Truro City boss Steve Massey 'embarrassed' by FA Cup display

Truro City boss Steve Massey has branded his players as "an embarrassment to the club" after their 3-2 FA Cup defeat by Brislington.

Massey said the result, coupled with recent performances, meant that some "big decisions" needed to be made in terms of strengthening the squad.
The White Tigers have pursued a policy of bringing in young local talent after financial difficulties.

"The players have let everybody down," Massey told BBC Radio Cornwall.
"It was hugely disappointing - we had a great following and we let everybody down. They were an embarrassment to the club with the result.
"It was a game which was there to be won. We took the lead twice and in the end put in a very, very disappointing performance."

Truro took a 2-1 lead into half-time and a furious Massey questioned the attitude of some of his players.
"I have to say that our body language wasn't good when we conceded the [equalising] goal," he said.
“I have to get players in and that means players leaving”

Truro City boss Steve Massey

"And in the last five minutes we allowed the guy to run right through the middle of us and cost us the game.

"It's been individual mistakes - you ask people to do jobs, they either switch off in concentration or at the other end they don't take the chances. We can't legislate on the sidelines for that or for not putting a tackle in or reading a situation."

Massey said the club may need to rethink their recruitment policy and suggested some players could be moved out of the club, who currently sit 18th in the table after losing their last three league games.
"In the end it comes down to individual players and this is where big decisions will be made," he added.
"Quite clearly, some of the players here are not good enough - if they were, we would be having much better performances.
"I've protected them and tried to give them the confidence and they're prepared probably better than anybody else in terms of the travel to games - the chairman's done us proud on that but they've not risen to the occasion on the pitch.
"Big decisions need to be made and will be made but I have to get players in and that means players leaving.
"There's enough talent but unfortunately when you're on a bad run is that confidence ebbs away and at this moment in time our body language has been poor and we're making very, very elementary mistakes - if they keep making them then maybe it's time for a change."

Massey said he understood that his own position would also come into question but insisted he would turn results around.

"We're not winning - I understand people's frustration but I'm the right man for the job," he said.

"There's no one hurting or more frustrated than me."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24333685

Truro City 0 Frome Town 2 - How it looked from a Frome Perspective

Tuesday 24th September 2013 Calor League Southern Premier Division Truro City 0 Frome Town 2 Frome Scorers: Laville (47p), Cooper (78) Truro  Scorers: None Crowd: 244 Star Man: Mark Cooper Entertainment Value: 4

When the going gets tough the tough get going, and this was certainly true of Frome Town in this match as they battled poor form, lack of players and management and dug deep to record a hugely impressive 2-0 win against Truro City in deepest Cornwall. With the geography of the Southern Premier League being what it is, Frome Town made the long trip to Truro City on a Tuesday evening as they are the third closest club to the Cornish side, even though the combined round trip comes to 324 miles and around seven hours of travelling.

With some players unable to arrange time off work, Frome were grateful to Welton Rovers for allowing the registration and release of long time Frome stalwart Jack Metcalf to go straight into the side as a central defender, and the way he played it looked as if he’d been playing at this level for a long time. The game got off to a bright start as the 2nd minute saw Frome’s Ben Wood clean through on goal until he was flattened by a barge in the back, with the referee apparently seeing nothing untoward, and a minute later Truro had the ball in the back of the net only for it to be disallowed for an offside.

 Frome moved into a really good spell after this as a great cross field ball by Mark Cooper found Ryan Laville who controlled it superbly and drilled ball across the box, winning a corner. the Wood created a great chance as he got in behind the last defender but his shot from a tight angle went wide of the goal. The 16th minute saw Wood set up Will Agbo with a ball back from edge of area,  but the former Yeovil winger’s  effort went just over the angle of the post and bar with former Robin Ollie Chenowith helpless. Truro came back however, and Cooper did well to turn a cross behind for a corner, then Darren Chitty did well to save low down from a long range effort from another former Robin Jordan Copp. On the half hour, Chitty again proved what a fine keeper he is with a superb save to deny Seb Brookfield tipping over from distance, and Truro probably had the best of the few minutes before the break as a 25 yard shot from Copp flew past the post and the Jon Eddy put the ball just wide on the stroke of half time.

With the score 0-0 at half time, and Jack Metcalf having settled into role with ease, the second half started in the best possible way for Frome as Wood was hauled down in the box by Chenoweth, with the referee only showing a yellow to the keeper when a red must have been a distinct possibility. Laville stepped up and confidently sent Chenoweth the wrong way for his first goal for Frome from Frome’s first penalty of the season. Stung by the goal, Truro struck back and Chitty performed at almost impossible levels as he made three fantastic stops when it seemed certain that Truro would score, and when the dust had settled he needed lengthy treatment after the last brave stop.

On the hour, Frome carved out another great chance as Laville rolled the ball to Ledgister whose great through ball to Cooper saw the left back shoot straight at Chenoweth, but after another couple of great Chitty saves and a moment of comedy when the ball hit the sprinkler system and soaked the Frome bench.

 Cooper finally had his well deserved moment as good play from Bryan Smith and Aaron Ledgister led to him shooting under the home keeper to make the score 2-0 to Frome. Chitty brought off another great save in the 80th minute to push away a Matt Andrew shot from distance, Cooper received an unpunished assault that laid him out for a while. but the team battled well to preserve their advantage, and, all things considered, this was one massively impressive performance, which hopefully will lead to a good run of from in the league.

The H&B Tyres Man of the Man Award was awarded to Mark Cooper, though, on a night like this there were 11 heroes out there, and any one of them could have won the award

http://www.frometownfc.co.uk/reports/truro_away.htm

Match Report Ftom ST Neots

ST NEOTS TOWN        2       TRURO CITY      0

 

A goal in each half and a second clean defensive sheet in a row were the main ingredients of this St Neots victory that lifted them several more places up the league table.   Added to this they missed a penalty so the final score line adequately sums up this match against a spirited visiting Truro side.   For the first time this season Manager Iain Parr named an unchanged starting line up but they found positive progress against a stubborn visiting side difficult to achieve in the early stages of the match.   However their confidence seems higher after the recent improvement in their results and this bodes well for their FA Cup trip to Canvey Island next week.   An injury to inspirational midfield player Adrian Sear could be a worry ahead of the cup match but Ryan Sharman filled in effectively and with Niall Conroy looking good in goal and Dan Crowie and skipper Gavin Hoyte in solid form at the heart of the defence it was a very satisfactory and deserved victory.

Truro carved out the first chance but Matt Andrews’ downward header to a Cody Cook cross was confidently handled by Conroy.   It was twenty minutes before St Neots had a clear chance and then they were unlucky not to score when a powerful Liam Hurst volley hit the goalkeeper on the line with him unable to move.   However he made up for that a minute later when he saved well from Lewis Hilliard.   The departure of the injured Adrian Sear seemed to halt St Neots forward moves and after an unlucky defensive deflection Les Afful fired well over the bar.   However St Neots grew in confidence and Liam Hurst skilfully rounded goalkeeper Ollie Chenoweth but White got back to clear off the goal line.   Alasan Ann had few openings but he did bring one important save from Chenoweth but after 38 minutes St Neots went ahead as Liam Hurst took a clever reverse pass from Hilliard and moved inside to beat the keeper at his near post with a low shot.   On the stroke of half time it should have been 2-0 when St Neots were awarded a penalty kick after Cook had handled a corner.  Hilliard struck the kick well but the keeper guessed right and pushed a spot kick away.

Several early second half substitutions by both sides seemed to pep up the pace with Truro striker Liam Eddy proving a thorn in the side of the home defence.   Conroy saved well from his rising shot but only five minutes after his introduction St Neots substitute Karl Safee wriggled into the penalty area showing great persistence to collect a Hilliard flick and he forced the ball in to make the score 2-0.   Another St Neots, substitute Dion Sembie-Ferris tested Chenoweth but St Neots looked comfortably in control until Matt Andrew his a fine shot from outside the penalty area that rebounded from the junction of bar and post to be scrambled clear twelve minutes from time.   Eddy saw his shot deflected across the face of goal as Truro strained to get back in the match but St Neots were to have the last word with Jay Davies moving through the defence to fire just over the bar.

 

St Neots: Conroy, Nkinga, Steer, Davies, Crowie, Hoyte, Hilliard, Sear, Hurst, Ann, Adjei

Subs:  Sharman (for Sear 22 mins), Sembie-Ferris (for Ann 56 mins), Safee (for Hurst 69 mins), Taylor and Wood.

Cards: Sharman (Y – 68)

Goals: Hurst (38 mins), Safee (73 mins)

 

Truro: Chenoweth, Cook, Swain, Evans, White, Broad, Brokenshire, Sims, Afful, Andrew, Slateford

Subs:  Eddy (for Sims 64 mins), Copp (for Brokenshire 64 mins), Broomfield (for Afful 72 mins), and Ash.

Cards: Broad (Y – 30), Afful (Y – 32), Cook (Y – 45),White (Y – 84)

Goals: none

 

Attendance: 307

 

Referee:  Paul Evans (Northampton)

 

http://www.stneotstownfc.co.uk/view_match/1365.html

Truro City's Treyew Road ground could become 'major food store'

A major food store could be built at Truro City's Treyew Road ground, according to documents seen by the BBC.

They reveal that London-based property investment firm Helical Bar has been working to satisfy the "requirements of a major food store operator".

The documents also say proposals for a 60,000 sq ft (5,575 sq m) retail park on an adjoining site are "in hand".

The football club, which is facing financial difficulties, sold the ground for £2.28m in July of last year.
Deal with creditors
The documents seen by the BBC also reveal that Helical Bar intends to submit a planning application this autumn.

According to its website, Helical Bar "aims to deliver market-leading returns by acquiring high-yielding investment properties".

Earlier this year Truro City Football Club chairman Pete Masters told the BBC that Helical Bar would probably want to develop the land, and that the club may well have to find a new ground in the next two years.

Truro's debt problems stem from the regime of former owner and chairman Kevin Heaney.

Under his leadership Truro were promoted five times in six years. They also won the 2007 FA Vase. But Mr Heaney went bankrupt in 2012.

In June Truro City's owners agreed a deal with all the club's creditors.

A Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) was arranged which took debts of up to £4.5m down to about £80,000.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cornwall-24202732

Brislington Away Travel - Update

We have had only a small number of members who have indicated their wish to travel with TISA to Brislington next week. This is probably a combination of several TISA members being unable to travel next week and TCFC putting on a 52 seater coach at £15 a head including a free scarf.

Clearly we don't want our members to be at a disadvantage and we also want to support the club in their attempt to arrange affordable travel to away games so, we have advised those people who put their names down with for TISA travel, to travel with the official supporters coach but that if for any reason they are unable or decide not to do so they are guaranteed to travel as normal with TISA for £20. Hopefully everyone will have a great day out next weekend.

TISA - Always There!

Truro City drawn against Brislington FC

Truro City have been drawn against Bristol outfit Brislington FC in the FA Cup second round qualifier.  The tie will be held on Saturday 28th September.

Brislington beat Wells on Saturday 2-1 who previously beat Bodmin Town 3-2.

Truro City have never reached the 3rd round and perhaps this year may be the start of a run.  Needless to say, the £4500 pot for the winner would certainly be worth the effort.

Brislington's own form so far in the Western Premier league has been average (similar to ours), sitting 11th in the league, seven games played with nine points to show.

Frome Town match Tues 17th Sept postponed

The scheduled Tuesday evening game against Frome Town has been postponed due to their FA Cup replay at Bognor Regis this Wednesday.  Frome managed a 90th minute equaliser.

Eddy's last gasp stunner earns Truro City FA Cup win (by Rhod Mitchell - West Briton)

West Briton link

Truro City 1 Street 0

A sensational 89th minute goal by City substitute Liam Eddy settled a drab FA Cup first qualifying round tie at Treyew Road.


Liam striking the ball that gave him his first City goal (image courtesy Vaughan Pickhaver)

A poor game looked to be heading for a replay in Somerset on Tuesday evening, when former Helston striker Eddy shot from 30-yards, giving Street keeper Nathan Whatley no chance as it flew into the top corner.

It was Eddy’s first goal for the club and was worthy of winning any match.

The goal was out of keeping with what had gone before on a windy afternoon.

Both keepers had enjoyed a quiet time in what was a very scrappy encounter, as the Western League premier division visitors frustrated City for long periods.

In the first half, the best chance had fallen to the Somerset side just before half time, when City lost possession in their own half but Ollie Chenoweth saved well at his near post from Jack Malone.

City had huffed and puffed but were too often let down by their final ball.

At the start of the second half Seb Bromfield forced Whatley into an instinctive point blank save following a free-kick but it was rare goal threat from the home side.

The introduction of Eddy did give City a lift and he had a couple of half chances before finally breaking the deadlock in stunning style.

Liam Eddy at the Street game. (image by Vaughan Pickhaver)

It was the only really memorable moment of the game but City will just have been pleased to get through to the next round in two weeks’ time.

City gave a debut to new signing Jamie Lowry who made an impressive beginning to his City career.

Truro are next in action on Saturday, when they travel to play St Neots Town in the Calor League premier division, after Tuesday's scheduled home game with Frome Town was postponed as the Somerset side drew their FA Cup tie 1-1 against Bognor Regis, with the replay taking place on Wednesday.

City: Chenoweth; Lowry, Kendall, White, Swain; Cooke, Andrew (Brokenshire 87), Broad, Slateford (Eddy 67); Broomfield (Afful 87), Sims.

Subs (unused): Copp.

Yellow card: Sims.

Street: Whatley; Hollands, Craig Mawford, Amghar, Clifford-Jones, Truckle, Malone, Matthew Hurley, Salter, Tom Hurley (Jack Mawford 67), Pearse (Flatley 64).
Subs (not used): Hunt, Begg, Perkins (GK).

Goals: Eddy (88) 1-0.
Crowd: 365
Referee: Andrew Quin (Plymouth).
City Man of the match: Liam Eddy.

We know what it costs, but what's it worth?

A very worthwhile read from Rookery Mike of Chesham; Mike gives an account of his Non League Day out at Chesham vs Truro City.

Fromtherookeryend Link courtesy Mike.

In the wake of the BBC’s annual report into the cost of football, most of you will have used their handy calculator to work out exactly how much we spend on football. And then probably wished you hadn’t.

 

Despite what are often eye-watering prices (Hello Ipswich!), supporters continue to flock to grounds and I don’t think it’s just us Watford fans that have been waiting for the end of the International break so we can head back to Vicarage Road and spend more of our hard earned cash supporting our team. Why then, despite it costing us a small fortune, do we do it?

 

I’ll tell you. It’s not about the cost. It’s about the value.

 

As with all the best things, it is hard to articulate exactly why football is so enjoyable. You either get it, or you don’t. You can feel it or you can’t. On top of that, if you asked a cross section of football fans about their favourite aspect of the game, you’d get countless different responses. The answer to what is so good about football is that there is no answer. It just is.

 

My view was backed up last Saturday. That afternoon, I  joined hordes of other football supporters in attending a game at my local non-league club, playing my own small part in non-league day. The fixture I went to was Chesham United V Truro City. It was a good game, with some excellent goals and Chesham continued their fablous start to the season with a well deserved 4-2 win.  Despite a six goal bonanza, it was what I saw on the terraces that really got me. Behind one of the goals was a band of 50 or so noisy supporters from Truro.
 

I’ll say that again. 50 supporters from Truro. That’s Truro in Cornwall.

 

To put it into some sort of context, that’s a round trip of over 550 miles. A minimum journey time of five hours. EACH WAY. 550 miles and ten hours in the car to see your team in the Calor League Premier Division. It’s as impressive as it is bonkers.

 

The intrepid group generated an impressive noise throughout, despite what was unfolding before them and at the final whistle they sang their team’s name proudly as the players trudged over to acknowledge them. They’d lost, but that wasn’t the point. They’d been there and they’d loved it. Their team had been heavily defeated and their journey home was going to take 60 times longer than mine, but they were undoubtedly the happier. They’d done their bit and had enjoyed themselves. It was mission accomplished.

 

It will have cost those travelling fans a fair few quid, but the value they got from the trip is immeasurable. They were at the game watching their team. It’s all that counts.

 

Price is a problem. Football is (in most cases) too expensive. People that want to go are often unable to and one day I hope this will be successfully addressed. That day at Chesham however was reaffirming for me. It reminded me just how much football is worth to so many. It’s why so many of us keep going back.

It’s football. It’s brilliant.

Come on you Horns!

City Alerts - Massey's pre match Street AFC comments

FA Cup day is approaching fast and all the excitement that it entails. 

TCFC host Street AFC in the First qualifying round on the long road to Wembley.

As many of the FA Cup games being played in any round, there is always a David and Goliath situation and Saturday's game at Treyew Road is no exception.

City, playing two divisions higher than their  unbeaten visitors Street, who boast a 100% league and cup record this season, will on paper at least, be expected to win.

However, the cup over the years is littered with upsets and already Street have knocked out higher league opposition in the last round in Paulton Rovers. 

TCFC boss Steve Massey knows his team is in for a real tough game. "The lads are very aware of how good a side Street are.  We will not be underestimating them one little bit."

Having never been past the 2nd qualifying round of the cup in their history [Truro], Massey knows and hopes this could be the year to put that hoodoo to bed: "There is a huge amount riding on this game, not just the financial gains, but who knows where and what a couple of wins in this competition can do for club and players confidence."  Finally, finishing off with "the dream is very much alive to put Cornwall on the footballing map for FA Cup football. Street are going to bring coach loads of supporters hoping for a great day out".

Commenting on Truro's great Cornish support,  he went on to say "we have the best and noisiest fans in the league by far, we need our fans on Saturday, and between us make sure we are firmly in the hat for the next round."

New signing Jamie Lowry makes his debut, while ever present Dan Evans sits out a one match ban for being sent off against Bideford. Both Les Afful and Jake Ash will have late tests on their injuries.

Jamie Lowry signs for Truro City (City Alerts, by Peter Masters Thu 12th Sept)

Truro City’s new Cornish signing!

 

We are pleased to announce that we have today registered Jamie Lowry to play for us after a short spell with Tiverton Town. Jamie is an experienced player having made over 120 appearances in the professional game. Jamie’s previous clubs include Crewe Alexandra, Chesterfield and Plymouth Argyle. Jamie can play in many positions but mainly as a defender. Jamie is a Cornishman, another home grown player and will be available for selection on Saturday.

 

Peter Masters

Chairman

*********************************************************************

 

JAMIE LOWRY - Bio, courtesy Greens on Screen LINK HERE

Born: 18 March 1987, Newquay, Cornwall.

Came from: Chesterfield  
Went to: Released

First game: 23 October 2012  
Last game: 12 January 2013

Appearances: 11 (7/4) 
Goals: 0

Lowry was born in Newquay in 1987 but escaped the attentions of his local professional club, instead joining Chesterfield in 2003 after his grandfather, a Chesterfield resident, recommended him for a trial. In 2006, after completing his scholarship and impressing for the youth team, he was offered a two-year professional contract. He made his full debut during the 2006-07 campaign, and over the following two seasons became an established member of the first-team.

 

Early in his career Lowry played at right-back, or as a right-sided midfielder, but later moved into a central midfield position. In October 2009 he suffered a cruciate knee ligament injury and spent 16 months on the sidelines. Unable to force his way back into the Spireites side, he moved on loan to Crewe Alexandra in November 2011, and made ten appearances in a two-month spell, before being recalled to the B2net Stadium. Lowry was released by Chesterfield at the end of the 2011-12 campaign, having played more than 120 times for the club, scoring eleven goals, and signed for Argyle in July 2012, following a short trial. Unfortunately, his Home Park career got off to a bad start when he suffered ankle ligament damage in a pre-season friendly at Truro City, meaning he would miss the start of the new season.

Joe Broad action shot against Chesham Utd.

I took this shot last week at Chesham.  Its an unusual shot of Joe Broad inside the 18 yard box in full flight.  Broady doesn't normally venture this far forward but circumstances on Saturday demanded it.   For those of you who keep a "scrap book" of images, the first shot is high resolution and can be right-clicked for full size printing. Double click on on it to blow it up.

Image by Steve Rogers.

City Alerts: Chesham United/2nd Team Match Tuesday Night/England Game/Real Ales etc. £2.00 per Pint

Following the trip to Chesham via an overnight stay near Heathrow, the 4-2 defeat and news that Bideford had beat Bedford 4-0, it was a very long journey Home. The positives I took from the weekend were the super team spirit matched only by our supporter’s enthusiasm.

 

As for the match itself I admit that I was apprehensive from the moment I woke up on Saturday morning as in my mind this was the “where we are game”, as it turned out we played some very good football having Chesham chasing around on numerous occasions but a couple of mistakes put us on the back foot and there was sadly no way back.

 

Importantly we never gave up and continued to press forward right to the very end.  Matt Andrew deserves a special mention for that superb goal, it was an absolute blinder which managed to silence my opposite number for a few seconds! Our Steep learning curb continues, importantly Steve and his support team have all positions covered, in hand and the team continues to improve to my complete satisfaction. I am looking forward to Saturday’s FA first qualifying round at Home against Street.

 

Tomorrow evening our second Team play Foxhole at Home kick off 7:30pm.  Given that we all had an expensive weekend, I am pleased to announce that all draught beers including Tribute, London Pride, Dartmoor Legend, Guinness, Cornish Rattler, San Miguel, Carlsberg etc. will be £2.00 per pint yes £2.00 per pint for the entire evening so there is no excuse not to support Truro’s second team, especially when the England game is also being shown as well!. Bar/Turnstiles open from 6.00pm.

 

In addition to all this Steve Massey will be in attendance primarily to watch the game but I am sure will be happy to answer any questions about any of the Teams and performances etc. to date. I look forward to seeing you there.

 

Peter Masters

Chairman

Chesham United's Vice Chairman Alan Calder relays his Programme notes here for Truro Fans - well worth a read!

Calder’s Column

Good afternoon and a warm welcome to The Meadow to the players, supporters and officials of Truro City who we hope have had a good journey up to Buckinghamshire, it is fair to say that the away game at our visitors is genuinely one of the first fixtures every club looks out for when the schedules are released at the start of the season.

 

 

Today we are celebrating Non-League Day, and hopefully we are welcoming some new faces to The Meadow, and new faces to Non-League Football – If today’s match is anything like Tuesday night’s victory over Bashley then you are in for a treat. At this level of the game we have not seen half a billion pounds change hands between clubs over the summer, and, although some players are well rewarded, none of the players you see in action today will be millionaires when they pick up their wages at the end of the month.

 

The players you see on the field today will have worked hard at their game, they will love the game and they will be wearing either the Truro or Chesham shirt with pride. Don’t worry, us non-leaguers are not ignorant enough to think it is only about the love of the shirt, wages are important; and why not, the players have worked hard, they have day jobs that pays their main salary, and they are good enough to earn a wage in the game – But it is not the be all and end all. I cannot speak for Truro, but at Chesham we have players that are well into treble figures in terms of appearances, loyal to the club over several years now – They care about the club, they know what the club is all about and they want to do well for the club, the supporters and the town.

 

Like I say, it is semi-professional, and players are paid which means the football on display is far from “park football” and it shows the strength of the English pyramid the fact that what we are watching this afternoon is the seventh division…I hope you enjoy it and appreciate the commitment of everyone around you, both on and off the pitch. I hate to think what time Truro left to get here, or what time they will get home tonight. Likewise on Tuesday, the Bashley players would not be home until gone midnight, after a thoroughly miserable time on the pitch, but they will be back out there doing it today, wearing their Bashley shirt with pride.

 

To most of you reading this I am already preaching to the converted, you know the non-league game, and enjoy all the benefits that come with it – the closeness to the action, the approachability of the players, being able to have a beer on the terrace, walk freely around the ground, change ends at half-time, have a drink with the opposition fans, travel freely to away games without being herded around by police or stewards, its affordable, it’s, to me…PROPER FOOTBALL.

 

 

Non-league is a million miles away from the Premiership; that is not always a good thing, there is a lot to be proud of about the top level of football in this country – it’s just not my cup of tea. I love going away to the different grounds, some better than others, some with great character, or set in idyllic settings, others are complete dumps in horrible areas…but they are all home to someone, and we should never let the ground snob come out in us – enjoy the occasion for what it is. There are a number of games (without naming names) where I look down the away fixture list and think “It’s not going to be a pleasant day, its not a nice place, the pitch will be awful, the football will be bad, let’s go there, score any sort of goal off someone’s backside, and come away with the three points” – Maybe that makes us slightly crazy, going out on a Saturday, knowing that you are not going to enjoy it, but you feel it is your duty to be there.

 

Crazy as that sounds, these bad days add to the appreciation of the good days, and there are many of them throughout the season, often away days. Often involving long distances, or visits to the seaside…always involving having a drink or two. Many of these trips are well documented and I won’t now repeat the stories of Weston-Super-Mare, Bideford, Bognor Regis or the Isle of Wight, but I will leave you with the memories of our last trip to Truro.

 

Another incredible thing about non-league football is how you can get involved, and if you are passionate, really make a difference and have an influence on how your club is run. A young ten year old boy can be coming down with his mates regularly and then one day find himself as a ball boy; then start travelling to away games on the players coach with some of the older supporters that look after him; he may then join the supporters club, take up a position on the committee of the supporters club, get offered a place on the Board of the main club and suddenly find himself totally wrapped up in the running of the club until one day he finds himself setting off in the car at 4.30am in the morning for his very first game as Chairman, some 300 miles away in Truro…

 

Dad and I set off to Cornwall at that hour to avoid the holiday traffic, and to meet up with the Chesham supporters that had travelled down the previous night and were staying in Newquay. We arrived at the hotel in time to see them polish off their breakfast whilst piecing together some of the events from the previous night. We then made our way to the Wetherspoons pub in Newquay for the first pre-match pint…at around 10.30am. A mini-bus picked us up from the pub at midday, taking us to Truro city centre where we sampled a couple more local beverages before arriving at the ground at 1.30pm – plenty of time for the final pre-match drinks.

 

To me as Chairman, it was not all about the matchday, it was all about the preparations. The players and management had been booked into a hotel the night before in Exeter, we had supplied some spending money for them to get food and a drink – summer training had gone well, we had a budget in place…My turning up in a shirt and tie in Truro could have no influence now, so I was going to enjoy the away day – And boy did we do that.

 

At the end of our 3-0 win I did visit the boardroom and had a good chat with the Truro Chairman, I am sure he did not believe me when we discussed what our budgets were and how much (zero) money I was putting in as the Chairman – I explained our principles as a supporters’ run club and how everyone mucked in. as we discussed how our clubs operated, I still had to keep pinching myself that we had won so convincingly. As it happens, despite us doing the double over them, Truro went on to win the league that season and get promoted, only for a whole host of other problems to rise to the surface that leads to us meeting again today in the Southern League.

 

That young ballboy who grew up to become Chairman is no longer at the helm of our club, but is still very much in love with non-league football, and always will be. Whenever he feels down, or fed up with some of  the moans and complaints, the lack of appreciation, understanding or respect, he thinks back to that evening with a dozen of his Chesham supporting friends, celebrating a stunning first game of the season win down in Cornwall, and he remembers why it is he loves the non-league game, and why it is he little Chesham United.

 

Enjoy the game

 

 

Alan

 

 

Chesham Match Report by Dave Deacon

Chesham Utd. 4 Truro City 2

Match Report here by Dave Deacon

Seb Broomfield shoots inside the box in the second half

Vice capt Paul Kendall heads towards goal

Steve Massey's pre match Chesham Utd notes

After the team's thrilling and fully deserved last minute win at Totton on Tuesday evening, the team coach is once more being loaded up with kit, supplies and players to make another long journey up the motorway to face Chesham tomorrow.

 

Leaving late afternoon, the players will stay in the plush surroundings of hotel near the M25 overnight.

 

Team boss Steve Massey has a few walking wounded and others carrying little niggles and knocks.

However, such is the spirit and confidence in the squad at the moment that everyone wants to play and be part of this impressive start to life back in the Southern Prem.

 

Giving nothing away except to say " we will look at a couple of the lads tomorrow at the ground to give them the longest time possible to prove their fitness," Massey went on to say, " Chesham will without doubt be our sternest test so far. They will suit our style as they like to get the ball down and play."

 

Before adding, "these are the grounds and games our lads are really looking forward to playing in, confidence is sky high and we will certainly be giving the promotion favourites a real run for their money."

 

Paul Quinn comes back into the squad after his impressive debut last Saturday, along with the same sixteen that took all three points on Tuesday evening.

Matt's finish earns Truro City dramatic win at Totton (by Rhod Mitchell, West Briton)

AFC Totton 2 Truro City 3

A 90th minute goal by Matt Andrew – his first for the club – gave City a dramatic victory at Totton as they maintained their unbeaten away Calor League premier division record on Tuesday evening.

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Official Match Report here

Steve Massey's pre match AFC Totton comment

After City's excellent display and fully justified point at home to Hitchin last Saturday, the team take to the road now for two tough away trips.

 

AFC Totton is the venue and opponents for tonight's fixture, before heading once more up the A30 and north London away this weekend, to one of the pre season fancied teams Chesham.

 

Tonight's game though is a fantastic opportunity to continue the brand of stylish football the team is now starting to get a reputation for playing. High flying Hitchen Town were the latest side to compliment manager Steve Massey and his team on how they play the game and that was certainly backed up by the hundreds of fans who witnessed a great game of football at Treyew Road on Saturday.

 

City travel to Hampshire with a full squad, with only new debutant from the Hitchin game, Paul Quinn, missing due to work commitments. George Swain comes back into the 16 and while there are a few aches and pains one or two players are carrying, everyone is ready to continue the teams excellent form and unbeaten away record this season.

 

Team boss Steve Massey was well aware of the tough task ahead of his team this week, but commented, "the side is improving all the time, Totton have found some form in the last two games, but we are extremely confident in being able to bring back home to Cornwall all three points tonight."

Non League Day at Chesham Utd. Sat 7th Sept

On Saturday September 7th Chesham United FC will be fully participating in Non-League Day by welcoming football fans along to the game against Truro City at a cost of "whatever you want to pay" (minimum £3 / Under 16's Free of Charge).

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Truro City out of Administration (by Peter Masters)

I am pleased to report that both Philip and I have received the formal notice to the effect that the Administration of TRURO CITY FOOTBALL CLUB LIMITED has been brought to an end.

 

This effectively draws a line under this avoidable affair in the Club’s history and serves as a warning for the future to us all. You need no reminding that as well as costing the two of us many thousands of pounds and a substantial amount of time, the Club has damaged its reputation, suffered relegation from the Conference South and lost the ownership of the Stadium at Treyew Road.

 

It has to be said, however unpalatable it may be to those involved, that this was brought about by Officials during that time (and leading up to it) that was blinded but frankly should have known a lot better.

 

It now leaves us all to rebuild the Club to a sustainable level which will ultimately decide on what League we play in. In the spirit of openness I attach the Report for your own assessment. REST ASSURED IT WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN UNDER OUR WATCH.

Peter Masters Chairman