Bridgwater Town V Roman Glass St George
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robinsthe Fairfax Park, College Way, Bridgwater, Somerset TA6 4TZ EVERYDAY LOW PRICES 11,000+ TRADE QUALITY PRODUCTS Electrical Hand Tools Heating Ironmongery Ladders & Storage Landscaping Lighting Painting & Decorating Plumbing Power Tools Power Tool Accessories Roofing & Drainage Supporting Non-League Football Saturday 20th October 2018 Toolstation Western League - Premier Division Bridgwater Town v Roman Glass St George 3.00pm Kick Off Photo - Debbie Gould toolstation.com Watermans Garage Four Forks, High Street, Spaxton, Somerset TA5 1BW Tel: 01278 671254 Mobile: 07801 295601 Email: [email protected] www.watermansgarage.co.uk Whether your car needs a service, emergency repairs, fuel or its annual MOT, Watermans Garage can help: Friendly and reliable servicing and mechanical repairs to any make of vehicle. Large workshops updated with the latest equipment and computer software. Tyres and full steering alignment MOT Testing Station Class 4 & 7 and Light 5 Car Sales Air Conditioning Centre Competitive Prices Free Collection and Delivery Service within the local area With all the latest testing and computer equipment, you can be sure your vehicle is in good hands Opening Times - Monday to Friday 8.00am to 6.00pm Proprietors: T. A. E. Groves & C. J. Groves Watermans A5.indd 1 01/08/2017 16:02:04 Chairman’s Welcome On behalf of myself, the fans and the Now a pleasing development to tell you committee of Bridgwater Town FC let me about. The club was recently approached by extend a warm welcome to our Fairfax Park Will Pilborough who offered to re-open the visitors today, Roman Glass St. George FC. long since closed club shop on home match We sincerely hope all their supporters, days. In the spirit of #betterneverstops players and officials enjoyed a comfortable the committee agreed to give Will the journey getting down here and of course opportunity. As well as hopefully selling we wish them a safe journey home after the Bridgwater Town FC merchandise, Will game too. also makes clever scale models of different Well, the boys are currently on a nice little football stadia which he will also sell and run with three wins out of the last three donate some of the profits back into the games in all competitions. At time of writing, football club. Pop in, say hello and have a Bridgwater Town FC sit proudly at the top of look! the Toolstation Western Premier division. I Finally, a big thank you to you the know there is a long way to go and there magnificent Bridgwater Town fans who are teams with games in hand on us but I have been turning out in ever increasing always feel it is better to have points in the numbers to support your home-town team bag coming into the winter months when this season. injury, postponements and suspensions The buzz around the ground is now fantastic start to bite for every team. It was also very on match days; please continue to support pleasing to witness a great comeback by the our team vocally and positively from the lads after going a goal down versus Wells terraces home and away, it is appreciated City in the Somerset Premier Cup to win by not only the players but by all of us 2-1. Hopefully our good form and attitude associated with the club. continues today. Of course, it won’t be easy this afternoon; Roman Glass St. George have had a Come on Bridgy ! respectable start to their league campaign too and they are currently 8th but this is Enjoy the game today, probably a false position as they have 3 games in hand on us. I am sure it will be Adrian Byrne another great, competitive game. Club Chairman BTFC Life Members Pete Besley | Peter Criddle | Eddie Pike | Keith Setter | Alan Hurford WE’VE MET BEFORE! ROMAN GLASS ST The two sides do not appear to have met before in their current guises despite the fact that our opponents are Bristol’sGEORGE oldest football FC club. However, back in 1947 one of our precursors, a fledgling Crown Dynamos FC, drew Bristol St George FC in a qualifying round of the FA Amateur Cup. It was their one and only entry into this long established competition. The fixture was played at Eastover Park (aka Cranleigh Gardens), which being a public recreation field was presumably roped off for the occasion. Changing facilities were located in part of the Crown Inn in St John Street. The local newspaper reporter estimated the crowd at 1300 souls and stated that the gate takings were £50.00. In today’s money, taking inflation into account, this would equate to in excess of £1,700. The Dynamos had a good share of possession by all accounts but were punished for their mistakes by a more experienced and polished side. Before the game and during half-time music was provided by the Bridgwater Silver Band. Bristol St George actually played in the very first Amateur Cup competition back in 1893-4. They reached the 3rd Qualifying Round (the last 32) but went out to Plymouth Home Park. In the 1960’s Bristol St George FC was usually the last surviving West Country club in the Amateur Cup, which was dominated by London-based Isthmian and Athenian and County Durham based Northern league sides. Sep 13th 1947 H 2 5 Kinsella, Matthews FAAC Q1 1300 Left: Andy Gurney, the former Swindon Town and Swansea City professional, who is now the manager of Roman Glass. He made his League debut for Bristol Rovers in 1992 and by the time he was forced to retire through an ankle injury in 2006 he had made 430 appearances for a range of clubs that also included Torquay United and Reading. Indeed, Andy commanded a £100,000 transfer fee when moving from the ‘Gulls’ to the ‘Royals’. He scored goals for every one of his Football League employers and ended with a very creditable total of 46. In January 2010 he signed for us. The then manager, Rob Dray, described the arrival of this ‘battling midfielder’ as a ‘coup’ for the club. Andy made around 6 appearances for an injury hit and struggling Town team before deciding to retire. In that short time he scored a spectacular free kick goal that gave us a 2-1 victory at Wimborne Town and earned praise for his endeavour, attitude and commitment to the cause. One suspects that the same attributes have helped make his managerial career such a success. ParadeDental Practice We Care Proud Sponsor of Bridgwater Town FC & Club Physiotherapist Taylor Cornish Wishing the team every success this year Mr. Adrian Byrne BDS 48a North Street, Bridgwater, Somerset, TA6 3PN (01278) 425796 Quality Dentistry for the People of Bridgwater A Brief Club History In season 1949/50 the Club were accepted into the Western League Division Two and two fifth place finishes were achieved in their first two seasons. The first football club to bear the town’s This was followed up by claiming runners- name was formed on 28th January 1898 up position in season 1951/52, thus at a meeting held at the Cross Rifles gaining promotion to Division One. The public house on Bath Road. Bridgwater Club were to remain in the top division AFC entered the Somerset Senior of the Western League for the next 30 League, playing at Sydenham House years, winning the Western League title on Bath Road, and lifted the Somerset twice, in seasons 1967/68 and 1980/81. Senior Cup in their first full season, Season 1982-83 saw the club make the beating Yeovil Casuals 1-0 in the Final bold move up to the Southern League played at Wells. Unfortunately, the Club Midland Division, but after only two was forced to disband in 1901 due to lack seasons at the higher level, and with of support and financial difficulties. mounting debts, the club went into Two years later, another Bridgwater voluntary liquidation….the end of an era! AFC was formed and played for ten But like a phoenix from the ashes, years in local leagues from their base Bridgwater Town (1984) FC was formed in the Westonzoyland Road area of the by a loyal band of club stalwarts and town. 1914 saw this club fold due to the started life at a new home, Fairfax Park, outbreak of World War One. in Division Two of the Somerset County 1919 saw the birth of local works side League. Unfortunately, with a young and Wills Athletic who played in local leagues inexperienced side relegation followed from their Victoria Park home. In 1921 at the end of their first season, but they changed their name to Bridgwater steady progression including a hat-trick Town FC and moved to Chilton Park from of Somerset County League titles, the where they played for ten further years, Western League Division One title and winning a few minor honors, until football runners-up spot in the Western League came to an end in the town until after Premier Division in season 2006/07, World War Two. earned the club a place back in the Crown Dynamos, based at the Crown Southern Football League, 23 years after Inn, St John Street, were formed in 1946 the heartbreak caused by the demise of playing at Eastover Park. They played the old club. in the Bridgwater & District League The first three seasons back at the higher for a year before progressing into the level were fairly successful for ‘The Somerset Senior League - finishing a Robins’ with the team just missing out on creditable 3rd in 1948. That year also the end of season play-offs in 2007/08 saw the Club move to a new venue, (6th) and 2008/09 (7th) and missing out Castlefields and change its name to on promotion after being beaten at home Bridgwater Town AFC.