Cold & Inhospitable

Taunton Town  1  Bideford  0

Friendly

It’s hard to imagine that you’ll walk away from one of ‘your’ clubs games, and then, for a variety of reasons, not return for almost four years to watch another match?

Well that’s what happened to me, when I returned to Christchurch Meadow, Belper, in February 1994, it was the first time since 1990 that I’d been to a game. The reason was simple, a combination of University and a season ticket at Derby County proved to be the distraction that kept me away.

I’m still not sure what made me go back in that February, probably purely a big game factor, for it was the Fifth Round of the FA Vase, and the might of Taunton Town were the visitors.

Memories of the day?

A big crowd of over 1000, lot’s of away fans, a very good Taunton side lead by goalscoring machine Andy Perrett, some argy-bargy on the terraces that saw a brown ale bottle thrown at a visiting player, and a hasty exit by Taunton at the end who felt it better to get out of dodge, sharpish.

In fact, the Somerset press the following week described the visit to Belper as ‘cold and inhospitable’, and I wouldn’t argue with that observation based on what I saw that day.

It’s the one and only time I’ve watched Taunton Town play, which given the clubs rich history, is perhaps something of a surprise, but, given that they fell nicely onto the list of options for our Summer holiday, being based in nearby Barnstaple, a visit became something of a must.

More on the ground and the game shortly, but what about the club?

A Western League side since the late Sixties, they made the move to the Southern League in 1977 where they remained until 1983 when restructuring made it financially un-viable to compete at that level given the travelling involved.

A return West came and there they remained until 2002, when after a sequence of four championships, four runners up and a third place in nine seasons saw them go back to the Southern League again. It was like a two man show in the Western League with Tiverton Town for many seasons, the rivalry was intense as they perennially battled for honours.

Oh, the Vase, yes, a win in 2001 at Villa Park, a loss in 1994 to Diss at Wembley (after beating Belper on the way) along with two semi-finals, demonstrated that this was one very capable football club competing outside of what is now Steps 1 to 4.

The Southern League years were initially steady rather than spectacular, until 2015 when they lost in the Play Offs, only to then lose again the following two seasons, Stratford Town, Banbury United and ironically Tiverton Town being their conquerors.

In 2018 they won the league and with it gained promotion to the Premier Division, while last season they looked odds on to make it back to back promotions to the National League South, but dropped points in the run in combined with Weymouth’s superb form saw them pipped. The Play Offs beckoned, Poole Town got the better of them, so despite being runners up, it ended disappointingly.

Barnstaple to Taunton is an hours run, bypassing South Molton, Tiverton, and then getting on the M5 for a couple of junctions. Taunton is a big town, and as you enter the floodlight pylons at Somerset County Cricket Club dominate the skyline before you turn right and head down to Wordsworth Drive, the home of the football club.

The visitors for the Monday night fixture were ‘neighbouring’ Bideford, which by Devon standards is a local derby, but Bideford is several miles the other side of Barnstaple, so I guess this demonstrates the logistical and financial considerations clubs in Devon and especially Cornwall have to consider before moving up to Step 4.

Wordsworth Drive is a lovely, traditional, non-league football ground, with a shallow seated stand running the length of the touchline as you enter through the turnstiles in the corner. Both goals have cover behind them with terracing steps beneath, while on the opposite side of the ground is a smaller seated stand with the newly refurbished clubhouse and hospitality area adjacent.

The dressing rooms are located in the corner behind the East goal, with the club shop and tea bar also sat behind this goal. The pitch was superb by the way, as you would expect. The signage was new, it was colourful and it was sharp, the whole ground smacked of tidiness and of pride, it also smacked of a club that has plenty of volunteers as well.

The game, for a friendly, was very competitive, and to be fair to Bideford who sit a league below in the pyramid, they put up a very good show, but Taunton I felt had the edge throughout. The game looked to be heading for a goalless draw until the 89^th minute when Jack Rice scored a cracking goal from the edge of the penalty area.

I’ll be honest, I really enjoyed visiting Taunton Town, a cracking club, well supported (350 or so at this game but double for some league games), a lovely ground and a very professional and positive outlook.

A far cry from cold and inhospitable Belper, which I can assure those who visited that day from Somerset, has changed considerably!