Page 21 - Ashton & Backwell FC v Mousehole 220122

Today’s Visitors

progress in an ambitious, financially sound and sustainable way. This included major
development of the ground facilities, support for the First 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 a 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.