Falmouth Town A.F.C.

Falmouth Town
Full name Falmouth Town Association Football Club
Nickname(s) Town, The Ambers
Founded 1949
Ground Bickland Park, Falmouth
Ground Capacity 4,019 (900 seated)
Manager Andrew Westgarth
League South West Peninsula League
Premier Division
2014–15 South West Peninsula League
Premier Division, 16th

Falmouth Town A.F.C. is a football club based in Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. They were established in 1949 and were founding members of the South Western League in 1951. For the 2012–13 season, they are members of the South West Peninsula League and play in the Premier Division. The president of the club is Roger Fenner. For much of their history Falmouth Town have maintained a healthy rivalry with Truro City. Falmouth Town are the only Cornish team to win through to the first round proper of the FA Cup, which they have done on three occasions; 1962–63, 1967–68 and 1969–70. Falmouth Town Reserves play in the Cornwall Combination

History

Falmouth Town joined the old Cornwall Senior League in 1950 and a season later became founder members of the South Western League in 1951–52 playing their home games at Union Corner (a converted farmers field) Also on The Recreation Ground.[1][2] The club moved to Ashfield (where the Park & Float is now) in 1953 for two seasons. This coincided with a change of colours from Red with white sleeves to the current Black & Amber. The club were strapped for cash and couldn`t afford a new strip so Jack Maunder a staunch committee man (who supported Wolves !) bought the new strip.Then Shell Mex & B.P. paid a fortune for the ground and paid for Bickland Park into the bargain where after an interim two seasons back at Union Corner they played the opening game at Bickland Park (previously a Market Garden owned by Harcourt Williams) against Cornwall in 1957.This paved the way for a professional approach on the scale never seen in Cornwall before. In their first season at the new ground the club won its first piece of silverware by winning the South Western League Cup and without conceding a goal during the competition. The cup was retained the following year when they beat Truro City 6–3 in the final.

In the 1961–62 season the club won their first South Western League title, but also went on to complete a Cornish treble that season by winning the League Cup and the Cornwall Senior Cup beating St. Blazey (league runners up) by 7-1 a record score that still stands in front of 10,000 people at Poltair. St. Austell.[2] The next season the club reached the First round proper of the FA cup, and still being the only Cornish team to achieve this. In front of a record home crowd of 8,000, they played Oxford United losing 1–2. The club repeated their First round appearance again n 1967, when they lost 2–5 away to Peterborough United, and in 1969 when the met Peterborough again at their home ground losing 4–1 to the visitors.[1]

Under Manager Richard Gray the club won the Cornwall Senior Cup again in the 1964–65 season, and repeating the cup success a season later along with another South Western League title.[1] The 1967/68 campaign saw the club achieve its second domestic treble, and in the 1970–71 season they repeated this feat again, but this time without losing a single match in all three competitions.[2] The club then went on to dominate the league, winning the next three seasons League titles as well. After the fourth title at the end of the 1973–74 season the club then joined the Western league.

In their first season in the Western League they completed the League and Cup double without losing a match. Three more consecutive Western League titles were won, making it eight championships in a row for manager Richard Gray.[1] After spending nine seasons in the Western League the club faced with increased travelling expenses withdrew from the League and had to join the Cornwall Combination football league, as their application to rejoin the South Western League was refused by member clubs.[2] After the one season in the Combination League, which they won, the club rejoined the South Western League for the start of the 1984–85 season.

In their second season back in the South western league the club picked up the League Championship for the eighth time and won the league as well. Further championships were added in 1986–87, 1988–89 and 1989–90 taking their total to eleven.[1]

They won their twelfth championship and ninth League cup under manager Trevor Mewton in the 1991–92. After two seasons without a trophy, former player Ray Nicholls was appointed as manager and won the league cup in the 1994–95 campaign. Two seasons later a new manager David Ball was in charge and in his first season at the helm he secured the Club's fourth domestic treble. Further success followed two seasons later when in the 1998–99 they won the league cup.

The 1999–00 season saw Falmouth win title for the fourteenth time. They also won the Durning Lawrence Cornwall Charity Cup with the last time being 40 years ago in the 1959–60 campaign.[3] In 2001 Falmouth Town achieved an unusual record for the furthest distance travelled to undertake an F.A. competition tie. This occurred when they had to travel some 500 miles to meet Bedlington Terriers in the fourth round of the F.A. Vase.

The club then spent the next few years remaining in the Premier Division of the South Western League and became founder members of South West Peninsula League Premier Division in 2007, by finishing in 10th place in the final season of the South Western League football, when it combined with the Devon County Football League.[1][4] The club have since remained in the South West Peninsula League Premier Division.

In March 2010, Bruce Rioch started to take some training sessions at Falmouth Town.[5]

In June 2012 before the 2012–2013 season, the club faced some bad news when the FA refused to allow them to enter any national FA competitions because they do not have toilet facilities in the home and away dressing room, and the referee's room.[6]

In October 2012 Alan Carey resigned as manager and Les Gilbert and Robbie Stephens became joint managers.[7] Gary Pascoe became Assistant manager in July 2013 after Les Gilbert left the club.[8] In September 2014 John Dent was appointed first team manager. Gary Pascoe remained as first team coach.[9]

On 24 July 2015 Andrew Westgarth was appointed as player manager. [10] Gary Pascoe will remain as first team coach.

Stadium

The club plays at Bickland Park, Bickland Water Road, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4PB. Built in 1957, its current capacity is 3,572, with 500 seats.[1]

Previously they had played at Union Corner (twice), Ashfield and the Recreation Ground.

Honours

Records

Former players

1. Players that have played/managed in the football league or any foreign equivalent to this level (i.e. fully professional league).
2. Players with full international caps.
3. Has achieved recognition in another sport or the media.

          (Eng)  Johnny Penny Plymouth Argyle.

References

External links

Coordinates: 50°09′21.76″N 5°05′54.95″W / 50.1560444°N 5.0985972°W / 50.1560444; -5.0985972

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