Post by Jon on Aug 17, 2009 19:05:54 GMT
I think Merse may have said before that Newton Abbot is naturally more of a football town than Torquay and didn’t one of those old handbooks that Timbo posted explore the possibility of moving TUFC out to Newton?
Certainly, soccer took hold in Newton long before it did in Torquay and Exeter. A report from as far back as 1873 mentions Exeter playing against Newton under association rules – the first time that Exeter had done so.
By the time TUFC was formed, the top teams in Newton appeared to be Newton Town and Newton GWR Students. By the time TUFC Reserves joined the East Devon League in 1924, Newton Town was the top team.
I don’t know what happened to Town, but by the start of WW2, Corinthians seemed to be the top team – entering the FA Cup in 1938.
After the War, Spurs dominated. They had two spells in the SW League – 1951 to 1953 and 1959 to 1971. Just before the first spell, they temporarily dropped Spurs from their name and went as just Newton Abbot. The Spurs had been restored by the time they rejoined the SWL.
After Spurs dropped down to the SDL in 1971, they were quickly caught up by Dynamoes and in 1977 Dynamoes moved up to the SWL – clearly marking them as Newton’s premier team. They stayed 12 seasons in the SWL, changing name to just Newton Abbot in 1979.
After NA had spent three years back in the SDL, the Devon League was formed in 1992. For four seasons, Newton Abbot was the town’s only representative – wining the league in 1993. In 1996, Spurs moved up from the SDL to join them. NA kept their noses ahead for two seasons, but Spurs finished as top dogs in 1999 and 2000.
In 2000, Buckland moved up to the Devon League and for seven seasons, Newton had three teams competing in the same league. Buckland were top dogs in 2001 and 2003, Newton Abbot in 2002 and four straight seasons 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Spurs were not out of the running, finishing second best team in Newton five times out of seven.
In 2007 the SW Peninsula League was formed – merging the SWL and the Devon League. Due to problems with the Coach Road ground, Newton Abbot was not allowed into the Premier Division whilst Buckland and Spurs were. In the first season, Spurs finished narrowly ahead of Buckland to claim the top slot, whilst Newton Abbot won promotion.
Season 2008/09 looked set to be a close-run thing between three evenly-matched clubs, but it didn’t turn out that way at all. Newton Abbot folded mid-season under financial pressures, Spurs finished bottom and were relegated. Buckland had a great season finishing third in the league. For 2009/10, Buckland is clearly Newton Abbot’s top club – and they have put the seal on that claim by becoming the first Newton club to enter the FA Cup since Spurs in 1964.
Certainly, soccer took hold in Newton long before it did in Torquay and Exeter. A report from as far back as 1873 mentions Exeter playing against Newton under association rules – the first time that Exeter had done so.
By the time TUFC was formed, the top teams in Newton appeared to be Newton Town and Newton GWR Students. By the time TUFC Reserves joined the East Devon League in 1924, Newton Town was the top team.
I don’t know what happened to Town, but by the start of WW2, Corinthians seemed to be the top team – entering the FA Cup in 1938.
After the War, Spurs dominated. They had two spells in the SW League – 1951 to 1953 and 1959 to 1971. Just before the first spell, they temporarily dropped Spurs from their name and went as just Newton Abbot. The Spurs had been restored by the time they rejoined the SWL.
After Spurs dropped down to the SDL in 1971, they were quickly caught up by Dynamoes and in 1977 Dynamoes moved up to the SWL – clearly marking them as Newton’s premier team. They stayed 12 seasons in the SWL, changing name to just Newton Abbot in 1979.
After NA had spent three years back in the SDL, the Devon League was formed in 1992. For four seasons, Newton Abbot was the town’s only representative – wining the league in 1993. In 1996, Spurs moved up from the SDL to join them. NA kept their noses ahead for two seasons, but Spurs finished as top dogs in 1999 and 2000.
In 2000, Buckland moved up to the Devon League and for seven seasons, Newton had three teams competing in the same league. Buckland were top dogs in 2001 and 2003, Newton Abbot in 2002 and four straight seasons 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Spurs were not out of the running, finishing second best team in Newton five times out of seven.
In 2007 the SW Peninsula League was formed – merging the SWL and the Devon League. Due to problems with the Coach Road ground, Newton Abbot was not allowed into the Premier Division whilst Buckland and Spurs were. In the first season, Spurs finished narrowly ahead of Buckland to claim the top slot, whilst Newton Abbot won promotion.
Season 2008/09 looked set to be a close-run thing between three evenly-matched clubs, but it didn’t turn out that way at all. Newton Abbot folded mid-season under financial pressures, Spurs finished bottom and were relegated. Buckland had a great season finishing third in the league. For 2009/10, Buckland is clearly Newton Abbot’s top club – and they have put the seal on that claim by becoming the first Newton club to enter the FA Cup since Spurs in 1964.
Ken Holmes the trainer is the late father of Nigel Holmes of Buckland Athletic and the late Clive; the elder brother after whom the Main Stand at Homers Heath is named.
