The Seasider – Issue 1, Sept 23 2023

Home of the Seasiders

AFTER an hectic summer at the Davey Fort (see pages 15 and 16) it’s good to be able to enjoy some football again and we extend a warm welcome to players and officials from our Devon and Exeter Premier opponents Sandford who have won two of their four games so far this season and sit in fourth place.

Unfortunately, we have only won one of our opening games but we hope to improve our position with players returning from injury and unavailability.

We go into the current campaign with a new management structure with two club legends, Kev Turner and Chris Higgs, taking charge of our First team, with Mark Bailey and Stef Taylor running the Reserves (see page 8).

Whilst our early results have been disappointing, it is heartening that we have attracted a number of new signings so we are confident that our form will improve as the season progresses.

As reported later in this programme, it has been a busy close season at the Davey Fort, not least the big improvements we have made to the playing surface. I can’t remember the pitch being in better nick, due mainly to some serious investment and the efforts of our award-winning groundsman Mark Bailey. Whilst talking of financial matters, I can’t let this first matchday programme of the new season pass without paying tribute to the team of volunteers who have manned or car park every day during the summer. Co-ordinated by new life-member Betty Hitchcock, they have raised thousands of pounds to keep our head above water during the close season.

It is also pleasing to note how our Youth Section continues to grow. We now have around 100 youngsters from under 8s to Under 16s who have trained throughout the summer and I would personally like to pay tribute to chairman Martyn Wright and his team of committee members and volunteers who are working so hard to produce the Seasiders of the future.

Philip Evans MBE Programme Editor

COMING UP AT THE FORT

Sat, 28 Oct – Race Night

Sun 10 Dec – Christmas Lunch (sold out)

Sat 16 Dec – Christmas Draw and Party

THE DAVEY FORT, LYME REGIS, DORSET, DT7 3DR

CLUB OFFICERS:

President: Philip Evans MBE

Chairman: Gerard Hitchcock

Vice Chairman: Francesca Evans

Secretary: Robert Thom

Treasurer: Philip Evans MBE

Groundsman: Mark Bailey

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

All of the above, plus: Howard Larcombe, Heather Larcombe, Martin Rowe, Alex Rowe, Rob Fellingham, Tim Edwards, Rob Larcombe, Dave Reed, Joe Bond, Cam Fowler, Stefan Taylor, Betty Hitchcock, Maureen Reed, Fiona Blackmore, Will Meech, Annette Denning

LIFE MEMBERS:

Mrs Kath Wellman

David Cozens MBE

Philip Evans MBE

Les Loveridge

Ellis Hoole

Martin Rowe

Howard Larcombe

Michel Longuet (US Creully)

Mrs Elizabeth Hitchcock

PROGRAMME:

Editor:

Philip Evans MBE / Lyme Regis Media

Design:

Rob Larcombe / Sonder Digital

Printed by:

Adrian Wood / Advantage Digital Print

LRFC Firsts

LAST season might well have been a disappointing one on the field of play for the club, but the final game at the Davey First turned into a real celebration.

A crowd of 200-plus turned up – not necessarily to watch the Seasiders fight for sixth place in the Devon and Exeter Premier League – but to pay homage to one of the Lyme club’s favourite sons, veteran goalkeeper Chris Higgs.

Higgs was playing his last game for Lyme after 30 years between the sticks and it out turned to be a bit of a ‘love-fest’ for one of the club’s most popular characters.

Having past the big 40, Higgsy has decided to call it a day after a season plagued by injury. He was substituted in the 89th minute so the crowd, the biggest by far of the season, could show their appreciation.

Captain Rob Fellingham handed him the captain’s armband for the day and Higgs led out his team for his very last game in the goalie’s jersey, which was later signed by all his fellow players and officials. He did so with a reputation second to none and still one of the best keepers in the Devon and Exeter League.

Having snatched a late goal in the 92nd minute of the game against fourth-placed Kentisbeare to draw the game 2-2, Lyme then lined up to cheer Higgsy off the pitch with the crowd giving him a rousing farewell, which continued into the clubhouse where president Philip Evans MBE praised his professionalism and commitment to his home club, before vice-chair Francesca Evans presented him with engraved photo of one of his many fantastic saves.

Higgs, close to tears, said he would miss playing for the club but his body had taken enough punishment and he knew the time had come to step down. But he hoped to retain his long connection with the club in some form or other.

An indication of the respect in which he was held by the footballing community, the clubhouse was full of former players and managers.

SEASIDERS IN GOOD SPIRITS

There was no lack of spirit at the club’s annual presentation night, despite a less than stellar season of results.

The event was held at Lyme Regis Golf Club and was attended by nearly 60 players, officials and volunteers. The principal guests were the Mayor and Mayoress of Lyme Regis, Cllr David and Erica Sarson, attending their first engagement as the town’s new First Citizens. Also present were councillors Michaela Ellis and Brian Larcombe MBE.

The toast to the guests was proposed by president Philip Evans MBE who thanked Rob Fellingham and Wallace Blackmore who took over as managers of the First Team and Reserves in mid-season and for getting the club through its fixtures despite a lack of playing personnel towards the end of the season.

Mr Evans said the club had recovered from the impact that COVID-19 inflicted on grass roots sporting organisations and they had been able to complete the club’s five-year development plan.

He thanked Lyme Regis Town Council for their generous grant aid which had enabled the club to provide some of the best facilities in the area.

Mr Evans referred to the growth of the club’s youth section which was now running teams from under 8 to under 15 and he paid tribute to youth chairman Martyn Wright for keep the section running during the difficult pandemic.

He said: “Had it not been for Martyn’s work over a number of years, I’m pretty sure we would not have a youth section today.”

Mr Evans expressed the hope that the Seasiders would remain an ambitious cub and said that when they moved to the Davey Fort in the early 1970s, when they had just two garden sheds to change in, no-one could have envisaged what excellent facilities they had today.

First Team Players’ Player Callum Garrett with Luke Clifton and Brad Rowe

First Team manager’s player Dan Beer with Luke clifton

He said the club would be celebrating 50 years at the Davey Fort in 2024 and they were hoping to mark the occasion with a weekend of celebrations involving all current and past players.

Mr Evans also praised the club’s ladies’ group, led by Betty Hitchcock, for raising funds with had helped to keep the club financially stable during COVID. He later announced that Mrs Hitchcock had been chosen as the Club Champion for the 2022-23 season and she was presented with the Jack Loveridge trophy by the mayor.

Fiona Blackmore, Maureen Reed, kitchen manager Emma Blackmore, barmaid Patsy Neale, vice-chair Francesca Evans and other committee members and supporters all received bouquets for their fundraising efforts.

Later in the evening, Mrs Hitchcock received a standing ovation when it was announced that she had also been made a life member of Lyme Regis Football Club, following in the footsteps of her late husband, Ken Hitchcock, who was also awarded life membership after serving the club for more than 60 years as a player, committee member and caretaker.

PLAYER AWARDS

Robert Broome Trophy, First Team Players’ Player: Callum Garrett

First Team Manager’s Player: Dan Beer

Reserves Players’ Player: Toby Fowler

Philip Evans Trophy for Reserve Manager’s Player: Will Meech

Young Player of the Year: Robbie Fowler

Golden Boot Top Scorer: Brad Rowe

Reserves Players’ Player Toby Fowler with Wallace Blackmore

Young player of the year Robbie Fowler with Club President Philip Evans

Golden boot winner Brad Rowe with club chairman gerard hitchcock

DREAM TEAM

THE club has appointed what many supporters believe to the “dream team” to manage the Seasiders this coming season.

Former players Kevin Turner and goalkeeper Chris Higgs, two-players with legendary reputations, have agreed to take on the Seasiders after Micky Hunt, appointed in June, resigned for personal reasons without having seen a player in action.

After his appointment, Hunt, a former manager at Bovey Tracey, Penryn and Kingsteignton, visited the club and spent five hours cleaning and rearranging the home dressing room.

But that was the last we saw of him. Three training sessions and their first pre-season friendly a 5-1defeat at Chard Town, was supervised by long-serving player Mark Bailey, who is managing our Reserves this season with Stef Taylor, manager of the now defunct third XI Lyme Rovers.

Turner, a former Axminster Town player and manager, played for Lyme in the 1990s and was hugely popular with the Lyme spectators. His son, Ben “Tugger” Turner is a key first team player at the Davey Fort and encouraged his Dad to take on the job.

Kevin has been helping out Lyme mangers on the touchline for several years but was unable to commit himself to the cub because he was unable make every Saturday afternoon. His circumstances have now changed and he jumped at the chance of managing the club he says he has loved for many years.

Kevin took over the reigns just after Hunt had informed club chairman Gerard Hitchcock he was unable to fulfil his commitment to Lyme.

Mark is one of the club’s most loyal servants and one of best players to wear the Amber and Black throughout the whole of his footballing career and would be in the club’s top ten of Seasider greats.

Kev Turner and Chris Higgs

Stef Taylor and Mark Bailey

Firsts facing a long season as new managers look to rebuild

IT LOOKS like being a long season for or First team after conceding another five goals without return away to Winkleigh 1st who moved into third place in the Devon and Exeter Premier division.

The defeat leaves the Seasiders down in tenth place, having conceded 18 goals in our first four matches and with just three points to their name.

We got off to a poor start, losing 6-0 to our bogey side Colyton in the first game of the season, followed by a 6-1 defeat at champions Alphington.

New manager Kev Turner was disappointed with the lack fight in these two fixtures, unusual for Lyme who have a good record against some of the top sides in recent seasons.

But they hit back in their away match against Lapford, champions two seasons ago and one of the strongest sides in the league.

There won’t be any sides that take points off Lapford this season and Turner was impressed with how his side performed, especially in the second half.

Turner, concerned about his side’s fitness levels, was hopeful that Lyme had started to turn the corner in their next fixture against Elmore 2nds, but the Tiverton side called the game off because they could not raise a team and their Reserves were given precedence because they had a Devon cup fixture. It is expected that Lyme will be given the three points by the League Management Committee.

Last Saturday’s 5-0 defeat at Winkleigh was especially disappointing after the good performance at Lapford and Turner will be hoping that the Seasiders can improve their

league position with a string of less daunting fixtures in the coming weeks, starting today with a home game against Sandford, who are in fourth place with two out of four wins.

But the manager knows it won’t be a walk in the park and he is expecting his side to rise to the occasion to give our loyal supporters the boost they are looking for.

Turner and his assistant Chris Higgs appreciate that it’s likely to be a long season for those supporters and that a mid-table position would be considered acceptable at a time when some of the club’s most talented and loyal players are coming to the end of their footballing days.

With this very much in mind, Turner and Higgs are keen to bring on the club’s youngsters and are taking a close look at those showing promise in the Reserves.

Jacob Denning, aged 16, who made his debut for the Reserves last week.

Reserves’ tough start to the season

LYME Regis Reserves second game of the season ended in a 4-1 defeat to Budleigh Salterton 2nds at the Davey Fort.

A disappointment before a whistle was blown was that Harry Andrews’ knee injury was playing up in the warm-up so he didn’t even make the bench.

Budleigh had most of the possession but an experienced Lyme team sat in with some good shape, frustrating the visitors and forcing them into errors. Few chances came for either side early doors, but a tough midfield battle for Robbie Fowler and Kingsley Wellman who both put in a fair shift.

On the 38th minute mark a short goal kick from Alex Staker to full-back Rob Larcombe who pinged a 40-yard ball down the line where the experienced winger Fred Thomson chipped the keeper to make it 2-1. It was Fred’s 125th goal for Lyme.

Minutes later a tidy one-two with from Jack Durrant with Ryan Fifer presented the latter with a golden opportunity to make it 2-0 but he narrowly missed.

Just before the break a quick double from the visitors gave them the lead at half-time.

Into the second half, a mistimed clearance for the Lyme keeper, Alex Staker, out of position, presented the ball to the winger who scored from 45 yards out as the keeper was scrambling back to his goal line.

With 30 minutes to go Lyme had three bizarre injuries. Skipper Luke Clifton, midfielder Robbie Fowler, and then right-back Hayden Lewis all came off with what seemed to be cramp. Larcombe, who was struggling with an injury himself but with all subs used, gave away a penalty for 4-1, which Staker was very close to saving.

Lyme still took some positives from the defeat. They competed in all over the park in individual battles plus creating more chances than the previous week.

In the return fixture the following week at the Division Three leaders’ expansive pitch, the Ressies gave a better account of themselves, losing 3-1, their only goal coming from Josh Daines who also hit the bar with the score at 2-1.

Veteran keeper Alex Staker pulled off a string of brilliant saves to keep the Seasiders in the game.

At home to fifth placed Bravehearts last Saturday, the Reserves took the lead trough Dave Bridges, his first goal for the club.

The Exeter side dominated for the rest of the game, finishing 5-1 victors, although Lyme were unlucky to hit the bar twice. Joint manager Mark Bailey, who looked every inch the classy midfielder, the hallmark of his long career with Lyme, and Fred Thomson, playing in the centre of the back four, were Lyme’s best performers on the day.

Alex Staker, the Reserves’ new veteran keeper.

THE Youth Section held their end-of-season presentation event at the Davey Fort with around 100 children, aged between 8 and 15, taking part, well supported by parents.

MORE FROM THE YOUTH PRESENTATION EVENT

An inter-club tournament for all age groups was held in the afternoon, organised by Stefan Taylor, the former Lyme Regis Rovers manager, now managing the club’s Reserves with Mark Bailey, followed by the presentation of trophies in the evening.

Youth section chairman Martyn Wright welcome parents and friends and introduced club president Philip Evans MBE who presented the awards.

Mr Evans, whose association with the Seasiders goes back for 60 years or more, congratulated all the teams on the progress they had made during the past season. He paid tributes to the time and effort put in by the youth section coaches, congratulated the committee on their hard work and thanked the parents for their support.

He told the players: “You are the future stars of Lyme Regis Football Club and we look forward to seeing you progress through the age groups until you are playing for the senior teams. Remember, once a Seasider, always a Seasider.”

PLAYER AWARDS

UNDER 9s

Most improved player, Bessie Blathwayt

Top scorer, Ashton Wilson-Birch

Players’ player, Ethan Negus

Supporters’ player, Kai Meyers

Manager’s player, Noah Moses-Turner.

UNDER 11s

Manager’s player, Rory Galvin

Players’ player, Jamie Smith

Most improved player, Adam Beddows

Top goal scorer, Josh Fowler.

UNDER 14s

Top goal scorer, Hugh Hopkins

Players’ player, Angus Mitchell

Supporters’ player, Aidan Mclellan

Manager’s player, Sam Miller

Most improved player, Callum Whitehead Donnison.

UNDER 15s

Most improved player, Jack Legg-Wilde

Top goal scorer, Jamie Robinson

Supporters’ player, Jacob Denning Manager’s player, Evan Hill.

The award for clubman of the year went to Jacob Denning who will graduating to the Reserves next season and has been an inspiring influence on his youth team colleagues.

The committee ran a raffle, Pimm’s tent and children’s tuck shop during the day and raised £1,100 for youth section funds.

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A big thank you to all our player sponsors for the 2023/24 Season

Callum

Will Stef

Jack

Tyler

Gary Dan Tom

Rob

Mark Rob Alex Cam

Toby

Dan

by The George Hotel, Axminster

Fabrications

Garage

Philip Evans Sports Media

Callum Taylor Building

by Tom Geraghty

by Alex Rowe Ltd

by Maureen & Dave Reed

Bricklayers

Chance

by Fowler Hire & Sales

by Sonder Digital

by Rockett Garden Services

Services

The Lamb Inn

Project Fortify: COMPLETE

THE club has been a hive of activity during the close season as we concluded the four-year development programme at the Davey Fort.

Project Fortify was supported by a generous £100,000 grant from Lyme Regis Town Council in a match-funding arrangement which meant that for every £25,000 we received from the council, the club had to contribute £12,500.

The project included the construction of a fully equipped kitchen, a 63-seater grandstand and new dug-outs. The car park was extended, new drainage has been installed and the width of the playing surface extended by two metres.

During the summer months the project was completed by the tarmacking of the car park, creating 30 car parking spaces and recently new gates have been erected and a new groundsman’s hut constructed.

At the same time groundsman Mark Bailey has been working hard of improving the pitch which is now one of the best playing surfaces in the league. Thanks to the efforts of Will Meech, Toby Fower, Mike Higgs and Gavin Fowler, the southern touchline which was slipping away has been built up with 42 tons of top-soil and re-seeded.

With help from club chairman Gerard Hitchcock, Will has also replaced the concrete approach to the main clubhouse entrance, making in safer especially for wheelchair users and the infirm. Will has also constructed much needed locker space in the home dressing room.

The Seasider

Former player and long-time supporter of the club, Derek Hallett painted the white lies in the car park and has been a part of a team of volunteers, co-ordinated by Betty Hitchcock, who have manned the car park throughout the summer months, bringing in thousands of pounds which has kept the club solvent during the close season.

Project Fortify will be brought to a close at the end of October when town councillors and officers will be invited to alunch and the unveiling of a plaque recognising the council’s financial support by the Mayor, Cllr David Sarson.

The Fort at 50

Next year the club will celebrate 50 years at the Davey Fort with a weekend of events towards the end of May. More details will be included in future issues of The Seasider.

Pitch plaudits for Bails & Co

THE SEASIDERS’ reputation has been enhanced by plaudits from both the Devon and Dorset FA.

Following the demise of the sports centre project, initiated back in the late 1960s by the former Borough Council, the Seasiders were left with a minimum size pitch, the surface of which left much to be desired for several years.

Although still of a minimum size, tens of thousands of pounds have been invested in improving the pitch over the past 50 years and in recent times it has emerged as one of the better surfaces in local football.

Against that back ground it is astonishing the club has won third place in the Dorset County FA’s Dorset FA Groundsperson of the Year Awards 2023 supported by Fleet Line Markers.

Club groundsman and veteran player Mark Bailey was

nominated for his dedication and incredible work ethic to improving the pitch at the Davey Fort.

Mark was nominated by explayer and committee member Martin Rowe who said: “Mark has been instrumental in the improvement at the Davey Fort over the past couple of years. Not only did he source, design and order the grandstand on the bottom side of the pitch but also helped organise the extension of the pitch into the north bank alongside a team of players.

“Since taking over the groundsman role on an official basis he has tried to educate himself as much as possible using the FA and Pitchpower resource. He has gone as far as to take an afternoon a week off work at great personal cost to improve the pitch.

“Since taking over the role he has organised a huge programme of works with great backing from the club including regular deep tine aeration,

“It is a team effort with massive help from a lot of the players, past and present, including chairman Gerard Hitchcock, Will Meech, Kingsley Wellman, Fred Parsons, Alex Rowe, Toby and Robbie Fowler, Rob Harp, Robbie Fellingham and there are bound to be a few I have missed.”

slitting and top dressing with 60 tonnes of sand last summer and as a result the compaction/ drainage issues have improved greatly and the grass coverage is visibly better than it has been in years.

“Mark and his team of volunteers also planted 100 saplings on the surrounding banks to aid the stability and take water away from the playing surface. He has set in place an irrigation system for this summer and is preparing to overseed the entire area. He marks, cuts and tidies the pitch weekly and is even up there regularly on a Sunday morning setting up mini pitches for the under 8 and under 9 teams. Many of the benefits are yet to be seen but the ground could not be in safer hands.”

The Seasider

– Mark Bailey

A big Seasider thank you to all of our the entrants in the kit sponsorship draw:

The Seasider

Robin Townsend

Lyme Launderette

Fred Parsons

Dylan Roofing

Dan Rendell and Aaron Cleal Kingsley Wellman

Hitchcock Plastering

Gardener & Young

The Reed Family

Philip Evans Sports Media

Prospect Garage

Paul Sheppard

Mike Tapping

Martins Excavations and Plant Hire

HIRE & SALES LTD

From the Archives...

WE PRIDE ourselves on the quality of our matchday programme with many people commenting that it’s one of the most professional they have seen published by a club playing at our level.

It’s always good sign to see the players, home and away, reading the programme whilst enjoying their after-match refreshments.

The ground-hoppers who visit the Davey Fort eulogise over our programme and always ask for more than one copy to add to their collection.

Few clubs at this level publish a programme but there have been occasions when one has been produced for big cup finals, especially if the teams are local revivals.

Recently we were shown a programme for the Dorset Junior Challenge Cup final between old adversaries Beaminster and Lyme, played on the Crown Ground at Bridport on Saturday, April 15 in 1950 (see illustrations).

Apparently, Lyme, who played in a claret and amber strip borrowed from the RAF Barracks down at the Cobb, were favourites but were beaten by Beaminster whose star man was the Bridport News sports editor Roger Bailey.

This is how Lyme lined up: John Perry; Tommy Perrin, Cecil Wiscombe; Clive Enticott, Alan Wellman, Pete Loveridge; Wilf Stokes, W. Wood, Henry Broom, Cecil Hodges and the only surviving member Derek Hallett.

The cup and medals were presented by the Mayor of Bridport, Councillor T.J. Dale, MBE.

The programme, which was sold for twopence, was produced by Bridport Football Club, who hosted the final.

On the back page they advertised a charity match between Bridport, the Dorset Senior Amateur Cup winners in 1949 and 1950, against Chelsea, who played in the English League Division One. In the evening a Grand Dance was held in the Drill Hall.

Thank you to Alan Legg for loaning us the programme.

The Lyme 1st team pictured in the mid-1950s. Back row (from the left): Alan Wellman, Freddie Smith, Don Truman, Reg Emmett, Pete Williams, Jack Loder. Front row (from the left): Arthur Smith, Ron Ghost, Tommy Tabberer, Pat Rice, David Cozens.

Show your support for the Seasiders with clubwear from the official supplier

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MEMBERSHIP AND SPONSORSHIP

MEMBERSHIP

Players - £30

Social - £25

Social membership enables supporters to enjoy the Davey Fort clubhouse Bar and Clubhouse facilities on match days and on other occasions where bar prices the most competitive in town. Members are also entitled to one free use of the clubhouse for family events.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

There are a number of sponsorship opportunities at the Davey Fort. These include:

GROUND PERIMETER ADVERTISING BOARDS

(8 ft x 2ft) at a cost of £380 for three years including artwork.

MATCH SPONSORSHIP

Available for £40 to include four persons who receive a drink from the bar before and after the match and refreshments at half-time. Sponsors get a free advertisement in the Matchday Programme and will present the man-of-the-match after the game.

BALL SPONSORSHIP

Available for £20 to include two persons who receive a drink from the bar before and after the match and refreshments at half-time. Sponsors will get a free advertisement in the matchday programme.

For more details contact Philip Evans on 07796 951991.

Lyme Regis Association Football Club

HONOURS BOARD

DORSET AFFILIATED

Dorset Intermediate Cup: 9 (1994-95, 96-97, 99-00, 2003-04, 0405, 10-11, 12-13, 13-14)

Dorset Junior Cup winners: 6 (1982-83, 85-86, 86-87, 87-88, 9900, 2011-12)

Premier Division Covid Mini League Champions: 2020/21

Division One promoted: 2017-18

Division Two promoted: 2015-16

Division Three runners-up: 2014-15

Division Four promoted: 2018-19

Division Five promoted: 2017-18

Division Six promoted: 2016-17

Division Seven promoted: 2015-16

Grandisson Cup: 1 (2017-18)

Football Express Cup: 2 (2016-17, 17-18)

PERRY STREET & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier Division: 6 (1957-58, 59-60, 88-89, 2004-05, 09-10, 11-12)

Division One: 2 (1998-99, 99-00)

Division Two: 2 (1961-62, 94-95, 20-21 on PPG basis)

Division Three: 3 (1998-99, 2013-14, 18-19)

Division Four: 2 (1998-99, 2007-08)

Challenge Cup: 6 (1983-84, 86-87, 2005-06, 09-10, 11-12)

Coronation Cup: 9 (1959-60, 79-80, 87-88, 94-95, 97-98, 2004-05, 09-10, 10-11, 11-12)

Daisy Hutchings Cup: 1 (1998-99)

Arthur Gage Cup: 3 (2003-04, 05-06, 09-10)

Tommy Tabberer Cup: 1 (1994-95)

John Fowler Cup: 2 (1986-87, 1988-89, 2018-19)

Bill Bailey Cup: 3 (1988-89, 2000-01, 2016-17)

Jack Venn Cup: 1 (1989-90)

Kenny Hodges Cup: 1 (2011-12)