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News at Buckland Athletic Football Club

HEADLINES

SWPL Charity Day

FA cup and Vase draws

Throgmorton Cup Draw 2010-11

Adam Castle takes charge of 2nd Team for 2010-11 season

What a season!!!!!!!!!!!

OTHER NEW

The draw was made at half time for the sponsorship of the 1st Team home shirt for the 2010-11 season. Tickets were sold and the draw was made by commercial manager Ian Miller, and with 20 companies involved the ball drawn out belonged to ASHBURTON TYRES, and they will now have their name on the front of the new Yellow kit, which will be worn fro the first time next Sunday 1st August against Bodmin Town in the SWPL Charity Bowl.

The South West Peninsula league annual Charity Day will be held on Sunday 1st August at Langsford park, the home of Tavistock AFC. The Charity Vase will kick off at noon with Perranporth facing the Royal Marines and then at 3pm the Charity Bowl will take place between Buckland Athletic and Bodmin Town. the admission to either or both games will be £4 for adults and £2 for concessions with proceeds going to the league's benevolent fund.

SWP League fixtures in the Premeir Division will commence on Saturday 7th August with Division's One East and West on Saturday 21st August.

1st Team have been drawn at home in the Extra Preliminary Round of this season's FA CUP against Radstock Town of the Western League Premeir Division. The tie will take place on SATURDAY 14TH AUGUST with a 3pm kick off, the winners of this tie will go on to face the winners of the Willand Rovers/Merthyr Town tie in an away game on the 28th August.

We have been drawn at home again in the FA VASE Preliminary Round, this time against Bridport from the Western League Division One, this tie will take place on SATURDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER with a 3pm kick off. The winners of this tie will face a trip to either Street/Odd Down or Wells City on the 2nd October.

The South West Peninsula League Throgmorton Cup draw for the 2010-11 season has been made, and we have a bye in the 1st Round and will be away to the winners of the 1st Round tie between Division One East sides University of Exeter and Alphington. Here is the full draw:

First Round (To be played week ending Saturday, September 25): Axminster Town v Bickleigh, Budleigh Salterton v Ottery St Mary, Camelford v Appledore, Cullompton Rangers v Royal Marines, Dartmouth v Liverton United, Elburton Villa v Bovey Tracey, Exeter Civil Service v Dobwalls, Exmouth Town v Crediton United, Foxhole Stars v Totnes & Dartington, Galmpton Gents v Newton Abbot Spurs, Hayle v Wadebridge Town, Holsworthy v Teignmouth, Newquay v Penryn Athletic, Perranporth v Mousehole, Plymstock United v Okehampton Argyle, St Austell v Porthleven, Stoke Gabriel v Liskeard Athletic, Truro City v Godolphin Atlantic, University of Exeter v Alphington, Vospers Oak Villa v Callington Town.

Second Round (To be played week ending Saturday, October 23): Axminster/Bickleigh v Witheridge, Bodmin Town v Tavistock (Friday 22), Budleigh Salterton/Ottery St Mary v Cullompton Rangers/Royal Marines, Camelford/Appledore v Elburton/Bovey Tracey, Dartmouth/Liverton v Plymstock/Okehampton, Foxhole/Totnes & Dartington v Plymouth Parkway, Galmpton Gents/Newton Abbot Spurs v Holsworthy/Teignmouth, Ivybridge Town v Exmouth Town/Crediton Utd, Newquay/Penryn v Penzance, Perranporth/Mousehole v Falmouth Town, Saltash United v Launceston (Friday 22), St Austell/Porthleven v Truro City/Godolphin Atlantic, St Blazey v Hayle/Wadebridge Town, Torpoint Athletic v Exeter Civil Service/Dobwalls, University of Exeter/Alphington v Buckland Athletic, Vospers Oak Villa/Callington Town v Stoke Gabriel/Liskeard Athletic.

Adam Castle has been installed as the new manager of our 2nd Team for the 2010-11 season in South Devon League Premier Division. The former Brixham Villa 1st team boss say's he is looking forward to working alongside new first team manager Steve Massey as they prepare to defend the Carlsberg South West Peninsula League's Premier Division title, and with 3rd XI manager Scott Chisholm after they won the Division Four championship in the South Devon League. "I know there are those who will question why I'm taking over a reserve team and consider it a sideways move, but it's so much different compared to when I first took over at Brixham Villa," he said. "This time I'm taking on a squad who've been promoted to the Premier Division having just won Division One, and who've retained the Devon Senior Cup. "Instead of creating a side as I had to do at Brixham, my job will be maintaining the quality and building on the talent already at Homers Heath."I've always been hungry for success, and this move changes nothing. It's not a sideways move, because Buckland offers so much more, not least an opportunity for internal promotion if I do well. "Also, without running ahead of myself, the reserves could be looking at a move into the Peninsula League now that the barriers are coming down and reserve teams are being considered for places in Division One in 12 months time."

The club picked up two cheques at the SWPL dinner, they were judged in second place in the Ground Award, after winning this award for the frist two season, this season it was Tavistock that took the honours. Again this is down to the groundsmen, the lads that turn up every Saturday morningto work on teh ground and the lasses and lads that work in the kitchen, putting on exceptional food for half time and after match. Here Shaun Truscott receives the cheque:

We picked up first place in the Programme Award, winningt this for the third season, this season we finished in front of an exceptionally good Penzance programme. We would like to thank Wotton Printers as if they didn't produce such a high quality publication, it wouldn't stand out as much as it does, we hope that we can continue with Wotton as programme sponsors and would like to thank Roger Mann, Mark in design and everyone at Wottons that work on the programme. I would also like to thank Nick (Paignton Nick) for his contribution for each programme, it is always an enjoyable and Roy Holmes who also contributes to every programme. Below Kate Taylor receives the cheque From Devon FA's Paul Morrison::

The annual Bucks vs Stags took place on Saturday morning in memory of two club stalwarts Gerald Heath and Clive Holmes. The game ended in a 6-2 win for the golden oldies, with the youngsters being run ragged in the second half with our esteemed groundsman Simon Simmo Glanfield walking away with the match ball after scoring a hat trick. The youngsters took a 2-0 lead early on but by the time the whistle blew for half time the oldies had drawn level. The second half had the oldies looking to attack at every opportunity and ran out easy winners on the day. The youngsters could argue that their were a couple too many oldies on the pitch at times, and that the referee inn the second half was a little biased towards the oldies ( I personally thought that Scott Chisholm had a great game with the whistle in that second and he saw things that most of the spectators missed including the second half penalty which also had to be taken twice). But it was a good morning's entertainment and all the lads that played deserve a pat on the back and the youngsters manager, our very own number One supporter, Miss Amy Alford was disappointed about the loss but still came away smiling.

Buckland Athletic have had a very successful season, the 1st team doing the double of winning the South West Peninsula League Premier Division title (the first Devon side to do so) and the Throgmorton Cup when they defeated two time winners and inflicting their first cup defeat on Bodmin Town. We won that game 2-1 after extra time, with the game bing played at Speeds Meadow, Cullompton. Our double winning manager Phil Bayliss has nows tepped down form that position and Steve Massey will be incharge from next season with Jamie Carwardine staying as his number two. Obviously what the side has achieved this season will be a hard act to follow, but hopefully we can continue our success at step six. The 2nd team also did a double when they won the South Devon League Division One title and with it promotion into the Premeir Division and just two league's below the 1st team. They also retained the Devon Senior Cup when they defeated Elburton Villa 4-2 after extra time at Coach Road, another tremendous achievement. The 2nds manager Jim Barrett is also standing down now, due to an increase in his work commitments and we will announce the new manger when the interviewss have taken place. Again who ever takes over will have a hard act to follow, but the squad they inherit will be striong enough for the Premeir Division. The 3rd Team have won the South Devon league Division Four title this season and will be playing their football in Division Three next season. We also did win the Fred Hewings Cup but we played an ilegable player in that final and were removed and had to hand back that trophy, but it was a geniune mistake and one we hope will niot happen again. So we give all three management teams a great round of applause and of course to all the players that have played for our three senior sides this season. There will be a small break on the football side of the club, but work will start this week on the pitch and the club will ciontinue hosting functions with a lot of club people giving up their free time over the summer for the good of the club, and what a club we have.

PRESS RELEASE

Further to Phil Bayliss' decision to relinquish his post as First team manager at South Western league premier division leaders Buckland Athletic at the end of this coming season, the club have moved swiftly to seek a replacement in order to ensure continuity and keep the momentum going at the pace which has seen the club rise to its current position leading the Peninsula league and looking onward & upward to future rises up the FA pyramid.

Former Truro City manager Steve Massey is the man relishing the task of continuing the great work achieved by Bayliss and indeed the backroom staff at the club, for the upcoming 2010 -2011 season and beyond. He returns to the game after a four year break having had successful managerial spells at Falmouth, Truro & the Cornish County side.  His Playing career also reads very well both professionally & on the semi-professional circuit.

Massey's professional playing career began at Stockport in 1973 aged 16, & began to make his way south in 1978 with a move to Bournemouth before spells at Peterborough & Northampton. A successful tenure there meant a £50,00 transfer to Hull City in 1983 where he played alongside Steve McClaren & Brain Marwood.  Two years later came a brief move to Cambridge United before finishing his professional playing days at Wrexham in 1988 after having a taste of European football with the then European Cup winners Cup.   Steve's retirement from the professional game saw a move down to Cornwall and into his family holiday park business in Mullion.  Still eager to don his boots he signed for Truro City in September 1988 and took over as player / manager in 1991 winning the league & cup double, the

first silverware at the club since 1962.

After a move to Devon in 1994 he resigned from his post at Truro to concentrate on his expanding holiday park business, but stayed in the game with a post as the Cornwall County team manager, taking them to two county championship finals in three seasons.

After a three year break from the game Massey took over at Falmouth Town in the old South Western League, before returning to Truro City where he built the team that gained the first of its four consecutive promotions & the FA Vase in 2006.

"IT IS MY STRONGEST INTENTION THAT I WANT TO ONCE MORE BUILD A TEAM TO WIN THE VASE AT WEMBLEY!   BUT THIS TIME BE THERE MYSELF!!"  Quoted Massey when speaking of his ambitions for tenure as first team manager with Buckland Athletic.  "This is a great opportunity to come back into the game, and the fact that it is with such a successful and ambitious and superbly run club is the icing on the cake. I'm looking forward to working alongside the current staff at the club to make Buckland Athletic the best and most successful club in the South West".

This is Steve’s blog on the very good www.cornishsoccer.info website. 

This makes very interesting reading for every Buckland member and fans alike.

I’m back in Management and it feels absolutely magnificent, to say I’m excited is an understatement!!
I have been getting itchy feet for a few months now, way back in September last year I started to feel that perhaps the time for coming back was getting closer!

At that time of course I was watching a lot of Truro City games and the pull for me to be involved was a strong one. So when Kevin Heaney asked me for first round of talks just before McCarthy went, I thought maybe this is where my future lies?
Chief Executive?

I was asked to become Chief Executive at the club and this really appealed to me. To have control of the football side and being able to influence the direction of the club away from the brick wall it was running into was very exciting for me.

But needless to say the dream wouldn’t last and when Mr Heaney, who owns the ball and will only let you play with it when he wants, the role in all reality would be so frustrating and undermining, I decided very reluctantly to turn it down.

That was early December and the urge to come back had been dampened somewhat by the events in me turning the CEO position down.

It was a last minute decision to go out for New year to watch the England Cricket team in South Africa, and the thought of being involved in football again never mind managing a team once more was a million miles away at that time. In fact if anyone had said to me while sat in sunshine watching cricket in Cape Town, “you will be back in management by end of Feb” and not only that but, “they could be the champions as well” I would have phoned the local asylum and said one of your patients as escaped!

I had many offers of work over the last two years, but nothing either really excited me or was ambitious enough for me to take up a challenge.
Interested in taking over?

Then last month out of the blue, after being invited out to lunch by the management team at Buckland, Phil Bayliss and Jamie Carwardine, they asked me if I would be interested in taking over when Phil was going to step down.

I had already an excellent relationship with them over the last 18 months or so; we lunched on 3 or 4 occasions and I really got to know them both.

I had liked what they were about and how they went about running the club and the preparation they put into games. I had done a little bit of scouting for them and was always impressed with their knowledge about the game and in particular how it should be played.

What I wasn’t ready for was the “lid” it blew off on my own ambitions and desires to come back and succeed again in the game! I was bubbling once more, I knew I would be back some time and in some capacity but this was unbelievable. From
nowhere my enthusiasm and excitement was ignited again and it just felt so right, and only 25 minutes from my house!!
Make no bones about it this is one privileged job!

It is an honour to have been asked to take this relatively young but very ambitious football club forward to the next levels.

It is a totally unique situation to be in as well. The position of appointing a new manager at any football club is because 99.9% of the time the club/team were or are failing. But this is very different; I could be taking over the Champions! And doesn’t it feel good!

Phil is stepping down at the end of the season and what better way for him to go then to be crowned SWPL Champions?

Phil with Jamie has transformed Buckland Athletic from junior football into one of the major players in non-league soccer in the South West.

Besides a fabulous playing squad with local talented guys, the club have won the best Ground award for the last two years, and those who have visited would know the reason why!
An army of volunteers

The dressing rooms and facilities are second to none, the set up is very well organised and they have an army of volunteers that are the envy of many clubs up and down the country. The programme is another award winning feature of the club and the potential is sky high.

I’m thrilled to say that Jamie will be staying on as my assistant and from now to the end of the season I will be helping the management as much as they would like me to, but otherwise see my role sitting in stands watching and learning!

Massey’s Mutterings have been a great success and I’ve really enjoyed the writing, but there is nothing like writing from the inside, being involved once again in the dressing rooms, smelling and sensing the anticipation and expectations of the players, feeling the fear in the oppositions dressing room!

Standing on the touchline knowing success is just a few minutes away! The banter and comradeship of the team you have put together, its US v. rest of the world.

Yes I have enjoyed my time out and I feel I have become an even better manager for it, but to hear once more Team Manager Steve Massey is music to my ears, bring it on!

Best Wishes, Mass.

There are still lot's of sponsorship opportunities on offer to any company that is interested in joining forces with South Devon's most forward thinking club. Please e-mail commercial@bucklandathleticfc.co.uk for further information on what we have to offer.

The end of season dinner and dance was a great success, held for the first time at Homers Heath, 120 people enjoyed the evening. Here is a list of teh winners on the night....

Updated on Thursday 8th January, why not take a look at the SWPL page in 1st Team menu, read more here...