As our match with Helston was called off due to a waterlogged pitch, we thought we’d give you a chance to look at the matchday programme, which was due to be on sale at Trungle on New Year’s Day. It’s a joint issue with the previous Saturday’s match against Cribbs and takes a look back at the 2024. Printed copies of our match day program are available for purchase at every home match for £2. Take a look and let us know what you think!
It was a night to rub shoulders with the leading lights of football content when members of Mousehole AFC’s media team attended the Football Content Awards at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on November 21st. The event recognizes contributions to football media across various categories including YouTube, social media and podcasting. Content Producer Kevin Bishop, Social Media producer Jasmyn Richardson and Match Reporter Ed Varcoe travelled to London for the event, in which Mousehole was shortlisted for the Best Club – Non-League category. It’s the second year running that Mousehiole has made the final – last year the ceremony was held at Anfield.
While we didn’t come away with a win, being shortlisted was an encouraging milestone and an opportunity to represent Mousehole AFC on a larger stage. The evening provided a chance to meet other content creators, network with professionals, and see the work being done across the industry. You can read all the award winners here.
During the reception held in the hospitality area at Spurs, Ed Varcoe chatted and swapped contacts with members of the Football Park podcast team.
Jasmyn Richardson who is currently completing her internship at the club said: “Attending the awards at the Spurs stadium was an incredible experience, especially since it coincided with my 18th birthday, making the night extra special.
The whole experience left me feeling deeply grateful to everyone who encouraged and helped me pursue this internship and live in England. It has truly been a life-changing opportunity.
The day after the awards, I had an amazing time sightseeing in London, making the trip even more memorable.”
The ceremony, hosted by Joel Beya, featured over 100 winners in 34 categories, including prominent names such as The Athletic, Sky Sports, and Fabrizio Romano. The competition was strong, and it was inspiring to see the standard of content being produced in football media.
In addition to the awards ceremony, the team got a look inside the stadium where the SGL grow lighting system was being used on the pitch.
Mousehole content producer Kevin Bishop feels this was an invaluable experience for the young media team at the club. “Just being in that room, in such a prestigious location, with more than 500 of the country’s top football content creators, shows how much potential there is in the industry. The people there that evening are just the tip of an iceberg of many thousands of people creating high-level content across all platforms in football. It’s a great area to get into and a fantastic career option for anybody interested in football and media.”
Mousehole players Ollie Chenoweth, Ryan Barrett and Jordan Hackett recently took park in a cross-sports challenge with Will Gibson and Tom Georgiou from the Cornish Pirates. Although we’re brushing over the result…it was a great evening and brilliantly captured by Falmouth University Press and Editorial Photography student Benj Gilbert. All proceeds from the campaign go to Man Down, looking after men’s mental health in Cornwall.
You can find out more and donate here.
Mousehole AFC’s first-team players and coaches are teaming up with the Cornish Pirates this November to raise funds for mental health charity, Man Down.
The campaign kicks off with a cross-sport penalty shootout challenge: Mousehole’s footballers will take aim at the rugby posts, while Pirates players try to score past Mousehole’s goalie. Plus, players and staff from both teams are growing out their ‘staches to show their support and raise funds.
The grand finale features special events at both clubs’ final games of the month. On Friday, November 29th, catch a pop-up barber at Mennaye Field during the Pirates’ game against Chinnor. He’ll be back the next day at Trungle for Mousehole’s showdown with Didcot, hopefully with a few Pirates in tow!
Mousehole AFC Assistant Coach Charlie Davis is organising the campaign in conjunction with Ross Hancock of the Pirates. Charlie said: “I think it’s probably safe to say that in the past football clubs in general, and definitely Mousehole, have not participated in such an event. So it’s something new for everyone. We’re really thankful that the guys from the PIrtes and Man Down reached out to us. We’ve had experience here of mental health issues affecting members of the club. And I’m sure everybody can relate to brushes with mental health problems, in particular, with with with men in mind. So yes – we’re really thankful. It’s raised awareness, which is awesome”.
Join the cause by signing up here: https://movember.com/t/cornish-pirates-x-mousehole-afc?mc=1 or scan the QR Code below
Charlie reminded everyone that every contribution really can help make a difference – and to look after your own mental health in the process. “I would just ask everyone if they can get involved, if you can donate a small amount, share things on social media, and most importantly – talk about anything that you that you need to talk about”
Finally – spare a thought for assistant kitman Joe Irwin whose phone didn’t recognize him after he shaved off his beard!
Mousehole AFC is delighted to announce the appointment of Darren Buckley as the club’s new Commercial Manager, a significant move that promises to elevate the club’s commercial operations and community engagement. Darren joins Mousehole AFC following successful tenures at Truro City and the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce, where he demonstrated exceptional skills in commercial development and stakeholder engagement. His appointment with Mousehole comes on the day he also takes up a new role as Cornwall Business Development Manager for the Federation of Small Businesses.
With a passion for football and an extensive background in business management, Darren brings a wealth of experience to his new role. At Truro City, he successfully reinforced the club’s commercial foundation, forging impactful partnerships and increasing revenue streams through innovative strategies. His leadership at the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce saw him bring in substantial financial support, further highlighting his capability to generate growth and sustainability for organizations.
Darren expressed his enthusiasm for joining Mousehole AFC, stating, “This is an exciting challenge for me. I know I can get my teeth into this project and help the club grow both commercially and within the local community. We have a fantastic opportunity to engage with supporters and local businesses to create a thriving environment for everyone involved with the club.”
One of Darren’s main objectives will be to enhance community involvement and boost attendance at matches. He aims to foster strong relationships with local businesses and organizations to generate support for the club, believing that a collaborative effort will yield great results both on and off the pitch. Darren visited Trungle for the win over Bemerton Heath Harlequins and was quick to praise the achievements of the club to date and the incredible work of the volunteers behind the scenes.
“Those volunteers are fantastic. Everybody that works in that football club, the fans, everybody I’ve met, you can see right away that their hearts are in the right place and they’re trying to move it forward. We just need to go to that next level in everything we do. It’s not a big jump, believe it or not. It’s only a small jump to get to that next level.”
Originally from Oldham, Darren came to Cornwall 41 years ago. As well as Truro City and CCC, he has had roles at Cornwall Gold, Truro and Penwith College and The Richardson Hotel Group. He’s also been prolific on the pitch – playing in every role from goalkeeper to forward during spells with Perranwell and Falmouth Town.
As he steps into his new role, Darren is eager to leverage his extensive network and marketing expertise to elevate the club’s profile. He recognizes the potential for growing the club’s brand and aims to implement strategies that will appeal to a wider audience. “Mousehole AFC has a rich history and a dedicated fan base. My goal is to bring in new supporters and partners who can contribute to our vision moving forward,” he added.
Club officials are equally optimistic about Darren’s arrival. Director of Football Adam Fletcher remarked, “When we saw Darren had left his role at Truro we knew we needed to reach out and explain the project we have here, We have many fantastic parts of the club but commercially we are lacking and after 3/4 meetings with Darren I genuinely could not think of anyone better to take the department on and help grow the club in a different way. Everyone is super excited to welcome Darren properly and we can’t wait to see some of his ideas come to life..”
Darren Buckley officially joins the club immediately and is ready to hit the ground running. Fans and local businesses alike can look forward to new initiatives, increased engagement opportunities, and a commitment to fostering a vibrant football culture in the heart of our community.
Welcome aboard, Darren!
For several years now access to Mousehole’s ground at Trungle Parc has required players, volunteers, fans and visitors to drive down a narrow, potholed lane. It’s also taken match day traffic – and the camper vans that visit our campsite – through the quiet village of Paul.
We want to change that. We have been given access to a small slither of land joining the club to the nearby B road. We have planning permission to build a road but now need to raise the funds to finish it.
In 2023, we launched a crowdfunder to try and raise the funds required – we believe somewhere in the region of £100,000.
You can watch our campaign video here:
The campaign ended without the target being reached. So for the time being, the plans are on hold.
If you have any thoughts that might help us find a way of funding this project, we’d love to hear from you. Please drop us a line via this link or email kevinbishop@mouseholeafc.co.uk
Thank you!
The following article was originally published in the printed programme for the Mousehole v Malvern match on 24th August 2024. To purchase back issues of Mousehole matchday programmes, visit our club shop.
“Annoying. Definitely annoying”
It’s not a word most of us would land on when asked to describe our best characteristic. But Mousehole forward Jack Symons sees it as his secret weapon.
“I try to get my body in the right places and go down, so I get a lot of free kicks. So I am probably quite annoying to play against. So yeah – I think it is definitely my secret weapon. Always has been, even in kids’ football. But yeah, I do quite like it.”
It’s a hot September afternoon and we’re sitting in the air conditioned Starbucks in Penryn, just down the hill from Jack’s home in Mabe. He’s nursing a hamstring niggle that has kept him out of action for a couple of weeks. One of many injuries causing the Mousehole coaching staff headaches at the moment. But as ever Jack – known to his team mates as Symo – is bursting to get back involved. He tells me he’s lobbying to start back in warm-up the next evening and then hopefully get game time in the next match.
Now 19, Jack has, to use his words, been terrorizing defences in Cornwall since the age of four or five.
“I think my earliest proper memory is playing in a tournament, I think it was down at Illogan. I remember having this tussle with another kid who was about my height. And we had this real game for however long it was. I think I scored a goal but what I do remember is taking him out. He annoyed me.”
Jack is not the tallest of players and has a youthful face that hides the mature football brain underneath.
“I’ve had it so many times. Teams always look at me and think I’m a small player. I’m not physically strong and that I’m going to be terrible or just easy to play against. And they would just kick me, basically. But, yeah, I think I do surprise them when I get them one v one and just beat them”
Throughout his life football has been a constant. Playing six days a week with teams, friends or more recently at Cornwall College. Sundays he spends watching football – Liverpool are his team and he cites Fernando Torres as having a major influence on him. And not just as a player.
“I used to love him, and then I did love Gerard as well, but I just I adored Torres as a kid. I had loads of Torres shirts. I used to copy his haircut. Whenever he got one, I had to get the same one”
Jack’s journey to the Mousehole first team has taken him via spells at Falmouth United, where his dad Drew was manager, and the Plymouth Argyle Academy where he was for five years up until he was 14.
His dad has been his coach since he was five, both as a parent and as manager of Falmouth United and Mousehole Development. The journey has taken the family through the highs and lows of football academy realities.
“At five, when I started coaching with him, they were just a group of young players just learning their craft. And you know, they will develop differently. But if you look at him back then, he was quite an aggressive football player at that age. And then he was picked up by Argyle, so obviously he listened and learned and took everything on as a young lad. But he had to put up with an awful lot really. He wasn’t allowed to do play with his local team when he was taken on by Argyle. But he still came and trained every week with his friends even though he was travelling to Ivybridge twice a week. But when it all ended rather brutally for him with Argyle, I think it made him stronger with a stronger mindset to deal with things.”
It was soon after that that he was picked up by Jake Ash at Penryn College where Jack was at school. He began training with Mousehole as a sixteen-year-old and immediately loved it. Playing “with a smile on his face again” as his dad describes it. He spent a couple of seasons with the development squad while also spending time with the first team, albeit often on the bench or on for brief appearances – a period Jack describes as “frustrating”. But it’s also taught him some life skills.
“Probably mostly patience, to be honest. You have have to be really patient to get the chances. And then it’s just sort of taking those chances whenever they come up, whether that’s a start now and again, or 20 minutes here and there. Yeah, I think patience has been the most important thing I’ve learned to be honest.”
This season however has seen him a regular starter for the firsts in the Southern League, something Charlie Davis – Jake’s Assistant Manager at Mousehole and also a former PE teacher at Penryn, says is well-warranted:
“Jack’s technical ability is second to none and his versatility is a real strength. I think it’s clear to see how he has matured over time and at just 19 years old his game awareness is brilliant. I truly believe Symo is amongst the very best in young talent within the Southwest, and it’s great to see him flying the flag for young Cornish footballers in the Southern league”.
It’s a sentiment echoed by fellow striker Hayden Turner, last season’s top scorer in the league:
“Symo’s a great lad, he’s been so patient during his time with us in terms of game time and that has paid off. For his age he is performing at a great level and he offers us as a team so much with the quality he has. He will definitely go far in the game.”
For now, Symo is enjoying his football more than at any time in his 19 years. He describes Mousehole as “the best in the business – for coaching, training, matchday experience. It’s fun as well”.
And as for Dad, the coach who’s been there throughout not just on the pitch but at home and on those long car journeys, this stage of his career is putting a smile on his face as well.
“We always knew he had the talent. He’s just needed that opportunity and someone to believe in him and the talent would always come out. So that’s kind of where we are. I just hope he develops, keeps working hard – which I’m sure he will. And you never know where it might take him. He’s still young, still lots to develop, still lots of things to learn. So yeah, really exciting times”
For the second year in a row, Mousehole AFC has been shortlisted for the prestigious National Football Content Awards. The club’s media operation including website, social media, video and photography, are competing for the category Best Football Club – Non-League.
Dubbed the “Oscars of the football world”, the Football Content Awards are the awards ceremony celebrating the best in online football media. They recognise and reward all content creators and online media companies in football. From the independent creators to the media organisations, small and large, they congratulate the best in class for the football content we see day to day online.
The awards ceremony is being held on November 21st at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Mousehole will be represented by Kevin Bishop, Dan Tatarsky, Jasmyn Richardson and Ed Varcoe. Our entry this year highlighted the work the club is doing to give young people a break in the world of sports media.
To vote for Mousehole AFC follow this link and search for Best Football Club Non League https://footballcontentawards.com/voting/
Mousehole are up against these clubs for the award:
AFC Welwyn
Baiteze Squad
Dorking Wanderers
Erith Town
Farnham Town
Goalacticos
Ilkeston Town
Punjab United
SE Dons
Southend United
Last year the event was at Anfield – here’s a few photos from the evening:
We caught up with Jasmyn who’s become a familiar face around Trungle in her role as media assistant.
Tell us a bit about yourself: Where are you from, what do you do back at home, and how did you end up working with us here?
My name is Jasmyn Richardson. I am 17 years old and have been an intern at Mousehole AFC for the past five months. I currently live in the Netherlands, but I was born here in England. My dad, Jeff Richardson, is English, and my mum, Linda van den Berg, is Dutch. I moved back to the Netherlands when I was three but have visited many times for holidays.
At home, I am studying to become a Media Designer, which requires 1200 internship hours. When it was time for me to find an internship, my parents suggested doing it at Mousehole AFC and staying with my grandparents. I loved the idea since I always wondered what my life would have been like if I still lived here. It was a great opportunity to grow personally and professionally. I also liked the idea of spending time with my family here in England and getting closer to them.
When I asked my school about the internship, they said the football club had to become a certified internship company. Kevin kindly arranged for Mousehole AFC to make it all possible.
What have your duties been here at the club?
At Mousehole AFC, I created the Mousehole Youth website from scratch using WordPress, which was a new platform for me. I also designed graphics for social media and posters for the town and club.
Towards the end of the season, I started with sports photography. Steve, one of the groundsmen, kindly lent me his camera for a few matches, and later, my uncle Tim lent me his. I am very grateful to both of them because I really enjoyed doing that.
On match days, I helped with the gate and the 50/50 draw. During the game, I sent pictures to my dad for the half-time and full-time posts and updated the Instagram Story and WhatsApp Channel.
What has been the highlight of your time here?
This is a hard question because I genuinely loved every single second of it. However, one highlight was spending time with my grandparents. Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible, and being with them has been amazing. I am so grateful for every second with them.
I also loved match days. The environment and energy were amazing, making it the highlight of my week. Helping out was great, and I absolutely loved it. Creating original graphics and posters and receiving positive feedback was also a wonderful feeling.
What have you found most difficult to adapt to?
When I first arrived, my dad stayed for 10 days to help me settle in, which I am very grateful for. It was difficult when he left because I had never been away from my family for more than a week. But that feeling quickly went away, and I started to love it.
I still speak to my family every day on the phone, so it eventually didn’t feel like I was gone. Working closely with my dad also really helped.
What skills do you think you’ve acquired by being with us?
I have significantly improved my graphic design skills, especially using Canva. I had used Canva before but never fully explored its potential, and I am still learning its capabilities.
I am also learning sports photography, which is challenging because you have to do a lot at once: follow the game, look through the camera, keep it focused, and get good shots.
When I started, I didn’t even know WordPress existed, but I eventually learned how much you can do with it. I loved trying out new plugins and designs.
This internship has also helped me with my communication skills. I was never great at communicating with people I am not close to, but this internship has really challenged me and improved my skills. Helping out on match days contributed to this growth, and I will forever be grateful for that.
How does life in Cornwall differ from life in the Netherlands? What has been your favorite thing you’ve done or experienced here in Cornwall?
In the Netherlands, I live in a very small village with a small population. I enjoy the peace and quiet.
In Cornwall, I love how busy it is—not too crazy, just right for me. My grandparents live close to the sea, so the house overlooks the bay with amazing views. My grandad loves boats, and being able to see the harbor and sea has sparked my interest in boats. I am still learning about them.
My family has also taken me to some amazing places in Cornwall with stunning views. I am grateful for those experiences.
I can’t choose a favorite thing because I have done and experienced so much here. These are memories I will never forget and will be eternally grateful for.
How would you describe the club if you were talking to friends back home?
Everyone welcomed me with open arms, and I immediately felt at home. I would describe it as a loving and friendly football club where everyone is welcome to join the journey and help the club progress.
What are your ambitions for the future?
I love what I am doing for Mousehole, partly because I am part of something I love so much. Working in football has definitely made me consider a career in this direction.
For now I am focusing on my studies and hopefully getting my diploma next year.
England played the Netherlands in the semi-final of the Euros. How was that experience for you in an English household?
Being half Dutch and half English put me in a bit of a dilemma because I wanted both teams to do well. However, I have a special place in my heart for the Dutch national team, so I decided to support them.
My uncle Tim and auntie Nicola were in Germany at the stadium and sent me pictures and videos of their day. They even got Dutch people to say hi to me on camera, which was hilarious.
I watched the game with my grandparents and my cousin. I had red, white, and blue stripes on my face, hoping the Netherlands would win. Everyone else was hoping for a different outcome, of course.
In the last minute, England scored the winning goal, and my grandparents were jumping up and down. But my grandma also felt bad for me. Holland was out, and it was a sad evening, but I quickly got over it and looked forward to the final.
The following article was originally published in the printed programme for the Mousehole v Malvern match on 24th August 2024. To purchase back issues of Mousehole matchday programmes, visit our club shop.
When Pablo Woolls-Blanco left Mousehole for warmer climes at Barcelona, we knew his shoes would be hard to fill. So…up stepped up Ed Varcoe. You can see Ed’s reports on our YouTube channel. He’s also behind the new Insta reels and TikTok videos that we’re producing with the players. But Who is Ed Varcoe? We caught up with him on the team bus on the way to Cribbs.
NAME: Ed Varcoe
DOB: 3/8/2008
SCHOOL: Truro
A LEVELS: DT, Geology and Biology
FAVOURITE TEAM: Liverpool. My dad supports them so I followed him. My earliest memory is the Salah hat-trick against Bournemouth in December 2018.
FAVOURITE LIVERPOOPL PLAYER: All-time it has to be Salah. Currently it’s MacAllister.
BEST ENGLAND MEMORY: Luke Shaw scoring in the second minute of Euro 2020 final.
FAVOURITE MUSIC: James Arthur or Mumford and Sons
VIDEO GAME: FIFA
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED AT MOUSEHOLE: I played for the under 16 team, and one of my friends was doing journalism, and I quite like the idea of it. So I contacted Pablo, who was the reporter before me, and he put me in touch with Kevin, and it sort of went from there.
FAVOURITE THING YOU DO AT THE CLUB: Instagram
HOW COME YOU ENDED UP AS A GOALIE? I think I was about nine, and my dad bought me a goal to put in the garden, and he went in goal at first, and I kicked it so hard he hurt his hurt his arm. He got a bruise on his arm. So he said how about you getting in there and I’ll kick some balls at you. And I quite liked it, so I stayed there.
WHAT IMPRESSES YOU MOST ABOUT MOUSEHOLE FIRST TEAM? Probably the real togetherness between all of them, like they all know each other. They’re all good chemistry between them all on the pitch.
FAVOURITE MOUSEHOLE PLAYER: Jack Calver. Or Goldie. We just named our new dog after Goldie.
