WHITE SHIRTS, WHITE SHORTS MAROON & SKY BLUE SHIRTS, MAROON SHORTS Mike Searle Marc Radovanovic Josh Searle Sekani Simpson Ryan Guppy Treyvond Anderson Adam Hill Matty Tanner Ben Mammola Clayton Fortune William Richards Toby Rennie Joe Curtis Lee Hartshorn Luke Mortimore Keith Kearney Rob Norrish Colin Mugoya-Tabingwa Douglas Camilo Dan Demkiv Brett Worbey Ash McGrane Dean Stamp Joseph Hill Craig Veal Calum Ferguson Ben Bickle Jake Thomas Aidan Moyle Tom Hillman Wednesday 21st August 2019 David Steele Brandon Feehely Ben Brooks Willand Rover FC Mangotsfield United Sacha Tong Kick Off 19:30 RUSSELL JEE M OLLIE PRICE REFEREE DAVID STEELE A NEIL SIMONS PHIL EDDIE (PLYMOUITH) NEIL GREENING P NEIL STIRLING WARREN KILLEN C RUSS GREGORY ASSISTANT ’ S NIGEL D’ARCY (CORNWALL) RICHARD BUTTER (CORNWALL) Toolstation Premier League Winners 2018/19 CLUB SPONSORS Russell Jee & David Steele Manager & Asst Manager WILLAND ROVERS AGM 5th AUGUST 2019 Willand Rovers CHAIRMAN REPORT I would like to start my report and say what a tremendous season we have just witnessed in all my FC years at this club I believe to be one of the best. Over the years this club has won things, improved facilities and progressed both on and off the field but last season there was a feeling around the club that something special was happening at Willand Rovers. It all started in the summer of 2018 when there was a second hand covered stand erected, turnstiles from Dorking Wanderers FC purchased both were dismantled and collected by volunteers and new flood- lights installed in preparation of the level we play at and for higher leagues. Bar Open & Tea/Coffee The football management team put together a squad of players that would go on to win the premier division of 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month the Toolstation Western league. This was something that I thought might not be achievable in my days as Open 7pm, Chairman, but the style of football and fitness of the squad was in my opinion the best that anyone has seen at this football club. In the FA Vase we progressed to the last eight two Eyes down games away from Wembley final and losing to a London 7.30pm club Cray Valley. The previous round we played a Lincolnshire team, Deeping Rangers at home on Saturday 2nd Feb. The preceding Thursday night we had 6 inches of snow covering the pitch and on Friday morning we made the decision to clear the pitch and by mid-day there were more than 30 volunteers. The pitch passed the referees inspection on the Saturday morning, we won the game and into the ¼ finals but it was a monumental effort in Friday that was so special. With Social Media playing its part there were many clubs all over England contacted me to congratulate everyone involved in achieving us to get the game on. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Russell and David and all the football staff and players for what has been achieved over the last season especially winning the league on the last game of the season and runners up in the Les Phillips Cup. By winning the league means that Willand Rovers will be playing in the Southern league next year, not bad for a village club. At the Western league con- vention that club not only collected the premiership trophy we were also awarded the club with the best hospitality plus manager and team of the year. The Devon FA also awarded us for being the most friendly and hospitable in the county. Throughout this summer committee members and volunteers have worked hard on improving our facilities, a new infill perimeter fence has been fitted, a treatment room has been added outside toilets. The pitch has had 60 tonnes of sand spread over plus Verdi drain fertilised and drill seeded all this has been done since May and I would like to thank all involved. To end my report I would like to thank all Sponsors that have contributed to Willand Rovers over last season and hope we can still all work together this season in making it successful as the last. Kit Sponsors must be acknowledge for supplying all training kit, tracksuits which helps the club also thanks to Celia Force who washes the kit voluntarily. Having committee members and volunteers on match days is a must and this coming season will be harder to maintain our very high standards and all I can say is more hands make light work. I would like to thank you all for your help and say where we would be without you. In this report I have not mentioned individuals because there are many but I take this opportunity to thank everyone involved and like to think we all can enjoy next season in the Southern League. Not bad for a village team eh!!!!! Mike Mitchell Chairman Willand Rovers Clubhouse for Hire Why not hold your Wedding Reception, Birthday, Corporate Event NELLIE DAVID RUSSELL WARREN or any other special occasion GREENING STEELE JEE KILLEN Physio Asst Manager Manager Coach Seating with tables for around 100 people and room for a disco with dance floor. Follow us on Twitter Contact 01884-33885 Or use the contact us form on the website @willandrovers www.willandrovers.co.uk Club History Rovers from humble origins to today! Football has been played in Willand for well over 100 years and the first match reports exist from November 1907, when Willand Association Football Club was under the chairmanship of Dr Henry Tracey of the Gables and played their home games at the Pavilion Ground, being the field opposite the Halfway House. The football club was still going strong by the years of the Second World War, when it was known as Willand Wanderers FC. However, a spell in the financial doldrums left Wanderers going out of business and out of the ashes rose Willand Rovers. There were two members from the football club on the committee of Willand United Services Club formed in 1942 to organize wartime social events. During the 2nd World War and for a period of time after wards, the club played home games in Henry Eveleigh’s field which is the land that, these days, is opposite the chip shop in Station Road, Willand. It was in the early 1950′s that the club made the switch to its present home, Silver Street, now known as the Stan Robinson Stadium in deference to its main sponsor, Stan Robinson Transport. In 1972 Willand started the season there against near neighbor’s Tiverton Town in the Premier Division of the Dev- on and Exeter League. Interestingly enough, the K. O. was scheduled for 3.15. (To allow the crowds time to enter?) This season saw the first programme pro- duced for match days with 40% of the proceeds on sales going to a prize draw. It also saw the introduction of a refreshment caravan. Whilst it is not clear what was sold from the caravan, the programme advertisers included current programme advertisers, Willand Service Station and Cafe and Spearing’s Coaches, past stand sponsors, Lloyd Maunder, now 2 Sisters food group and the long departed Railway Inn at the original Tiverton Junction station. For the opening match of 1972-3, the two teams included any number of well- known local football names including, for Willand Rovers, Kenny Freeman and current club chairman, Mike Mitchell whilst Tiverton Town included Colin Cam- pion, a relative of Dave Campion who was to go on and become Secretary of the club in early 21st century, along with Nick Seatherton, whose relative, Mark, was one of the stars of the Rovers Devon County League side in the 90’s. LEGEND SAYS…………………….. Legend has it that the current grandstand was built with timber from the then village hall, which also had to make way for the motorway. Despite the stand, JOHN HOUSE – MATCHDAY ASSISTANT / KIT disaster followed in 1985 when the Devon and Exeter League ruled that the John is a valuable member of the management team, and a true clubman. club did not have adequate facilities to continue to play in the Premier Helping on pitch preparation, kit, match-balls etc. He has been at the club Division and demoted the club to its senior leagues and the reserves went to for over eighteen years, and in earlier times, was a big help to Pat McKe- play in the North Devon League. own with the Reserves. He played Western league football in his playing days and has appeared for Cadbury Heath & Oldland, amongst others. Looking at the club and its facilities now, one has to admire the quick and TERRY ROSE – MATCHDAY ASSISTANT/CO-ORDINATOR (DOB:17/9/1945) positive way the club fought back from this moment of adversity. As a Now a sprightly 74, Terry was a huge Bristol City fan, watching them in measure of the progress the club made at that time, inspired by current their brief flirtation with the old First Division, and a regular season- President and former player and club manager, Peter Ward, “The Rovers” not ticket holder. When they fell away from those dizzy heights, he started only got back into the Premier Division of The Devon and Exeter League, it watching Mangotsfield United, and when he retired from HGV driving in then became one of the founder members of the new Devon County League 2011, he started to help the club out on match days. His help has been in- when it was set up in time for the start of the 1992-3 season.