Steve Burt retires as one of Mousehole’s most popular and respected players, with an impressive record stretching back over ten years.

by Andrew Large and Kevin Bishop

Jake Ash has led the tribute to Steve Burt who has decided to hang up his boots after a decade-long career at the club: “I remember thinking back to my first training session at Marazion and this lad turned up with a ponytail and I just thought he was a surfer who’d come along to join in training. But I came away and sent messages to everyone saying there are some good players there but one in particular who is just unbelievable, technically brilliant with every tackle.”

Local lad ‘Burtie’ joined Mousehole at the start of 2013/14 season, and missed very few games over three consecutive seasons, being awarded the captain’s armband by player-manager Wayne Quinn.

As captain, he led Mousehole to a record-breaking and historic ‘double’ in the 2015/16 season, winning both the South West Peninsula League Division One West and the Cornwall Charity Cup.

After a serious season-ending injury near the start of the 2016/17 campaign, he joined nearby Ludgvan for a year,  returning to Mousehole for the 2018/19 season.

He was a key defensive midfield player during The Seagulls two-Step promotion years, and is noted for scoring the team’s first-ever goal at the club’s highest-ever playing level – the Western League Premier Division – at the start of the 2021/22 season (against Wellington).

Before the home match against Exmouth Town at the end of March of that season, Burtie was presented with a plaque to commemorate 250 First Team appearances for the club.

Jake added: “I don’t think you’ll find a single person in football or the world in general who has a single bad word to say about him. Everything he does, he does with real integrity and honesty. He’s been an absolute pleasure to manage.”

Having made another 36 appearances in this season’s League title-winning side, Steve Burt retires with a Mousehole career total of 288 appearances and 11 goals. His final appearance for the club saw him lift the Western League trophy after a 3-0 win against Wellington.

by Pablo Woolls-Blanco

Mousehole have completed the signing of forward Tim Nixon from Falmouth Town. The 30-year-old will begin training with Jake Ash’s team on the 29th of June and is likely to make his debut against Hayle on the 8th of July.

An exciting pre-season schedule including visits from Exeter City and Dorking Wanderers also awaits Nixon, as he returns to the club.

Tim Nixon played for Mousehole between 2015 and 2017, where he won the double in the 2015/16 season. Nixon then went on to join Bodmin Town, whom he left for Falmouth Town in 2018, where he has spent the last five years of his career up until now.
Nixon made 172 appearances for Falmouth Town, racking up 67 goals. He was also part of Falmouth’s 2021/22 treble-winning side alongside current Mousehole striker Jack Bray-Evans. Nixon comes off the back of a very impressive individual season for Falmouth Town, picking up 16 goals in 29 starts as a wide player, finishing the season as the club’s top scorer and Players’ Player of the Year.

When asked about how it feels to have re-signed for Mousehole, Nixon stated:
“I’m buzzing to be fair. It’s been a bit of a long-time coming. It’s almost like a family – they’ve always welcomed me back, so it will be good to be back for good.”

On what Mousehole fans can expect in the upcoming season:
“I’m a technical player – going forward I’m always a threat. I’m quite versatile, I can play on the left and the right – even through the middle. I’m fit as well, so I like to get around the pitch.”

On leaving Falmouth Town:
“It was definitely a hard decision. Not an easy one at all. I’ve been there for a long time – the longest time I’ve ever been at a club. I’ll always hold it in the highest regard. It was a tough decision to make – I’ve had a lot of time to think about it, but the opportunity to play at a higher level was something I couldn’t say no to. I wish Falmouth all the best for the future.”
On competing in the Southern League next season:
“It will be the highest level I’ve played at. To play at Step Four was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down. It’s something I’m really excited about, and I know everyone at Mousehole is really excited about it too. It’s really great to be onboard.”

Manager Jake Ash expressed his delight at wrapping up Nixon’s signature:
“I played with Tim when he was younger and if I was to have a criticism of him then it would have been that for all his good work, he perhaps didn’t score or create enough. But the last few seasons he seems to have improved year on year at Falmouth.
We know lots about him, so it was great to get Macca (Macauley Musgrave) watch a few of his games and get a new set of eyes on him. I rewatched our games and a few other games I got access to and his work rate and ability to carry the ball and move a team up the pitch is a real asset.”

Head of Football Adam Fletcher spoke on the club’s excitement at Nixon’s arrival:
“It’s great to have Tim back at Mousehole. It’ll be great to have someone who was a part of the club before this new journey began come back and join us going into this new chapter we are about to embark on.
More importantly though, Tim is a forward player that has immense quality, scores goals, and has energy on and off the ball. A really exciting addition to an already strong forward line.”

Join us on our journey into the Southern League by sponsoring your favourite player at Mousehole AFC

Sponsorship packages are available for all first-team players at Mousehole plus our backroom staff. Sponsorships help cover the costs of player kit and away travel over the season. The package includes:

• Your name and/or company logo on player bio on club website, programme and social media posts
• Your logo next to all player interviews on the club videos
• Sponsor’s name shout-out on club PA system for lineup and scoring
• Social Media follow by player/club on Twitter
• An exclusive invitation to meet your player and have a picture taken
• End of season awards dinner invitation
• First refusal to sponsor your chosen player for the following campaign

COST: £350 per player for the season

You can purchase your player sponsorship online. Please get in touch with Ben Gibson BenGibson@mouseholeafc.co.uk or 07732 177881 for more details.

By Kevin Bishop

Being the only girl in a boys’ football team and learning her skills from David Beckham’s physio – those are the qualities our new sports rehab coach brings to her role at Mousehole AFC.

Mousehole AFC are delighted to welcome Beth Prouse to the backroom staff as our new sports rehabilitation coach, working under Gareth O’Neill our Head of Medical and Athletic Performance and alongside Matchday Medic, Ben Gibson. Talking to Beth just after a Coldplay concert in Cardiff and before she sets off for holiday followed by a month at West Ham, she told us she’s raring to go:

“With the amazing season that you’ve just had, and then trying to build on that, I want to be a part of that journey now you’re in the Southern League and hopefully do quite well next year. And you never know, maybe another title..”

Beth went to Redruth School where her PE teacher, and now Head Teacher, Craig Bonds had a huge influence on her: “My mum made me do ballet when I was younger, and I hated it. I really wanted to try football. So I tried it playing with the boys at break time and they suggested I come along to St Day. So then I kind of just excelled and through school but yeah, Craig Bonds gave us unbelievable opportunities, like playing rugby at Twickenham Stadium.”

Beth was the only girl in the boys’ team at St Day until the age of 16, something she feels has prepared her well for life at Mousehole: “To start with it was hard, but I just held my own. I did what I needed to do. And I didn’t let the boys affect me. It was until under 16 level when I was a victim of sexism and things like that. I nearly stopped playing. But up until that point, I almost felt happy after a game because if a boy was knocked off the ball because of me, they would then go home feeling a bit down, but then I’ll be like, Ha, yeah. You just lost to a girl!”

After graduating from Truro College with A levels in biology, geography and PE, Beth studied Sports Rehab at St Mary’s University in London. During her time there she had placements at Aldershot Town FC and Barnes Rugby Club, but it was during her time at Anatomie, a Sports Clinic in London that she gained some real celebrity experience. Solomon Abrahams is a physiotherapist and acupuncturist who has worked with Arsenal FC and is also currently personal physio to David Beckham. “Just a few weeks before I went there, David Beckham was actually in the studio. So that was incredible”. 

Photo: Anatomie.co.uk

Before joining Mousehole for the new season, Beth is spending a month at West Ham as part of a programme called Choices International. She’ll be working with 11-17-year-olds from Spain helping with the physio provision for the teams there. 

Beth will then join the Mousehole training set-up at Tuesday training sessions at Penwith College and every Saturday match. First-team manager Jake Ash is thrilled to have Beth on board: “We are so chuffed that Beth is going to join us next season to work with Gareth and Gibbo, to help the boys as needed. The boys know how hard it is to impress Gareth, so I was buzzing when he gave her a glowing recommendation after speaking to her!”

Beth is relishing the opportunity and is not fazed by being the only woman in an all-male team. In fact, some of the comments she received as a teenage girl in a boys’ team have made her stronger:

“I kind of just take it on the chin. I almost build from it, because then I think I can’t let it get me down. It will just motivate me to do better and achieve more. And to be honest, yeah, I’ve proven those people wrong. So then it makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something within me.”

Beth feels that her experiences playing football growing up and the confidence she has gained from her time at St Marys have prepared her well for her new role and she can’t wait to get going with the team. 

“I just think they’re going to be brilliant. I’m looking forward to the banter – I can’t wait to work with them.”

Chairman and manager delighted as awards reflect true success of club this season. 

By Kevin Bishop

It was a great night for Mousehole AFC first team and staff last night at the annual awards night – the “Oscars” of the league – held at Plymouth’s Crowne Plaza Hotel. Along with awards for winning the Western League Premier in 2022/23 and another to recognise their promotion from the league, Mousehole picked up two awards for their players and staff. 

Jake Ash was named manager of the season and Hayden Turner received the Golden Boot for most goals scored in the season. The Seagulls’ winger clocked up 23 goals and 18 assists in the League. 

The dinner marked Mousehole’s last formal involvement in the Western League. Next season they will compete in the Pitching In Southern League, Step 4 of the English National League System. Mousehole Chairman Deryk Heywood was in Plymouth to accept the awards on behalf of the club: “I felt very honoured to be part of a special evening. We are leaving behind some special people we have met on our journey. The collection of awards highlighted the true success of the club’s season”.

Mousehole gained promotion after just two seasons in the Western League, securing the championship on the final day of the season with a 3-0 win over Wellington at Trungle Parc. The battle for promotion has been filmed for the latest episode of the club’s YouTube series Way Out West. 

First team manager Jake Ash emphasized that the backroom work at the club is very much a team effort: “I’m really honoured to win the award and although it’s got my name on it it should have Andy, Jack, Ben, Gareth, Adam, Kieran and Jon’s name on there too. We are a team and the success this year is as much down to them as it is me and the team. The staff we have here are incredible, I’m so lucky to work with them and for that hard work I’m really pleased that we’ve been recognised with this award.”

Hayden Turner is delighted with his form over the promotion campaign: “It’s tough to put into words how happy I was with this season, both from a personal and team perspective. I felt last season I didn’t hit the levels I wanted to in terms of goals and assists. So to be able to play a part in a large number of the goals we scored this year, both scoring and assisting, makes me really happy. Thankfully, we got the reward the club deserved, and that makes me even more excited for next season and the challenges the league above will bring.”

Preparations for Mousehole’s first season at Step 4 have already begun with an intensive running programme already underway. The Seagulls start their pre-season friendlies away at Hayle on July 8^th, followed by home fixtures against Exeter City, Dorking Wanderers and Upton Park FC over the following ten days. You can find full details and purchase tickets here.