pm)

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

AND FINALLY ...

“We are aware of a points failure at Crystal Palace” - an accidentally snide service update from Southern Rail during Tuesday’s rush hour.

When Spurs sacked Antonio Conte, they at least had the decency to wait until he was enjoying a quiet international break in Italy.

Unlike Crystal Place, who cruelly handed Patrick Vieira his P45 on St Patrick’s Day, of all days.

It's not the first time Palace have delivered bad news on a special day. When they sacked Trevor Francis in April 2003, the former England forward's lip began to quiver. According to former chairman Simon Jordan, he just sat there quietly and said 'But it's my birthday.'"

Not so long ago, women's football was the subject of ridicule from gout-riddled blokes who believe in capital punishment and ask their wives to observe Steak and Blowjob Day. .

Thankfully, those Byzantine days are behind us, and now the stars of the women's game are held up as inspirational role models.

So when the FA bigwigs cooked up a new campaign this week, they were keen to align their female players to feminist icons of the past. After edging out Rosa Parks and Emmeline Pankhurst, the unanimous winner was a twig-thin fashion-obsessed blonde figurine with massive jugs: Barbie.

The social media campaign was swiftly deleted, but it's not the first time the FA has misjudged its marketing of the women's game.

Back in 2016, the Sussex FA published a document on their website about how to get more girls involved with football.

Among it's recommendations: female players should be provided with pink whistles, colourful bibs that “smell nice”, and be allowed breaks to stop and check their phones.

N’Golo Kante has played just five games this season, but they’ve been under four different managers.

TODAY’S CREW