



Founded 1896
CLUB HONOURS
SW Peninsula League Div 1 West Champions 2014/15
Runners-up 2011/12, 2012/13
Cornwall Combination League Champions 1987/88, 2000/01, 2010/11, 2021/22
Trelawny League D1 winners 2016/17
D2 r/up 2015/16
D3 r/up 2014/15
D5 r/up 2012/13
Cornwall Veterans League D1 winners 2021/22
D2 winners 2020/21
Cornwall Women’s Football Lg. Winners 2020/21
R/up 2016/17
Cornwall Senior Cup Winners 1936/37
R/up 2012/13
Cornwall Junior Cup Winners 2013/14
Cornwall Women’s Cup Winners 2021/22
Cornwall Charity Cup Winners 1937/38, 1960/61, 1961/62
R/up 1935/36, 1951/52
Cornwall Senior Lg. Herald Cup Winners 1936/37, 1937/38, 1939/40
R/up 1938/39
Cornwall Combination Lg. Cup Winners 2021/22
R/up 1974/75, 2002/03, 2007/08
Cornwall Sunday Cup Winners 2021/22
Cornwall Veterans League Cup Winners 2021/22
Arthur Pearce Cup Winners 2013/14
Lockhart Cup Winners 2015/16
League Cup Winners 2016/17
Kellaway Park, Clodgey Lane, Helston, Cornwall TR13 8PJ
All items subject to match day availability
After the excitement of last weekend’s 5 -1 victory over Street, it's great that we play at home for a second successive Saturday by welcoming the players, officials and supporters of Ilfracombe Town to Kellaway Park. An extended welcome also goes to our match referee Kevin Hoare and his two assistants Paul Barker and Dale England.
Back on the 28th January I featured in my programme notes the emerging talent of 18 year old Ross Dunstan. Although not making it into the named squad on the day Ross has since made his debut for The Blues. Coming on as a late substitute the following week Ross did enough to earn a further call up for last Saturday when again coming from the bench, he stamped his mark on the game with a well deserved home debut goal. This week sees further young blood included in the squad with the naming of 16 year old Josh Daniel. Having represented The Club's U16’s and U18’s already this season, Josh has impressed in training to earn his call up. Along with Rocco Hill, The Blues boast three of its youth in today’s squad. Good luck to you all
What a week for Rikki - last Saturdays match marked our first player hat-trick of the season. Well done Rikki Shepherd who now takes over pole position, with eighteen goals, as The Blues leading goal scorer for the season, two ahead of second placed Rubin Wilson. Rikki is unavailable today following the birth of a baby daughter on Wednesday. Congratulations Rikki, and of course we hope Mum and baby are doing well.
You regularly hear it said that the life and blood of any football club is very much down to those that dedicate their time and efforts behind the scenes, and that is no different here at Helston Athletic. Although we have several individuals who gratefully dedicate so much of their time each week to support the club, it is a pleasure to welcome George McCaffery, Western League Director, to Kellaway Park this afternoon to present Long Service Awards to club stalwarts Barry Dunstan and Martin Richards. Congratulations and thank you both for your many years of loyal and reliable support.
Finally from me for today a reminder that on Tuesday evening, 21st February, we welcome local rivals Falmouth Town for a third time this season, this time for a Les Phillips 3rd round cup tie. KO is at 7:45pm with the winners booking their place in the quarter final of this seasons competition.
Enough from me, please enjoy your afternoon and as always thank you for your attendance and support.
Paul Hendy (Chairman)Saturday 18th February 2023
Premier Division
Barnstaple Town v Street
Bridgwater United v Torpoint Athletic
Buckland Athletic v Clevedon Town
Falmouth Town v Millbrook
Helston Athletic v Ilfracombe Town
Mousehole v Ashton & Backwell United
Shepton Mallet Town v Saltash United
Wellington v Cadbury Heath
A guide to away games this season in the Western League Premier Division
(Mileages obtained from theaa.com route planner)
Blue & White shirts
Blue shorts
Blue socks
Kyle MOORE (GK)
Reece SHANLEY
Josh DANIEL
Jordan BENTLEY
Fred WALTER
Josh STOREY
Harrison JEWELL
Teigan ROSENQUEST
Tom PAYNE
Steve COLWELL
Matt BYE
Jordan COPP
Rubin WILSON
Jamie SIMMONDS
Ross DUNSTAN
Rocco HILL
Manager Matt CUSACK
Asst. Manager Dan HARRISON
Coach
Dan BUA ROBERTS
Goalkeeper Coach Martyn DAUGHTERY
Physio
Jaimie OSBORNE
Referee
Kevin HOARE
Manager
Pink shirts
Black shorts
Black socks
Lawrence McCORMACK
Steve OLIVER
Harry TAFFS
Sam WRIGHT
Cory ROACH
Jack JENKINS
Charlie PRENTICE
Jed HARPER-PENMAN
Harry STEVENS
John DOWNING
Liam SHORT
Jack LANGFORD
Ed JENKINS
Toby JOHNSON
Ben MUSSELWHITE
Ollie STEVENS
Jamie MIROW
Bradley WILLIAMS
Matt KING
Finn KING-SMITH
Jimmy THORNE
Clem BENNELLICK
Assistant Manager
Physio
T O D A Y S S Q U A D
Jack JENKINS
Clem BENNELLICK
Assistants
Ilfracombe football club was formed in November 1902 and played local opposition until the formation of the North Devon League in 1904, in which Combe became one of the founder members. The present name of Ilfracombe Town was adopted in 1920, the club contested the East Devon League remaining there for many years.
The present ground of Marlborough Park was acquired in 1923 & laid out for competitive football in 1924/25 season. In 1949 Western League football was applied for & the club was admitted entry into division 3 for the season 1949/50, winning promotion as runner up at the end of that year.
During the 1952/53 season the clubs finest FA Cup run was experienced by the only Division 2 team to reach the fourth qualifying round where Llanelli was the venue and the result was 1-0 in favour of the Welshmen in front of an 8500 gate.
Promotion to Division 1 was also achieved at the end of the 52/53 season but after two years relegation was followed by poor results and poor support ultimately resulting in withdrawal from the league by the 1958/59 season.
During the 60s and 70s North Devon League football was again contested and during the early 80s, after some very encouraging seasons it was decided to re-apply for Western League football and re -entry was accepted from the 1984/85 season.
Since rejoining the Western League the club contested Division 1 for many seasons and promotion was eventually achieved to the Premier Division at the end of the 2006/07 season and Step 5 football was maintained with the winning of the Les Phillips Challenge Cup in 2010/11 season, after 30 years of membership the club decided to leave the Western League at the end of the 2012/13 season.
North Devon League football was once again contested with the first team in the Premier Division and the Reserves in the Senior Division and the 3rd Team in Intermediate 1, at the end of the 2016/17 season all 3 teams won promotion and with the Ladies team achieving promotion a very successful season was enjoyed.
The 2017/18 season Combe joined the South West Peninsula East Division, and after a couple of good seasons the team was going very well when the season was curtailed because of COVID-19, they were moved up into the Western League Premier Division for the 2021/22 season when the Non League system was re-organised.
Ilfracombe’s ground has one of the most picturesque backdrops in the Western League as the image below shows.
(Pic courtesy of Ilfracombe Town’s Facebook page).
Marlborough Park is situated on top of a hill overlooking the Bristol Channel and the club will celebrate a hundred years of playing there in two seasons time
Cory HARVEY.Coryhasexcellentpedigreeandhasattractedattentionfrom higherleagueclubs.Heisanexcellentshotstopper&hisdistributionissecondto none.
Isaac BURDON. Isaacisaversatiledefenderthatcanplayleft,right¢rally acrossvarioussystems.He’spreviouslyworkedwiththemanageratPlymouth Parkwayandisratedhighly.
Josh STOREY (Capt). Joshhasrecentlybeenappointedclubcaptain.Aballplayingcentrebackandanexcellentleaderonandoffthepitch.
Jordan BENTLEY.
Jordancametotheclublastseasonandhasexcellentexperiencewithinthegame havingoperatedathigherlevels.Adominantcentrebackwhocanmixuphis game.
Aaron BENTLEY. Aaronjoinedtheclubatthebackendoflastseason.Heisa commandingcentrebackandabigthreatfromsetplays.Aaronhasagoodfootballpedigreeandhasoperatedathigherlevels.
Freddie WALTER. FredjoinedtheclubfromneighbouringWendronandhasenjoyedapositivepre-season.Heiscomfortableinarangeofdefensivepositions andcanalsoofferathreatgoingforward.
Harrison JEWELL. HarrisoncamethroughtheyouthranksatHelstonandshows promiseacrossmanypositions.Hisversatilityishisstrengthandhecanoperate acrossthedefenceandinmidfield.
Stevie COLWELL. Steviehasoperatedathigherlevelshavingpreviouslyplayed withWeymouth,Tivertonandmorerecently,PlymouthParkway.Aballplaying midfielderwithexceptionaltechnicalandtacticalquality.
Matty BYE. Mattybringsawealthofexperienceandqualitytothemidfieldunit. Heisahighlyrespectedleaderonthepitchandchipsinwithgoalsandassists.
Tom PAYNE. PayneyhasjoinedtheclubathispeakfromMillbrook.Lastseason, hecappedafinecampaignbybeingselectedfortheCornwallsquad.Aversatile midfielderwithexcellentleadershipskillsanddeadballdelivery.Expecttosee himimpactinggamesthisseason.
Tyler ELLIOTT.Tylerisanotherplayerthathasoperatedathigherlevelsoffootballandhasexcellenttechnicalqualitytomatchaterrificworkethic.Expecttosee himlinkingplayinthefinalthird.
Rikki SHEPHERD. Rikkiwasabigsummersigningforus.Theex-Millbrookman notched23goalsfrom29appearancesinthelastcampaign.Lightningquick,Rikki hasscored3goalsinthepre-seasonandwillbelookingtoaddmanymore.
Kai CORNISH. Kaihastheabilitytounlockdefenceswithhisdribbling&creativity inthefinalthird.Hehasenjoyedapositivepre-seasonwithgoalsandassistsand thereforeenterstheseasonwithhighlevelsofconfidence.
Sam CARTER. “Carts”isanotherattackingplayerwithhighcreativitythatcan operatewideorcentrallyandhasimpactedthegameswithinthepre-season.
Nathaniel WEST. NatrelocatedtotheSouthWestlastseason&endedtheseason withBodmin.Heisanathleticstriker,unorthodox&thereforeunpredictable.Heis verygoodintheairandhasscoredafewgoalsinthepre-season.
Jordan COPP. Jordanisoneofthemosttechnicallygiftedplayersthemanagerhas workedwith.HebringsbagsofexperienceandpedigreehavingoperatedatStep2 withWeymouth.Anattackingplayerofexceptionalqualitywhocanoperatewide orcentrally.
Rocco HILL. Roccobrokeintothefirstteamlastseasonandscoredonhisdebut.At 16yearsofage,heisdisplayingmaturitybeyondhisyears.AproductoftheHelston pathway,heishighlythoughtofandhasanexcellentfutureaheadofhim.
Rubin WILSON. RubinwasthelastplayertojoinusfromBodminTown.HeisaCF thatoccupiescentrebackswithaneyeforgoalandbringshisteammatesintothe game.Hehasalreadymadeahugeimpactingames&isdevelopingpartnerships thataregoingfromstrengthtostrength.
Jamie SIMMONDS. Jamieisaplayerofveryhightechnicalability.Expecttoseehim unlockingdefencesandimpactingthegameatthetopendofthepitch.Jamiehasall theattributestoplayatthislevelandbeyond.Jamieisreallyexcitedtobeplaying forHelstonandhopesthatthismovewillhelphimcatapultHelstonaswellashis ownfootballdevelopment.
Teigan ROSENQUEST. ThesignatureofTeiganoutlinesourambitionasafootball club.TeiganwaspartoftheTavistockteamthatsecuredtheWesternLeaguetitle lastseason.Hehasexcellenttechnicalabilityandcanbreaklineswiththeballthat isahugebenefitforusasitcanchangethecontextofthegameinamoment.We hadoneofthosemomentsintheFAVaseagainstSaltashwhenwescoredthewinninggoalfromoneofhisdrivingruns.Teiganisversatileandcanoperateoutwide andcentralattackingroles.