125 YEARS OLD!

TAVISTOCK AFC - 125 YEARS OLD!

The Lambs welcomed local rivals Saltash United to Langsford Park to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Tavistock AFC. 
The South West Peninsula Premier Division fixture unfortunately finished 2-0 to the visitors, in front of a very respectable sized crowd inside the home of the lambs.

It was a special occasion for the home side, steeped in history and success. Regardless of the result, it was a great evening which celebrated the birthday of the club which happened the day before.

FACTFILE:
Name: Tavistock Association Football Club (Tavistock AFC)
Nickname: The Lambs, The Tavy
Founded: 1888
Ground: Langsford Park
Capacity: 2,000 approx. (200 seated)
First Team League: South West Peninsula Premier League
2012/13 Finish: 10th
Reserve Team League: East Cornwall Premier League
2012/13 Finish: 3rd
Team Colours:  First Team Home: Pink/Chocolate Shirts, White Shorts, Pink/White Socks
                       First Team Away: Blue Shirts, Blue Shorts, Blue Socks
                       Second Team Home: Red/Black Shirts, Black Shorts, Black/Red Socks
                       Second Team Away: Blue Shirts, White Shorts, Blue Socks

Tavistock Guildhall, 1888

Tavistock AFC was founded on the 8th September, 1888. This came about when people interested in playing or being on the committee were ordered to go to the Guildhall. Sportsmen and businessmen gathered and a committee was formed, with brothers Herbert, Wilfred and Kingsley in command.

They played their first games at the old Tavistock Grammar School playing fields, where they were entered into the Devon League. 
In only their second season, they won the Devon Senior Cup, and then eleven years on, obtained their first Devon League title. 

During the 1920s, the club was very successful and gathered lots of honours, most noticeably the Devon League, Senior Cup and Bedford Cup. 

Unfortunately, at the close of the 1931/32 season, the club was forced to stop playing due to money issues and debt. It took five years for the club to gather enough funds to start up again, and two years after that, they associated with three other local teams. 

Following the affiliation with Tavistock Comrades, Bannawell Blues United and Tavistock West End, they changed the colours of their strips from the Salmon Pink Shirts with chocolate collars and cuffs (similar to the new shirts supplied to the first team recently), to what the club is more modernly known for, the red and black stripes.

The Second World War came and went, when the whole country was going through a re-building process, Tavistock AFC used this as a chance to move forward. Firstly joining the Plymouth Combination League First Division, but also when Club President Herbert Thomas Langsford bought the current home ground, Langsford Park before giving it over to the club under trust a couple of years later.

With a fantastic new ground in place, the club entered the FA Cup for the first time ever in it's history in the 1948/49 season.

After five years in the PC League First Division, the club joined the South Western League when it was only heading into it's second season in 1952. The club spent eight years temporarily in local football, but apart from that time, until 2007, they had continued to be members of the South Western League.

In mid 2007, they were founding members of the South West Peninsula League Premier Division, where they have spent the last six seasons. Their most successful South Western football season came in 2002/03, where they made a real challenge for the league, only to finish runners-up in a terrific title race.

The most significant other happening in Tavistock AFC history was the entry into the FA Vase, for the 2004/05 season, and a year on after their first cup entry, they managed a last 32 appearance, before valiantly losing at North Yorkshire club Pickering Town, during the 2005/06 season.         

For the First Round of the FA Vase win over Winterbourne FC from Bristol, the first team was treated to a new kit, a resemblance of the kit worn by the club at the start of it's formation.

First Team Manager: Ian Southcott

First Team Assistant Manager: Paul Blatchford

THE RED AND BLACK CLUB IS RE-OPEN!

Following a devastating fire in February 2011, the 125th anniversary also saw the re-opening of the Red and Black club two and a half years. 

It was great to see the clubhouse open, with great facilities, a players and members bar, pool table, flat screen TV, as well as a smart-looking bar and a massive function room.

Club chairman Chris Fenner praised the contribution of the many volunteers and ‘unsung heroes’ who made the club’s ‘resurrection’ after the devastating fire possible. 

‘I’d like to give thanks, on behalf of everyone who cares for our club, especially to our small band of committed volunteers for their massive contributions. 
‘You have literally raised our club from the ashes, following two and a half years of continual compromise.'

The Red and Black Club after 

the devastating fire in February 2011

The new re-opened Red and Black Club,

a top-class facility.

Dan Follett in action showing off the 

Pink and Chocolate Kit during a game 

away at Plymouth Parkway earlier this 

season.