Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2008 1:06:25 GMT
And now, as I come to my senses as the ill-effects of the departed wisdom tooth wear off, my last Forgotten Westcountry Football Tale. It's a short one because it's late and I know little beyond the outline detail. It's mainly worth repeating because of what is now happening at Truro City. Truro have done well in recent seasons - albeit heavily bankrolled and starting from a very low base - to become the first Cornish team to win the FA Vase and play in the Southern League. This, according to the publicity, makes Truro by far the greatest team Cornwall has ever seen. Maybe, maybe not? Consider the case of Falmouth Town, league champions eight seasons in a row between 1970/71 and 1977/78. The first four championships came in the SW League before the club switched to the Western League - the first Cornish club to do so - which they promptly won for the next four seasons. This compares well with Truro because the Western League was rather stronger in those days, the Southern League wasn't really an option and, at their peak, Falmouth were competing in the FA Trophy rather than the Vase (the fault lines between the competitions then being less clear). In the middle of their success Falmouth beat Yeovil in the FA Cup and Bath City in the FA Trophy (Truro haven't emulated this level of result yet). I guess the Falmouth story revolved around money and getting most of the 20 best non-league players in Devon and Cornwall together at the same time (just as Truro are setting out to achieve). Inevitably, I suppose, a team full of Plymothians. It started to fizzle out after the 8th championship - understandable I suppose (can't complain, can you?) and the cash must have been low by then - and Falmouth eventually left the Western League in 1983 (never yet to return). There must have been something very wrong at the time because the club played a season in the Cornwall Combination before rejoining the SW League. Falmouth were undefeated in that first Western League season but it's probably the table for the following season that makes the most interesting reading because it was an unusually large 23-team league. Once again it's interesting to do a then-and-now:  After returning to the predominantly Cornish SW League, Falmouth clocked up seven more championships, the last in 2000. Last season, under ex-pro and ex-caravan park owner Steve Massey, there was plenty of big talk which didn't materialise into much at all. Falmouth's Bickland Park remains one of Cornwall's more interesting grounds (pictures from Kerry Miller's book):   |
|
tufc01
TFF member
Posts: 1,179
|
Post by tufc01 on Dec 12, 2008 19:06:19 GMT
[glow=Yellow,2,300]I guess the Falmouth story revolved around money[/glow] and getting most of the 20 best non-league players in Devon and Cornwall together at the same time (just as Truro are setting out to achieve). Inevitably, I suppose, a team full of Plymothians. [glow=Yellow,2,300]There must have been something very wrong at the time because the club played a season in the Cornwall Combination before rejoining the SW League.[/glow] Last season, under ex-pro and ex-caravan park owner Steve Massey, there was plenty of big talk which didn't materialise into much at all. [glow=Yellow,2,300]Falmouth's Bickland Park remains one of Cornwall's more interesting grounds (pictures from Kerry Miller's book): [/glow] I lived in Helston in Cornwall (8 miles from Falmouth) for 18 years until 2006 and played my football in the Combination league and Falmouth & Helston league. Football in SW Cornwall revolves around Money, it seems to move between Falmouth, Porthleven, Truro etc. You used to see the same players, and managers, all follow as the cash moved from club to club. Each new season was greeted with the same talk of big things. It would be good for that part of the country to have a big team. It would certainly get the crowds IF they were able to get some decent facilities, and that is where the problem lies for Truro. Whilst they have a big bankroll, the ground is somewhat compact. They have been trying for many years to get the local council to help them either finance a new ground or at least grant them planning permission at a site that they had found and felt was appropriate. There was also talk a few years back of building a complex and ground to house the football team and the Penzance Cornish Pirates, but that didn't get any local support. The trouble is that with very little help or co-operation from the local council their options are running out. It could even see a move away from Truro. If they were able to get a team into the BSP, then the league, i am sure those that make the trek to watch Plymouth would take to watching their football in Cornwall. Back to Falmouth, the choice of words "one of Cornwall's more interesting grounds" is not how i would have put it, skanky is the word that springs to mind. That picture was probably taken 20 years ago and it looked the same 2 years ago, not even a lick of paint in between. Falmouth reserves, and Truro's come to that, do play in the Combination league. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2008 19:21:00 GMT
Good posting, tufc01. Wasn't quite sure how to describe Bickland Park so I played safe with "interesting". Certainly these pictures, which date from 1996 at the latest, could have been taken when I was there in August.
I've been to most of the more significant Cornish grounds and there's a 1950s feel about many of them - Penzance, Falmouth, St Austell, Newquay, Bodmin, etc (some of which are better than others). Wadebridge stands out as a spruce, re-developed set-up.
It's always been a paradox - and one which faces Truro - that the more football-orientated parts of the county are those closest to the lure of Argyle.
|
|
tufc01
TFF member
Posts: 1,179
|
Post by tufc01 on Dec 13, 2008 0:38:20 GMT
Good posting, tufc01. Wasn't quite sure how to describe Bickland Park so I played safe with "interesting". Certainly these pictures, which date from 1996 at the latest, could have been taken when I was there in August. I've been to most of the more significant Cornish grounds and there's a 1950s feel about many of them - Penzance, Falmouth, St Austell, Newquay, Bodmin, etc (some of which are better than others). Wadebridge stands out as a spruce, re-developed set-up. [glow=,2,300]It's always been a paradox - and one which faces Truro - that the more football-orientated parts of the county are those closest to the lure of Argyle[/glow]. They are a funny breed the Cornish. No offence intended to them, indeed my youngest was born in that fine institution the Royal Cornwall hospital. But they are very secular, so if they were to get a semi successful team they would drop the 'Devon' team like a ton of hot coals. I knew quite a few who wanted Truro to change their name to Cornwall city or something similar, just like the Penzance rugby team changed their name to the Cornish Pirates, and then moved ground to Truro. |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2008 10:09:41 GMT
tufc01
I would urge all readers not to rise to the bait of this thinly veiled attack on the loyalty of our Clubs Cornish Chairman.
Implying that he will dump Torquay 'like a ton of hot coals' just as soon as Truro get even semi successful is totally uncalled for.
After a week of speculation concerning those at Managerial & Boardroom level this cunning way of pointing the disloyalty finger at Alex Rowe will only serve to further divide us.
More likely tufc01 is a mole or secret agent ( Chris Roberts mother in disguise?) working on behalf of a prominent member of another site & sent here to ferment discord & infighting.
Support Alex Rowe, & reject this anti Cornish witch hunt! ;D
Alpine Joe.
|
|
tufc01
TFF member
Posts: 1,179
|
Post by tufc01 on Dec 13, 2008 11:52:55 GMT
tufc01 I would urge all readers not to rise to the bait of this [glow=yellow,2,300]thinly veiled attack on the loyalty of our Clubs Cornish Chairman.[/glow]Implying that he will dump Torquay 'like a ton of hot coals' just as soon as Truro get even semi successful is totally uncalled for. After a week of speculation concerning those at Managerial & Boardroom level this cunning way of pointing the disloyalty finger at Alex Rowe will only serve to further divide us. More likely tufc01 is a mole or secret agent ( Chris Roberts mother in disguise?) working on behalf of a prominent member of another site & sent here to ferment discord & infighting. Support Alex Rowe, & reject this anti Cornish witch hunt! ;D Alpine Joe. You could not be more WRONG if you tried. You obviously haven't read the that post properly or the thread. It was a Truro/Plymouth slant and nothing more, as you will see when you re-read the whole thread. You obviously know nothing of the Cornwall/Devon rivalry (more so from the Cornish) This is MOST CERTAINLY NOT a thinly veiled, or any attack on our chairman. Who incidentally i didn't know was Cornish. The 'Devon' is a reference to the fact that there are some followers in the extreme South West only go to watch Plymouth because they think its in Cornwall ( i did say they were a funny breed). The Exeter fans also taunt the Plymouth fans that they are a Cornish side. The dropping of hot coals is a reference to the Cornish people who will drop Plymouth the minute a Cornish side, ie Truro, can get a team in the BSP/League. May i suggest you re-read the whole thread again and see what has been written NOT what you tried to twist to fit your own agenda. In fact, could it be you that is making the thinly veiled attack by making something out of nothing to promote your own beliefs?? Yes i did rise to the bait.  Well done. ;D However, I can not deny that i AM a special agent.  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Dec 14, 2008 15:35:38 GMT
Go to cornwallfootballforum.com and you'll see how Cornish football can resemble a nest of vipers. In fact, I think any self-respecting viper would decide to remain this side of the Tamar. The latest is the management team has left Falmouth because of financial cutbacks. Apparently the club did well even to fulfil the cup game at Plymouth Parkway which ended in an 8-0 defeat. Elsewhere someone is trying to stir up rumours about Penzance which currently has both Trevor Mewton and money. And life is not happy at Truro City. This might be because the club is not winning every game. It could also be because Kevin Heaney has rather a large number of creditors. A rather odd little story made the NLP this week which was earlier reported in rather more detail at POLICE have refused to investigate the disappearance of dozens of sponsors' signs from Truro City Football Club. Club vice-chairman Chris Webb reported the loss of 25 huge boards bearing sponsors' logos, such as North Gear and Cornish Homes, in the early hours of Friday to police as a theft. He told The West Briton he was "near to tears" when he discovered them missing.
The loss even threatened Tuesday night's crunch match against top-ranked AFC Totton because FA regulations state that no-one should be able to see into the ground from outside.
Mr Webb said: "I was shocked and devastated and it was very upsetting. We've had enough of all these people trying to knock us down and as a local lad and someone who's been with the club for 33 years, I think it's time we make a stand. The signs were contracted as part of a sponsorship deal and the ground was really looking fantastic. They were taken in a very professional way, but the battens were left, which made it easier for us to replace them. We had to spend about two days doing so to make sure we were prepared for Tuesday night. Whoever did it and for whatever reason, it won't stop (chairman) Kevin Heaney or myself from achieving what we set out to do four years ago – to bring league football to Cornwall. I will not let mindless idiots pull this club down and it only makes me more determined to carry on our dream of getting promotion to the British Gas Business Football League step three, which will give this club its fourth consecutive promotion, equalling the national record."
The signs from between the car park and ground, measuring at least 8ft by 4ft and costing up to £4,000, were taken between midnight and 7am on Friday. It would have taken a lorry and at least two people to haul them off. But Truro police confirmed the disappearance was not being treated as a crime and that the club was aware of this. Sgt Miles Topham said: "The incident was reported to us and after conversations with the club, this is being dealt with as a civil matter between it and another party. As far as we're concerned there is no evidence a crime has been committed and no crime complaint is being pursued."Now the Weymouth New Year game is off, I plan to nip down to Truro v Taunton on New Year's Day to sniff the air. |
|
merse
TFF member
Posts: 2,684
|
Post by merse on Dec 14, 2008 16:03:15 GMT
 As the police have declined to take an interest in Truro's disappearance they obviously know something that makes it a civil dispute and not a criminal theft.....................like the vendor of the material not being paid by the purchasor perhaps? 
|
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jul 30, 2011 8:08:58 GMT
With Simon Larkins posting the link for the Falmouth Packet’s updates for today’s game at Truro, I’ll make reference to a story in his paper this week (written, I think, by Simon himself) about a possible new ground for Falmouth Town:
"Falmouth Town are set to leave their Bickland Park home after more than 50 years at the ground.
After weeks of denials, the club has finally confirmed that it has opened negotiations which will lead to it moving to a brand new stadium. Although the club have not confirmed the location for the new ground, it is believed it will be on land off Union Road, known locally as the Channel Four field due to the broadcasting mast at the site. According to a statement released by the club, the new stadium will provide the club with up-to-date and enhanced facilities for both players and spectators, including new training pitches.
Falmouth Town FC has had several homes in its history and has been at Bickland Park since 1957. The ground has a current capacity of 3,572 and seating for only 500. It has a lot of history having famously hosted two FA Cup first round ties in 1961 and 1969, when Town played Oxford United and Peterborough respectively. Former Manchester United manager Ron Atkinson was part of the Oxford United squad that visited in 1962. The club said that if it wants to move up the leagues and comply with the Football Association’s ground grading system, it needs a bigger ground and better facilities."
The proposed new ground isn’t too far from Bickland Park. Should you be driving to the present ground, you’d pass the site just after turning off the A39 Penryn by-pass and before reaching the edge of the Falmouth built-up area. As this thread – from December 2008 – shows we’ve previously discussed Falmouth Town complete with tufc01’s recollections of his days playing in the Combo and the old Falmouth/Helston League (now merged with the Mining League to form the Trelawny League).
Meanwhile we might as well record, if we’ve not done so already, that Madron – of last season’s Mining league Division 1 – ended up losing all 28 games conceding 407 goals in the process.
|
|
sam
TFF member
Posts: 341
|
Post by sam on Aug 15, 2011 18:10:22 GMT
One of the star players for this fabulous Falmouth team was goalkeeper Brian Helley, former Tweenaway schoolboy and Galmpton United player. He still lives in the village and visits Plainmoor. Surely one of the best goalkeepers never to have made it into the league. I was in the same Tweenaway team as him - a school where skilled footballers honed their skills.
|
|
chelstongull
TFF member
Posts: 6,759
Favourite Player: Jason Fowler
|
Post by chelstongull on Aug 15, 2011 18:18:50 GMT
One of the star players for this fabulous Falmouth team was goalkeeper Brian Helley, former Tweenaway schoolboy and Galmpton United player. He still lives in the village and visits Plainmoor. Surely one of the best goalkeepers never to have made it into the league. I was in the same Tweenaway team as him - a school where skilled footballers honed their skills. I too, played for the Tweenaway team 70 -72 and then when we were the first boys to mix with the girls over at Waterleat in 72 - ah happy days ;D |
|
Well done. ;D
