


Members of:
KITCHEN KIT SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE
TCS SOUTH DEVON LEAGUE
PIONEER YOUTH LEAGUE
Brixham AFC, Wall Park Road, TQ5 9UE MANAGEMENT TEAM
President: Chairman: Club Secretary/ Treasurer Fixture Secretary Youth Secretary
Vice Chair/PR Officer Welfare Officer: Bar Manager: Team Managers:
John Charles Phil Thomas 07725 056504 phil.thomas71@hotmail.com Dean Hopper 07788 283567 79 North Boundary Road, Brixham TQ5 8LH brixhamafc.sec@outlook.com Ian Whiscombe 07913 038551 sunnydorset@hotmail.com Alex Foster 07885 791017 alfmarine1987@gmail.com
Alan McCoy 07717 604320 alan_mccoy@hotmail.com Nicki Severn 07932 323116 nickit12@aol.com
Mike Crimp 07811 330093 Tim Porter 07427 667095 Jason Couch 07977 260264 Lee Hazlewood 07495 289344 Neil Burnell 07538 649647 Andy Raybould (U16s) 07552 433878 Mike Booth (U14s) 07825 576446 Martyn Upham (U13s) 07818 601828 Alex Foster (U12s) 07885 791017 Dave Severn (U11s) 07748 468423 Mark Lovell (U8s) 07515 753627
Physio: Head Groundsman:
Steve Parkin
Dan Joselin
S W PENINSULA LEAGUE EAST RUNNERS UP 2022
S DEVON LEAGUE PREMIER RUNNERS UP 2014, 2022
SDL GEORGE BELLI CUP RUNNERS UP 2013, 2014
DEVON PREMIER CUP RUNNERS UP 2014
Which page is Billy hiding on today?
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©Good afternoon everyone, and welcome to Wall Park. A particular welcome of course to our friends who have made the lengthy trip from Torrington, a safe journey home to you all.
Since the Odd Down match we have played twice. Newton Spurs are never an easy prospect, especially in midweek, and to take a point there was, on reflection, a satisfactory outcome, although we missed a couple of decent chances to come away with all three after they were reduced to ten men. Last Saturday’s match at Elburton proved yet again that only maximum effort will bring the rewards we desire. Having outplayed the home side by a considerable margin in the first half, we were left to rue not taking three or four chances to put the game out of reach of our hosts. They came out for the second half a different outfit, prepared to battle for every ball, and deserved their point for effort and application alone. We simply cannot turn up and think the job’s already done we didn’t do so against Ivybridge here a few weeks back and we can’t do it against the so-called lesser sides either: there are no easy games in this league. We have the skills, we also need to do the simple things consistently well for 90 minutes and communicate with each other a bit more. This coming Tuesday evening we have a repeat visit from Ivybridge, this time in the County Cup. No doubt they will be out for revenge for their recent defeat here, so we can expect another challenging encounter. Next Saturday’s visitors on the road to Wembley are Wessex League outfit Andover New Street (3pm). As the Casuals are also due to make an appearance, I would suggest you aim to arrive earlier than usual. We are likely to be rather busy! Enjoy the match and let’s hope for a win for the Fishermen! P.S. You will find within today’s programme the latest fixture poster. As usual, we’d be pleased if you could persuade your local pub/club/corner shop/place of work or wherever to display it. Times are hard, and every extra bod coming through the gate will help ease the pressure of ever rising costs. Thank you in advance for whatever you can do to help us.
A warm welcome to Torrington FC to Wall Park this afternoon for what I’m sure will be an entertaining game in the SWPL. I think it’s fair to say they are certainly looking like the form team over the last few weeks with some impressive results, the stand out being the victory over Newton Spurs just last week. Some new faces and a couple of high-profile experienced players from higher leagues have been brought in and they certainly look like a team that will advance up the table.
Our last three games have brought a huge element of frustration to all of us. We haven’t been at the races and despite winning our Vase game comfortably at home two weeks ago, that result has been overshadowed by a few disappointing league performances. Despite what appeared to be a lack of hunger and desire last week at Elburton it’s worth remembering that over the last few seasons we have returned from there with nothing, so a point shouldn’t be too disappointing. It was more the manner of our performance that led to much head scratching. With that said we need to keep to our mantra of not getting too excited by the highs and not getting too over dramatic with the lows. The lads are a good bunch and as long as we learn our lessons from games like last week then we will not press the panic button just yet. Hopefully there will be some home comforts over the next few weeks starting this afternoon. Enjoy the game.
JT MOTORS, Lower Manor
HAMMER AND NAILS, Bolton Street
THE PANTRY, Summercourt
Car
Ironmongery and garden
General
MARE AND FOAL SANCTUARY, Fore Street Charity
BRIXHAM BARBER & SALON, Bolton Street Gents hairdresser
YES @ THE EDGE, Fore Street Charity shop
SMARDONS, Bolton Street Newsagents & general
DAVID’S, Bolton Street
BRIXHAM TYRES, New Road
Fish
Tyre
BURTON HOTEL, Burton Street Public
CROWN & ANCHOR, The Quay Public
The club was founded in 1908 and was originally a church side, with reverends playing for the club as late as 1914. They played in the top flight of the North Devon league for several decades, winning the championship in 1913, 1946, 1949 during which season they defeated Ilfracombe by 18 0! and 1959.
In 1978 they stepped up to the South Western League, and although struggling in their first two seasons they were runners-up in 1981 and 1983, on both occasions behind St Blazey. They also won the League Cup in 1981.
In 1984 they were promoted to the Western League, beginning in Division One but achieving immediate promotion to the Premier Division as runners up, a single point behind champions Portway Bristol. That same season they also reached the Fifth Round of the FA Vase before losing 2 1 at Steyning Town.
For their first few seasons in the Premier Division they struggled to escape the bottom half of the table, but in 1991 they finished second. They remained in the Premier Division until 1998 before being relegated back to Division One. In 2003, they won the Division One championship and returned to the Premier Division.
At the end of the 2006 7 season, despite a last minute survival in the league due to results elsewhere they were forced to withdraw from the Western League due to financial difficulties, returning to the North Devon League and winning that championship in 2009.
In 2019 when the South West Peninsula League was restructured Torrington successfully applied to join the Premier Division East.
Nearest pub: Cavalier Inn, Well Street, 5 minutes
Nearest chippy: Taffs, South Street, 4 minutes
Last
Holders: Torpoint Athletic
Third Round
Brixham v Liskeard (Nov 26)
Axminster v St Blazey (Nov 26)
Bovey Tracey v Cullompton (Dec 10) Dobwalls v Teignmouth (Dec 3)
Holders: Newport Pagnell Town
First Round Proper
Brixham 4 Odd Down 0 Bridport 3 Royal Wootton Bassett 5 Brimscombe & Thrupp 1 Torpoint 1 (5 4 pens)
Bovey Tracey 1 Ivybridge 1 (4 3 pens)
Cullompton 2 Bemerton Heath Harlequins 0
Second Round Proper (Nov 12)
Brixham v Andover New Street
Bovey Tracey v Brockenhurst Buckland v Cullompton Elburton v Bridgwater Laverstock v Falmouth Mousehole v Hartpury
Holders: Bideford
First Round
Ilfracombe 1 Plymouth Argyle 0
Second Round
Brixham v Ivybridge (Nov 8) Axminster v Tiverton (Nov 8) Barnstaple v Buckland (Nov 8) Bideford v Ilfracombe (Nov 15)
Holders:
Holders: Kingsteignton Athletic Second Round (Nov 12)
Brixham Res v Paignton Saints Res (Nov 19) Barton Ath v WBB
Bovey Tracey Res v Plympton (Nov 5) Buckfastleigh v Babbacombe Corries
Ilsington v Morley Rangers
Ipplepen Res v Dartmouth Res Kingsbridge v Brixham Town (Nov 19) Newton 66
Holders:
Elmore v Crediton (Jan 2) Ivybridge v Elburton (Jan 2) Newton Abbot Spurs v Penzance (Dec 3) Sidmouth v Okehampton (Jan 2)
Elburton 1 Ashton & Backwell 0 Falmouth 2 Helston 1 Mangotsfield 2 Crediton 0 St Blazey 1 Thornbury 2 Wellington 2 Barnstaple 0
Exmouth
Holsworthy
Crediton (Nov
Tavistock
Parkway
Dartmouth
Newton
To play football or not to play football? That is the question facing an increasing number of adults, as Sport England statistics show a fall in the number of participants from 2,990,700 in 2017 to only 1,451,700 in 2021. Whilst the success of the England Lionesses will inevitably boost the number of women coming into the game, this will only serve to mask the clear and obvious decline in men playing our National game.
The Football Association’s post Covid strategy for growing grassroots football does recognise the importance of retaining and re engaging millions of male participants in the game, as well as delivering safe and inclusive Club environments and improving the quality of facilities. However, the FA’s £180m investment strategy, planned for completion in 2024, appears somewhat flawed in its belief that 13.5m people in the UK are playing football “regularly” each year. Without understanding the true nature of the problem in front of them, how can the FA hope to address it?
The Toolstation Western League sits at the Rubicon between football’s fabled non league pyramid and the grassroots game, falling between two strategic stools when it comes to growing and supporting the game. Faced with dwindling player participation, the lowest rung in the National League System must recognise the threat that it could be confined to feeder league status, as the FA did with Step 7 of the NLS in 2020. Drawing up the NLS’s drawbridge in the face of declining Club and player numbers only perpetuates the belief that male participation in Saturday afternoon football is in decline. The critics of the proposed merger between the Western League and South West Peninsula League, commonly known as Project South West, suggest the proposal to create a new division across Devon and Cornwall, will dilute the quality of competition. At first glance, the presence of thirty six clubs at a level of the game where only twenty currently compete, suggests over promotion. Yet it’s players, not clubs, that dictate the quality of the competition, so with a player pool in apparent decline what can clubs and Leagues do to address this problem?
The post Covid world has manifested many changes in our lives and Saturday afternoon entertainment for young men is no exception. The prospect of an eight hour round trip from Midsomer Norton to Mousehole is unlikely to fill anyone with enthusiasm, let alone finding the money to pay for the petrol. Whilst some may relish travelling to compete against teams from other parts of the region, the practical realities of 21st Century Britain must be recognised if non league football, at the base of the pyramid, is to be made sustainable. Making travel time more compatible with the rest of the non league pyramid will inevitably ensure that more players are retained in the game and not lost to feeder league football. Indeed, reconciling the region’s geographical challenges makes it more likely that players capable of competing at a higher level, will consider staying closer to home. Rather than diluting the product, an argument can clearly be made that Project South West will enhance it.
Player retention and financial sustainability need to be at the heart of the debate concerning how football is administered in the South West. Clubs from Devon and Cornwall competing in the Western League is nothing new, but history has shown it to be unsustainable with teams including Ilfracombe, Dawlish, Torrington and Exmouth all dropping out of the league to compete in more local competitions. Since the early 90’s Saltash left the Western League twice to compete in the old South Western League. The appetite for competitive football in Devon and Cornwall is obvious. The ability of players from the region to compete in the Southern League and above, let alone the Western League is equally clear. However, ability and opportunity alone don’t guarantee that players are recruited and retained in the non league game and that is the critical issue for Project South West. If playing Western League football is not considered compatible with the lifestyles players wish to lead then they will be lost to the game, regardless of whether they live in Portishead or Penzance.
By Marcus Brody, MNR JournalThe 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 as well as lifting the Herald Cup four times, 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 FA.
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.
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.
Home Away P W D L F A GD Pts PPG FORM
2-0 2-3 Ivybridge Town 16 12 2 2 35 12 23 38 2.375 WLDDWW
Jan 28 2-0 Okehampton Argyle 17 12 2 3 35 14 21 38 2.235 LWWWWW
Jan 14 Apr 1 Crediton United 16 11 4 1 41 18 23 37 2.312 DWWLWW
Dec 27 Apr 7 Dartmouth 16 10 0 6 26 29 -3 30 1.875 WWLLLL
X X BRIXHAM 14 9 3 2 35 14 21 30 2.142 WWWLDD
4-0 Jan 21 Axminster Town 16 8 5 3 35 27 8 29 1.812 WLDWDW
1-1 2-2 Newton Abbot Spurs 15 7 4 4 37 20 17 25 1.666 WWDLDW
4-0 1-3 Bovey Tracey 14 8 0 6 30 21 9 24 1.714 WWWLWL
5-1 Dec 31 Teignmouth 13 7 2 4 26 17 9 23 1.769 DLLWWD
Nov 5 Feb 18 Torrington 17 6 1 12 33 43 -10 19 1.117 LLDWWW
2-0 Mar 18 Cullompton Rangers 15 6 1 8 25 36 -11 19 1.266 LWLWLL
4-0 Dec 10 Sidmouth Town 16 5 3 8 40 40 0 18 1.125 WWDWLL
Mar 25 Feb 4 Torridgeside 13 4 4 5 21 22 -1 16 1.230 LDWDDL
Mar 4 Nov 19 Honiton Town 14 3 5 6 16 20 -4 14 1.000 LWLLDD
Dec 3 2-1 Elmore 19 4 2 13 31 55 -24 14 0.736 LDLWLL
Apr 22 Mar 11 Holsworthy 16 4 1 11 15 35 -20 13 0.812 LLWDLW
Jan 7 2-1 Plymouth Marjon 18 3 2 13 21 44 -23 11 0.611 LDLLLL
Feb 11 2-2 Elburton Villa 13 2 2 9 19 33 -14 8 0.615 LLLLDD
Apr 15 Dec 17 Bridport 12 1 3 8 14 35 -21 6 0.500 DLDLLW
CONGRATULATIONS are in order for our Under 14’s team manager Mike Booth, who recently completed twenty years service with Devon & Somerset Fire and Rescue. A crew manager, Mike is shown here with fellow long service heroes Chris Boston and Matt Radford, along with area commander Alan Gilson.
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, 60 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
Following on from the photograph of former manager John Cunningham and his captain Tommy Holland in the Odd Down programme, I managed to find this team photograph and a set of Brixham United pen pictures from a programme of that era.
They may stir some memories in those Blue Army members who are slightly longer in the tooth than they might care to admit ...
(All matches 2.30pm kick-off unless stated otherwise)
Sep 3 Elburton Villa Res 3-1 Durrant 2, Griffiths
Sep 17 DPC Newton Abbot Spurs Res 0-4
Sep 24 PAIGNTON SAINTS RES 3-2 Somers, Parkin, Robinson
Oct 1 BUCKFASTLEIGH RANGERS 1-5 Cawsey
Oct 15 Paignton Saints Res 3-2 Chancellor, Griffiths, Mercieca
Oct 22 Ivybridge Town Res 1-0 Sanders
Oct 29 ELBURTON VILLA RES 3-0 Walton 2, Cawsey
Nov 5 Watts Blake Bearne
Nov 12
Nov 19 HC PAIGNTON SAINTS RES *2pm
Nov 26 Waldon Athletic
Dec 3
Dec 10
Dec 17 WATTS BLAKE BEARNE
Jan 7
Jan 14
Jan 21 KINGSTEIGNTON ATHLETIC
Jan 28
Feb 4 IVYBRIDGE TOWN RES
Feb 11
Feb 18 NEWTON ABBOT 66
Feb 25
Mar 4
Mar 11
Mar 18 WALDON ATHLETIC
Mar 25
Apr 8 Buckfastleigh Rangers
Apr 15 EAST ALLINGTON UNITED
Apr 22
Apr 29
May 6 CHUDLEIGH ATHLETIC
May 13 Newton Abbot 66
tba Chudleigh Athletic, East
Dec
Apr
Elburton v Chudleigh, Newton 66 v Ivybridge, Paignton v East Allington, Waldon v Buckfastleigh, WBB v Brixham
Saturday 22 October
Dartmouth 0 Okehampton 2 Honiton 0 Torridgeside 0 Plymouth Marjon 0 Elmore 5 Sidmouth 3 Axminster 3 Torrington 3 Newton Abbot Spurs 2 Tuesday 25 October
Crediton 2 Okehampton 3 Newton Abbot Spurs 2 Brixham 2 Wednesday 26 October
Elmore 2 Sidmouth 9 Ivybridge 2 Dartmouth 1 Friday 28 October Crediton 2 Torridgeside 1 Saturday 29 October
Bridport 3 Plymouth Marjon 0 Cullompton 0 Newton Abbot Spurs 6 Dartmouth 0 Axminster 1 Elburton 2 Brixham 2 Honiton 1 Teignmouth 1 Okehampton 1 Bovey Tracey 0 Sidmouth 2 Holsworthy 3 Torrington 3 Elmore 1
November 6th
U16s Away v Tavistock (11.00) County Cup
U14s No match
U13s No match
U12s No match
U11s No match
U8s Home v KM United (10.00)) at South Devon College top pitch
November 13th
U16s Home v Buckland (11.00)
U14s Home v WBB Yellow (9.30)
U13s No match
U12s Away v Watcombe Green (9.30) at Long Lane
U11s Away v Galmpton (9.00)
U8s Away v Stoke Gabriel Yellow (11.00)
Tuesday 1 November Sidmouth 1 Crediton 5
Wednesday 2 November
Bovey Tracey v Newton Abbot Spurs PP Ivybridge 2 Plymouth Marjon 0
Saturday 5 November
Bridport v Elburton Brixham v Torrington Crediton v Ivybridge Elmore v Bovey Tracey Newton Abbot Spurs v Sidmouth Okehampton v Dartmouth Plymouth Marjon v Honiton Teignmouth v Axminster Torridgeside v Culllompton
Wednesday 9 November Cullompton v Bridport
This Friday (11th) the club is away to the Bell, play to start at 8pm, all welcome as usual. And congratulations to the team on their first win last Friday!
It seems at least possible that the new Western Peninsula League, as it will be called, might have rather less trouble than previously envisaged in populating its divisions fully next season. Following the concerns expressed by more than one club earlier in the season regarding the administration of the Hellenic League, there are more rumblings of discontent about the lack of match officials of a Saturday and, more particularly, the proposed workaround extra midweek games to ease the problem.
All of which leads to the growing speculation that there might be a short queue of former Western League clubs wishing to transfer back next season now that tiresome trips to Cornwall are off the table for the clubs in the Bristol area, that being partly what led them to jump ship in the first place. Corsham, Bradford, Roman Glass, Cribbs, Mangotsfield, Brimscombe, Shortwood, Malmesbury and Calne, all pretty much within the traditional Western League footprint, are amongst those rumoured to be considering their options.
No doubt the Hellenic League will have an opinion to express to the FA on the matter come the end of the season.
The FA Cup draw may pitch teams together randomly, but it does have an uncanny habit of bringing some clubs together. The Third Round draw of 1955 6 saw Leeds United at home to Cardiff City: the following two seasons also saw the Bluebirds go to Elland Road in the Third Round. The chance of this happening in three consecutive seasons is around two million to one.
The similarities didn’t stop there. In 1956 Cardiff won 2 1 following a goalless first half, and the following season Cardiff again won 2 1 after a goalless first half. In January 1958 over 30,000 spectators were at Elland Road to watch the third match. Leeds having won promotion and thus now being the higher placed side, another 2 1 away win seemed unlikely. It was a very icy day in Leeds at the kick off, and conditions were treacherous. Alan Harrington put Cardiff ahead on twenty minutes, but Leeds took control of the game and equalised through a Bobby Forrest header. Against the run of play Cliff Nugent put Cardiff ahead once more just before the break. Cardiff were winning by the magic 2-1 scoreline, but surely that wouldn’t be the final score, would it?
In the last minute of the game Wilbur Crush was brought down in the penalty area, but the referee waved away the appeals of the Leeds players and Cardiff had won 2 1 three times in a row. Leeds didn’t win an FA Cup match for the next five years.
There are a multitude of things which have to happen off the pitch to help the lads to be successful on it. We’re on the lookout for committee members, matchday helpers and volunteers to boost our backroom team. Whatever your age or abilities, we have a role to suit. If you feel you can help out, even if only in a small way, we’d love to hear from you! See Phil Thomas in the clubhouse or call him for an informal chat on 07725 056504
Programme design by South Devon Media 07913 038551
Cover photograph by Davesworld Photography
Printed by AC Print, Paignton 01803 551205