Page 29 - Keynsham Town FC v Mousehole 230422

Team to climb up the League ladder, and the creation of a Youth Academy.
To kick-start this bold approach, Trungle Parc hosted a talented Leeds
United XI followed later by a weekend tournament involving the youth
teams of Bolton Wanderers, Huddersfield Town, and Newcastle United.
The First Team has been promoted twice in recent seasons through FA re-
structuring of the National League System, on both occasions as a result of
a superior playing record, and compliance with ground-grading
requirements.
In 2019-20 the club rose to its highest-ever level – the SWPL Premier
Division (Step 6 of the NLS) – and in two subsequent seasons finished in
fourth and first place before each of those campaigns was ended
prematurely by the coronavirus pandemic.
In October 2019, RNLI Coxswain Patch Harvey along with the Penlee
Lifeboat Crew formally switched on the new floodlights for the very first
evening floodlit game at Trungle, with Porthleven the visitors. Mousehole
AFC’s association with the RNLI dates back to 1922, and the club is a
regular fund-raising contributor to the organisation. In December 2021 the
club plans to commemorate officially its new stand, named after the
Solomon Browne lifeboat involved in the local Penlee Lifeboat tragedy of 40
years ago.
The 2021-22 season started with the First Team promoted to the Western
League Premier Division (Step 5), based on the two previous seasons’
points-per-game data – an outstanding pre-centenary achievement brought
about by the hard work and positive outlook of everyone both on and off
the field.
Mousehole is the most westerly club in the NLS, situated nine miles from
Lands’ End (or six miles as the seagull flies). From playing only in the west
half of Cornwall at the turn of the century, the First Team now competes
against teams across Devon, Somerset, Dorset and South Gloucestershire,
with an annual travel distance of over 5000 miles.
The benefits of the club’s modern coaching approach are in evidence
throughout its teams. The Development Team, a stepping-stone between
the Youth Academy and the First Team, are now members of the St. Piran
League (in effect, Step 7), the Women’s Team are a major force in the
Cornwall Women’s League, and some 300 Youth members are enjoying
success in 13 teams across the age range. An enterprising attitude to the
development of the club as a whole has resulted in solid foundation of
earned income from a variety of sources (including a thriving camp site), a
smart stadium with good clubhouse and spectator accommodation, and a
superb playing surface, with further ‘infrastructure’ improvements
continuously on the agenda. Many of the current group of volunteers who
contribute to the work of Mousehole AFC have a
long-standing association with the club as players, officers, family members
or supporters.