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 25th August 2018 Toolstation Western League - Premier Division Bridgwater Town v Brislington FC 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 and Bridgwater Now a piece of fantastic news this Town FC, let me extend a very week for the club. One of our own, warm welcome to our visitors today, Josh Gould, a young goalkeeper who Brislington FC. played for the club two seasons ago, We hope their supporters, players and son of our club photographer and officials enjoyed a comfortable and committee member, Debbie journey down today and have a safe Gould, has just signed a professional and uneventful journey getting back contract with Swansea City. He has home again. already had a dream debut for the Today’s league fixture finds us U23 development squad and we all unbeaten in the league after three wish him all the best in the future and games, with two wins and a draw. I will watch his career carefully. Good had the pleasure of travelling away luck Josh! to Hallen FC last Tuesday evening Finally, I just want to say a to watch the lads record a very big thank you to everyone for the exciting 2-1 win with two late goals. tremendous support we are receiving Never say die attitude apparent that so far this season – keep it up!! night…I hope it carries on today and throughout the season. Brislington will be looking to build on Adrian Byrne their reasonable start to their season today so no complacency from us I hope. I am sure we are in for a very Come on Bridgy ! competitive match. Due to a family commitment I won’t be able to attend today’s game but I will keep up to date with all the excitement and action on @ BTFCLive on Twitter. Check it out if you haven’t already. BTFC Life Members Pete Besley | Peter Criddle | Eddie Pike | Keith Setter | Alan Hurford FIRST, Over the years we have met Bris 46 times in competitive matches. Results have been evenly balanced with 19 wins for us and 20 for our Bristol BEST AND based opponents. A keen sense of rivalry has existed ever since the 1988-89 season. In that year both sides went neck and neck on WORST unbeaten runs in the Somerset Senior League that lasted until the 15th April. The clash of the top 2 sides … of on that day drew a crowd of 450 to witness Bris defeat us BRISLINGTON Steve Blewett. The scorer 2-0 on their own patch. They FC of 3 goals in our 1st ever win went on to become Champions. at Iron Mould Lane. We finished as Runners-up. FIRST: Meeting & Win. Oct 25th 1986 Brislington A L 0 2 SSC R2 Oct 10th 1987 Brislington A W 3 2 Blewett 3 SSL BEST: Wins. Home & Away Aug 29 2006 Brislington H W 5 0 King 3, Deeks, Forward (D) TWL Apr 27 1991 Brislington A W 4 2 Hawkins 2, Nicholls, Speed SSL WORST: Defeats. Home & Away Mar 26th 2002 Brislington H L 0 2 SDL Jan 14th 1995 Brislington A L 1 4 Lazenby GMWL Over the years we have been adversaries in several cup finals. First blood went to Bris in the 1991 Somerset Senior Cup with a 3-1 win. Our scorer was Dave Kitchener. In 1994 we gained revenge with a solitary goal from Matt Lazenby. The following year they thwarted us once more in the Senior Cup Final by a 2-1 score line. Our goal scorer on this occasion was Ben Aherne. Next in May 2003 we defeated them 1-0 in the Les Phillips Cup Final held at the Conigre, Melksham. A crowd of 400 saw a spectacular long-range effort from Paul Heywood separate the sides. Last season we lost both league fixtures by 2-0 but a goal from Steve Holland saw us win a home Preliminary FA Cup tie against them in August. 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. by Cirencester Town after extra time in A Brief Club History the Play-Off final in 2009/10 after finishing of 2017, after early exits in the FA Cup the regular season in 3rd place. Season (Plymouth Parkway), FA Trophy (North 2008/09 also saw the team reach the Leigh) and with just two league victories, Final of the Southern League Cup losing Craig chose to further his career in the on aggregate to Atherstone Town. Southern Premier League with Dorchester However, the Club was left reeling with Town and was replaced in the role by the departure of joint managers Craig Phil Hucker. With 6 games of the season Laird & Leigh Robinson and a mass remaining, Dave Pearse took charge exodus of players during the summer of but by then, relegation was a certainty 2010. so Bridgwater Town began 2017/18 in Seasons 2010/11 and 2011/12 saw the the Toolstation Western League with club battling at the wrong end of the table Dave still in the role alongside former under the leadership of former reserve Barnstaple joint manager Karl Baggaley. team manager Rob Dray. A solid eighth place in the league along Another club stalwart Kevin Milsom took with good runs in the FA Cup and FA charge for season 2012/13 and after Vase and a narrow Les Phillips Cup an indifferent start, things looked to be semi-final defeat to Shepton Mallet was a coming together by Christmas.