Newton Abbot

Spot on, Merse, about other European models. You can go further and argue that the English pyramid is neither complete nor entirely logical (especially from non-league level 5 downwards). Heaven forbid, we may even have to acknowledge that English Rugby Union has a purer, more workable system.

It might have been more correct for me to say the "culture" surrounding English non-league football is what makes it special/different/unique. Midweek football (right or wrong), paid players, paying spectators, media coverage, programmes, refreshments, sponsorship, clubhouses, etc - all of these can be found down right down to very modest levels (although, given your interest in German football, I'd be interested to hear of comparisons with Landesliga, Verbandsliga, etc).

But, as you hint, we're again on ground where the things that make English football attractive to the spectator aren't necessarily to its advantage in the way that it is played. I'm happy with my Tuesday night 50p half-time cuppa (often out of a proper cup), which I'll guard jealously, but I do wonder what I'm watching sometimes (as well as speculating about the true meaning/impact of all those shouts of "right shoulder!" and "left shoulder!").

You can’t really blame the current residents of Newton Abbot for the fact that the town spreads its resources over three clubs at a similar level.

You have to go back to the 1970s to apportion the blame. In 1970, Spurs was far and away the senior team – no argument at all. By 1980, little Dynamos had overtaken Spurs and Buckland had been formed ready to become a third major player.

So surely, the blame must lie with people who enjoyed “growing up” with the mighty Spurs in the 60s, but when they reached adulthood in 1970 failed to push the club forward. So we are looking at people who turned 18 in 1970 – those born in Newton Abbot in 1952.

It seems that they spent their early adulthood more interested in girls, football and beer than pursuing a keen interest in local politics. Shame on them! Why did they not cast their vote for the “Let’s Have a Professional Football Club in Newton Abbot Party”? It’s the same kind of laziness and stupidity that you currently have from people in Torbay who couldn’t be bothered to vote for the “Let’s Have Billions of Pounds of Support From Central Government Instead of Letting Them Spend it All on London, Wales and Scotland Party”.

What did these lazy, irresponsible, stupid people do when they realised that they had destroyed football in Newton Abbot? B*ggared off to London, that’s what. And have they used their vote there to elect the “Let’s Have World Peace, an End to All Poverty and a Cure For Cancer Party”? No, they voted for Boris pigging Johnson!

You would think that they would keep quiet about their shameful past, but no – you will fine them berating the current local residents telling them it’s all their fault!

Finally, I would like to add that Newton Abbot FC went pear-shaped when it was taken over by those people from Dawlish. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t Dawlish the wrong side of the Penn Inn roundabout?

Never trust anyone from as far north as Dawlish!

Great to see Bartondowns posting on here - I believe we've discussed South Devon football before on the Tony Kempster site.

It just proves that Dave need not have worried about the lurkers who never post. Here is proof that they will post when they have something to say, and when they post it will be worth waiting for.

At least I hope Bartondowns has been reading the forum, because anyone reading my last post without knowing what's gone on here before will think I'm a total lunatic.

Its OK now Jon, I have stopped worrying, Its In the past ;Dand the posts he made yesterday were more than worth waiting for and came not only as a surprise, but gave such great pleasure to read.

I won't argue with that Jon! ;D

But in all seriousness, there was a very real "anti Spurs" bias in the town in the sixties just because they paid some players,and also because they had set up a "relationship" with Exeter City and later Torquay United...............how ridiculous.

There were some prominent people in the town who wanted to push the club upwards, but all they met was apathy and antipathy.

Forty years on, I wonder how much things have changed, if at all.

I think It Is now the end Of the road for Newton Abbot football club. The first team has already been suspended by the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League for a breach of rules of association having failed to fulfill their last two Premier Division fixtures against Wadebridge Town and Clyst Rovers.

Now the South Devon League has follow suit and has suspended the Newton Abbot Reserves yesterday with immediate effect.The South Devon League made the following statement.

"In the event of Newton Abbot FC being able to demonstrate that responsible persons are put in place and authorised to act on behalf of the club, the WBW Solicitors South Devon League will reconsider its position."

Stoke Gabriel has already signed from Newton Hutcheson and other top local clubs like Dartmouth are lining up players they wish to sign.

I would hope that there will be answers given by someone to explain just how this once excellent club has got Into so much financial difficulties. But then this Is football and TUFC never gives out Information, so why should I expect any thing different from Newton.