BARNSTAPLE TOWN (Mill Road)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH, BARNSTAPLE TOWN 3-2 SLIMBRIDGE AFC, ATTENDANCE: 206

After spending the previous evening in Almondsbury, today I found myself heading further south in my continuing quest to complete all the grounds of all four divisions of the Southern League. Final destination this afternoon was North Devon or Mill Road, the home of Barnstaple Town, to be move precise. 

This would move me into single figures regards grounds now needed but this could be moot by the end of this season as Barnstaple are currently rooted to the foot of the table, with just one win all season, and staring relegation back to the Western League full in the face.

Before the excitement of the game, I had time to walk over the long bridge and explore the historic town. Barnstaple was once a hub of commercial trading with a bustling port which exported worldwide its wares of wool and pottery, whilst importing spices, wine and tobacco. The port is gone but the Queen Anne building, which was built on the Quay, and completed in 1713, still stands.

There is the famous Victorian Pannier Market which still trades today. There is also the site of Barnstaple Castle which was built around the 11th or 12th century and which stood until falling into disrepair around 1274 before becoming a ruin by 1326. It finally collapsed in 1601. It is now a tree covered motte. From here it was a 10 minute walk, crossing the River Yeo, to Barnstaple Town's rather splendid Mill Road ground.

The Football club have played here since it was established in 1904 as Pilton Yeo Vale. They were founder members of the North Devon League in the same year, when they went on to be the leagues inaugural champions in 1905. That year they changed their name to Barnstaple Town.

The club have spent most of their history in either the North Devon League, the Exeter and District League or the Western League. Barnstaple have won the Western League twice but in 2016 they finished runners-up to gain promotion to the Southern League (at step 4) for the first time in their history. 

The team are nicknamed Barum, which is a contraction of the Latin form of the name Barnstaple, ad Barnastapolitum. As touched upon earlier, it has been a season of struggle for Barum with just a solitary victory before this afternoon.

A new manager, Craig Laird, was appointed in mid-January, who has made a plethora of new signings, as the club attempt to pull off a minor miracle by retaining their place in the Southern League. Before kick off, Barum were 11 points adrift of safety with 10 games to play. This afternoon's visitors from Gloucestershire, Slimbridge AFC, are also in the lower reaches of the table but appear safe from any immediate trouble. 

It was vital that wins started to come quickly for Barnstaple and today they got just that.

After the rain of the previous 24 hours had left the pitch heavy and muddy in parts, credit must go to both teams who did very well to produce an excellent game to watch. There were opportunities for both sides in the opening exchanges but it was Slimbridge who looked the more threatening as the half wore on. It came as no surprise when Will Hawes headed home on 25 minutes to give The Swans the lead.

Within two minutes the homesters were level. was fouled in the area and Owen Howe stepped up to score from the penalty spot (pictured left). This certainly lifted Barum and it was fair that both teams went in level at the break.

The half-time team talk in the Barnstaple dressing room must have been inspiring as they came out for the second half and really took the game to Slimbridge. After 47 minutes a cross into the box was headed home by Brodie Montague to give Barum the lead. It got better eight minutes later when Howe scored his second, collecting the ball on the edge of the area before turning and unleashing a shot into the top corner. A superb strike.

There were further opportunities for Barnstaple to extend their lead but were not taken and when Nathan Dennis scored for Slimbridge in the 88th minute to make it 3-2  you felt Barum could rue those missed opportunities.

The board then went up showing 6 minutes of stoppage time and you could certainly sense the anxiety in the crowd. Slimbridge repeatedly launched the ball into the mix in search of an equaliser but Barnstaple managed to hold on to secure an important, and necessary, three points. Could this be the start of a great escape? Time will tell...

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My beloved Everton played a mid-season friendly against Barnstaple Town in February 1991. The Toffees won 2-0 thanks to goals from Mike Newell and Marcus Ebdon. I never made it to Mill Road that night but, after nearly 31 years I finally have done now!

BEDFORD TOWN (The New Eyrie)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE CENTRAL, BEDFORD TOWN 1-0 St NEOTS TOWN, ATTENDANCE: 657

Wishing you and yours a very happy and prosperous New Year.

For me 2022 began with a trip to Bedfordshire and the Southern League clash between Bedford and St Neots.

This was a bit of trek for me for a New Year's Day, so why Bedford? Is there any rhyme or reason to this groundhopping lark? Well, with the FA Cup looming large on the horizon for my beloved Everton, this presented an opportunity to step back in time and connect with a small piece of blue football history.

Everton won the FA Cup in 1966 and en-route to the final they were drawn away at Bedford Town in the 4th Round. The Toffees won 3-0 courtesy of goals from Fred Pickering and Derek Temple (x2). The tie resulted in Bedford Town's record crowd attendance of 18,407.

I was very happy to pick up a copy of the programme from the Everton game in Bedford Town's superb heritage centre at the ground.

That game was played at Bedford's old ground, in Queens Park which was demolished after the club folded in 1982, after the lease on the ground was terminated. Bedford Town were resurrected in 1989 and a new ground was built in the village of Cardington, on the outskirts of Bedford, after the reformed club initially played on a pitch in Queen's Park.

The New Eyrie, with a capacity of 3,000, opened in 1993 with a friendly against Peterborough United. It was a full house and that remains the record attendance at this ground. Prior to 1982, Bedford were a major force in the Southern League, winning the title in 1959.

Since they reformed the highest level the club has reached is the Conference South, but they finished rock bottom and were relegated back to the Southern League. This season the club are competing in the Southern League Division One Central (step four in the National League system).

After heavy rain in the previous days, the match was played on a very heavy pitch. Most of the chances that came by went either high or wide and, in truth, neither goalkeeper was properly tested. 

It was The Eagles who dominated the majority of play and carved out the best opportunities and St Neots held out for 54 minutes against the league leaders before eventually conceding, Rene Howe heading home from close range. Two minutes later The Saints were reduced to 10 men, Charlie Johnson shown a red card and that was effectively that.

Bedford however couldn't find that elusive second goal and the final moments of the game a defensive mix-up nearly gifted the visitors an equaliser but The Eagles held on to begin 2022 top of the table.

As well as the programme shop, I must also mention the tea hut in the corner of the ground where a cuppa with a slice of homemade bread and butter pudding was a bargain £1.20.

A most pleasant way to start a New Year!

AFC TOTTON (Testwood Park)

SOUTHERN LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH, AFC TOTTON 3-0 BARNSTAPLE TOWN, ATT: 326

I travelled down to the south coast for some Southern League entertainment as AFC Totton got their season underway with a home game against Barnstaple Town at Testwood Park.

For once, it was a trouble free journey down the M5 and the A34, so I arrived in plenty of time to get into the ground. I had pre-purchased my ticket beforehand and my temperature was checked before I was allowed entry. I was made up that The Stags flew in the face of the current trend and produced a physical programme rather than an online issue.

Testwood Park is less than a decade old, having been opened in 2011 after the club moved from their original ground of the same name. The club celebrated their debut season at their new ground by winning promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. Having beeing founded in 1886, this was the highest step they had ever reached in the non-league pyramid. Their sojourn last three season before relegation in 2014.

Previously the club had been long time members of the Hamshire League and were also founder members of the Weesex League in 1986, finally winning the championship in 2008. As members of the Wessex League, AFC Totton reached the FA Vase Final at Wembley in 2007, losing out 3-1 to Truro City.

     

I visited the original Testwood Park back in 2008, as part of an Easter Monday treble and it is safe to say the new ground is a massive upgrade. The ground has a capacity of 3,500 and has a large seated main stand on one side, a bench-seated stand on the other side and elevated terraces behind each goal and at either side of the seats.

Southampton Women play their home games at Testwood and a few yards next door is the home ground of Totton and Eling, who play in the Wessex League division one.

     

     

The game was dominated by the home side and, after missing a few half chances, they effectively sealed the victory with two goals just before half time. Jack Masterton (41) opened the scoring with a neat shot, before Mitchell Byrne (45) doubled The Stags advantage in stoppage time.

Mitchell Byrne heads home to make it 2-0 to Totton

The second half was largely unevenful as Barnstaple's efforts to drag themselves back into the game quickly faded and it became very comfortable for Totton. However it wasn't until the 85th minute the home sides third goal arrived, with Criag Feeney firing home, to add some deserved gloss to the scoreline.

     

     

                                                                       

Here are some images from my visit to the original Testwood Park on Easter Monday 2008. The Stags, who were then in the Wessex League Premier Division, beat Romsey Town 2-0 in front of a crowd of 255.