Jon
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Karma: 0 |  | History of TUFC Reserves - part two
« Thread Started on May 26, 2010, 11:31pm » | |
After TUFC were relegated in 1972, the club came under tremendous financial pressure which led to some swingeing cutbacks early in 1973 including the sacking of the unsackable Don Mills. The reserve team, which had been playing in the Western League, was scrapped at the end of the 1972/73 season.
The plan was to run a side featuring fringe players, trialists and local amateurs in the midweek Western Counties Floodlit League, but the power crisis led to a floodlight ban which meant that we only played three fixtures. A full schedule was completed in 1974/75, but there was no reserve football at all in 1975/76.
In 1976, the Western League created a second division and TUFC entered a youngish side in this for six seasons 1976-82, before the reserves were again scrapped due to another financial crisis.
Dave Webb re-introduced reserve football in 1985, playing both in the South-Western League and in the Macbar Midweek League (later sponsored by Capital Finance & Leasing and Clifton Stockbrokers). TUFC withdrew from the SWL after three seasons, leaving only midweek reserve football in 1988/89.
In 1989, the reserves joined the Western League Combination in addition to the midweek league – this league featured the reserve teams of Western League clubs and wasn’t really strong enough to test our reserves. In 1990, we rejoined the second tier of the Western League proper. After two years, we were promoted to the Premier division of the Western League for the 1992/93 season, but then withdrew from the Western League altogether in 1993.
We remained in the midweek league throughout this time and in 1992 the league was absorbed into the Football Combination – effectively becoming its second division. We played in the Combination for four years before quitting in 1996.
Reserve football had been kept going in the mid-nineties, despite financial pressures, by the creation of a “Reserve Board” which I believe featured two of our current directors – Brian Palk and Alex Rowe.
For two years from 1996 to 1998, there was no competitive reserve football, but the Football Combination Division 2 was re-entered for the 1998-99 season. At the end of that season, the Combination scrapped its second tier, casting its South West teams adrift.
There was no competitive reserve football for another two seasons until an attempt was made to form a South West Reserve League for the 2001/02, but this lasted just one season and only featured four clubs. There has been no competitive reserve football from 2002 until now.
When I say “no competitive reserve football”, I am not counting the Devon St Luke’s Bowl. This competition started in 1997/98 – merging the Devon Pro Bowl and the St Luke’s Cup (previously competed for by Devon-based Western League teams). Although not officially reserve teams, the teams TUFC has fielded in this cup have largely been of a reserve team standard.
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27 August 2010 |
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Barton Downs
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Karma: 0 | | Re: History of TUFC Reserves - part two
« Reply #1 on May 28, 2010, 7:40pm » | |
May 26, 2010, 11:31pm, Jon wrote:| There was no competitive reserve football for another two seasons until an attempt was made to form a South West Reserve League for the 2001/02, but this lasted just one season and only featured four clubs. There has been no competitive reserve football from 2002 until now. |
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I saw one of our games in that league at Taunton Town. I think Sean Hankin and Gary Brabin made their club debuts in the match and Darren Bastow put in his only Taunton appearance.
Would be interesting to see a list of all of our reserve opponents right through from those Southern League trips to Kent and East Anglia to the likes of Bugle, Helston and Teignmouth.
Part one of Jon's histroy would have mentioned the spell in the South Western League in the 1950s. I saw something recently about no Devon team winning the SW League - or the SW Peninsula League - between Torquay United Reserves in 1953 and Buckland Athletic in 2010.
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Jon
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Karma: 0 | | Re: History of TUFC Reserves - part two
« Reply #2 on May 29, 2010, 5:31pm » | |
May 28, 2010, 7:40pm, Barton Downs wrote:| Would be interesting to see a list of all of our reserve opponents right through from those Southern League trips to Kent and East Anglia to the likes of Bugle, Helston and Teignmouth. |
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A few here, off the top of my head:
Aberdare & Aberaman
Aldershot Res.
Andover
Appledore
Arsenal Res.
Ashtonians United
Avon Bradford
Backwell United
Barnstaple Res.
Barnstaple Town
Barry
Bath City
Bath City Res.
Bedford Town
Bideford
Bideford Res.
Birmingham City Res.
Bishop Sutton
Bodmin
Bournemouth Res.
Bovey St Johns
Bridgwater Town
Bridport
Bridport Res.
Brislington
Bristol City Colts
Bristol City Res.
Bristol Manor Farm
Bristol Rovers Colts
Bristol Rovers Res.
Brixham United
Bugle
Calne Town
Cardiff City Res.
Chard Res.
Chard Town
Chelmsford City
Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town Res.
Chingford Town
Chippenham Town
Chippenham Town Res.
Chippenham United
Cinderford Town
Civil Service (Plymouth)
Clandown
Clevedon
Clyst Rovers
CM Dept.
Colchester United
Crediton United
Crownhill
Dartford
Dartmouth
Dawlish Res.
Dawlish Town
Devizes Town
Dorchester Town
Ebbw Vale
Elmore
Elmore Res.
EM Dept.
Exeter City Res.
Exmouth Res.
Exmouth Town
Falmouth
Folkestone
Friernhay
Frome Town
Frome Town Res.
Gillingham
Glastonbury
Gloucester City
Gloucester City Res.
Gravesend & Northfleet
Green Waves
Guildford City
Hastings United
Headington United
Heavitree Res.
Heavitree United
Helston
Hereford United
Hereford United Res.
Hoffman Athletic
Holsworthy
Ilfracombe Res.
Ilfracombe Town
Ilminster Town
Ipswich Town
Ipswich Town Res.
Kettering Town
Keynsham Town
Kidderminster Harriers
Larkhall Athletic
Launceston
Liskeard Athletic
Llanelly
Looe
Lovell's Athletic
Mangotsfield United
Margate
Melksham Town
Merthyr Town
Merthyr Town Res.
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil Res.
Mid Rhondda United
Millbrook
Minehead
Minehead Res.
Newport County
Newport County Res.
Newquay
Newton Abbot (Dynamoes)
Newton Abbot (Spurs)
Newton GWR
Newton Town
Norwich City Res.
Oak Villa
Odd Down
Oreston Rovers
Ottery St.Mary
Paulton Rovers
Peasedown MW
Penryn
Penzance
Plymouth Argyle A
Plymouth Argyle Colts
Plymouth Argyle Res.
Plymouth City
Plymouth United
Plymouth&Stonehouse Gas Co.
Plympton
Poole Town
Poole Town Res.
Portland United
Portway-Bristol
Radstock Town
RFA (Exeter)
RMLI
RN Barracks
RN Torpedo Depot
Royal Marines
Salisbury
Salisbury City
Saltash
Shepton Mallet Town
Shrewsbury Res.
South Molton
South Staffords Regt.
St Austell
St Blazey
St Michaels (Plymouth)
St Thomas (Plymouth)
St.Luke's College
Stonehouse
Street
Swanage Town & Herston
Swansea City Res.
Swindon Town Res.
Taunton
Taunton Res.
Taunton Town
Tavistock
Team Bath Res.
Teignmouth
Tiverton Res.
Tiverton Town
Tonbridge
Topsham
Torpoint
Torrington
Torrington Res.
Trowbridge Town
Trowbridge Town Res.
Truro
Tunbridge Wells Rangers
United Services
Wadebridge
Warminster Town
Wellington FC
Wellington Res.
Wells City
Welton Rovers
Westbury United
Westland-Yeovil
Weston-super-Mare
Weymouth
Weymouth Res.
Wimborne Town
Woodland Villa
Worcester City
Yeovil
Yeovil Res.
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27 August 2010 |
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stefano
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Karma: 0 | | Re: History of TUFC Reserves - part two
« Reply #3 on May 29, 2010, 5:47pm » | |
Hell Jon that's a damned impressive list off the top of your head! My recall is sketchy at the best of times but I do wish that what I recall came out in alphabetical order like yours! Anyway I couldn't think of a single addition to the list. I thought first about the obscure ones ... then checked and they were there!! ![[image]](http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk25/davybeat/well_done.gif "[image]")
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stuartb
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Karma: 0 | | Re: History of TUFC Reserves - part two
« Reply #4 on May 29, 2010, 8:19pm » | |
May 29, 2010, 5:47pm, stefano wrote:| Hell Jon that's a damned impressive list off the top of your head! My recall is sketchy at the best of times but I do wish that what I recall came out in alphabetical order like yours! Anyway I couldn't think of a single addition to the list. I thought first about the obscure ones ... then checked and they were there!! |
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I thought accountants did things numerically 
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Barton Downs
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Karma: 0 | | Re: History of TUFC Reserves - part two
« Reply #5 on May 29, 2010, 9:58pm » | |
May 29, 2010, 5:31pm, Jon wrote:
A few here, off the top of my head:
Aberdare & Aberaman
Aldershot Res.
Andover
Appledore
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I hope that's one Jon prepared earlier before the show. Otherwise I'm feeling guilty about taking so much of his Saturday.
A mightily impressive list, sir. I hadn't realised we gone as far north as Birmingham City Reserves. My guess is it must be one of the most diverse lists of any Football League club (along with Exeter City).
One or two new opponents next season - all being well - although there must be some doubts about the planned participation of Salisbury and Forest Green (one or the other but probably not both?).
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powles1
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Karma: 0 | | Re: History of TUFC Reserves - part two
« Reply #6 on Aug 1, 2010, 6:39am » | |
Note this History of the Reserves - part two. Where can I find part one?
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Dave
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Karma: 0 | | Re: History of TUFC Reserves - part two
« Reply #7 on Aug 1, 2010, 1:46pm » | |
Aug 1, 2010, 6:39am, powles1 wrote:| Note this History of the Reserves - part two. Where can I find part one? |
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Hi powles1 nice to see you posting on the TFF, I have looked at all the threads on this board and can't find a part one, I'm sure Jon will explain when he is next on why he called this thread part two
Dave
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Jon
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Karma: 0 | | Re: History of TUFC Reserves - part two
« Reply #8 on Aug 1, 2010, 11:21pm » | |
Aug 1, 2010, 6:39am, powles1 wrote:| Note this History of the Reserves - part two. Where can I find part one? |
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It's here :
http://torquayfansforum.com/index.cgi?ac....ory&thread=5962
I was going to do the whole lot in one, but thought it was too lengthy. I did part two first as someone had asked the question when we had last played competitive reserve football, so I picked up from 1973. I hadn't got round to doing the first part - and I don't think anyone had missed it until you asked!
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