Over 100 Seagulls’ players, partners and supporters attended The Lugger Inn, Penzance, on Friday 1^st June to celebrate a highly successful season for the club as a whole.

The opening presentation by Ezra Chapman referred to the many successes on the playing side. The First team finished 4^th in the South West Peninsula League West Division as well as winning the Cornwall Charity Cup and reaching the Cornwall Senior Cup for the first time in the club’s history.  The Reserves were promoted to the Trelawny League Premier Division as champions of Division 1, with only one defeat and a record-breaking 100% away record.  The newly-established Thirds finished in fourth place in Trelawny League Division 4 with a team assembled only at the start of the season.  Mousehole Women recorded their highest-ever position as they came runners-up in the Cornwall Women’s League, beaten only by champions St Agnes.

In terms of infrastructure, the club had quadrupled the number of teams to 13, including nine youth teams, and trebled the number of registered players.  Improvements had been made to Trungle Parc, planning permission was in place for floodlights and the ground now met the standards of the League above.  Many other developments were in the pipeline as the club continues into an era of significant change.  The Committee had been strengthened and there are up to 35 volunteers who regularly contribute their time and expertise to the running and further development of the club.

Votes for player awards were as follows:

Club player of the year was Luke Johnson

First teamer Jake Andrew picked up three awards:  Manager’s player of the season, Most improved player and top-goalscorer with 25 in total.

Third team player Jowan May was his team’s leading goalscorer and also the top scorer in the whole club with 38 goals.

Top goal-scorer for the Reserves’ was Chris Bullock (28 goals) and for the Women’s team Sophie Wilson (30)

The club’s young male player of the year was Tyler Tonkin and the young female player was Megan Edwards, while Josh Storey was the most promising player.

The First team player’s player was Liam Andrew.

For the Reserves, the Manager’s player was Jason ‘JJ’ Simmonds, while the players’ player was Nathan Goodspeed.

The Third team Manager’s player was Kalon Mayes and the players’ player was Joe Gibson.

For the Women’s team, the Manager’s player of the season was Carly Jacka, the players’ player was Katy Barker, and the most improved player Flo Davies Kirsop.
Sportsman of the year was Tom George.

On the non-playing side the following awards were announced:

Club person of the season: Andrew Large
Supporter of the year: Antony ‘AJ’ Munro
Chairman’s Special Award: Ben Gibson

*At the South West Peninsula League Annual Presentation evening in Plymouth on Saturday 2^nd June, Mousehole AFC were awarded prize money for their League Cup progress (the longest West Division surviving team in this season’s competition, and losing semi-finalists), and for finishing 4^th in the table as well as runners-up in the ‘Respect’ scores.  They also had the second best average home attendance (92) in Division One West, which was better than that of 9 of the 20 clubs in the Premier Division.

MOUSEHOLE 5-0 WADEBRIDGE TOWN

CORNWALL FA ‘DURNING LAWRENCE’ CHARITY CUP FINAL

FRIDAY 25^TH MAY 2018, AT PENRYN ATHLETIC AFC

Mousehole finished off their season with a performance of style and power – and goals to grace any Final – to lift the Charity Cup with a convincing 5-0 scoreline for the second time in three years.

The Seagulls had progressed to this season’s Final of the 16-club competition having conceded only one goal in wins over Ludgvan, Penzance and Liskeard Athletic, while Wadebridge had beaten champions-in-waiting Millbrook, Carharrack and St Blazey.

The Cup was donated by Truro MP Sir Edward Durning Lawrence over 100 years ago,  and this year’s chosen charity is the Invictus Trust, a Cornwall-based organisation set up recently for teenagers who need mental health support  (more information at www.invictustrust.co.uk).

Mousehole had finished their South West Peninsula League Division 1 West season in fourth place after a remarkable run of form from October, with only three League losses in 24 matches, together with narrow defeats to higher-league opposition in the League Cup semi-final and in a first-ever Senior Cup Final appearance.  The Bridgers had achieved seventh place, falling away after a promising start to the season, and had already been beaten by Mousehole 3-1 at home and 6-0 away.

The kick-off to the delayed Final – eventually scheduled three weeks after the official end of the League season – was preceded by the on-pitch presentation by the Cornwall FA of a Cap to Mousehole’s talented youngster Josh Otto in recognition of his eight appearances for the County’s Under-18s.

The match got off to a high tempo start in front of a sizeable crowd made up mostly of Seagulls supporters, and it was a highly committed Mousehole side – fielding five players from the 5-0 Final win over St Dennis two years ago – who completely dominated the first half.  Jamie Thomson had a goalbound shot deflected for a corner after 2 minutes and Tyler Tonkin volleyed just over from 25 yards in the next attack.  Goalkeeper Rob Rosevear made a great save from Luke Johnson’s fierce drive in the 15^th minute, but on 24 the striker opened the scoring with dazzling 50-yard run at speed past two defenders and an unstoppable drive high into the net from just inside the box.

In the five minutes before the interval, Mousehole came close to increasing the lead their play deserved, Paulo Sousa firing wide from 18 yards, Luke Johnson denied again by Rosevear and shortly afterwards sliding a shot across goal and just wide.

The second half opened with Wadebridge fortunate to be only one goal down but showing some belief as Nathan Bonney fired a half-chance over the bar from an angle on 48.  But another spectacular goal saw Mousehole go two up in the 51^st minute as Kevin Lawrence – making an impressive return to his former club territory – met a square pass with a first-time side-footed inch-perfect shot into the top left-hand corner from a central position 20 yards out.

Wadebridge created a chance after a breakaway on 56 minutes when 37-goal top scorer Dan Jennings had a shot blocked, and two minutes later Mousehole had a self-inflicted scare when ‘keeper Steve Parker-Billinge’s miskick from a difficult back pass trickled narrowly wide.  At the other end Kevin Lawrence put paid to any chance of a Bridgers’ comeback when he broke through two defenders’ tackles in the left-hand corner of the penalty area and swerved a brilliant right-footed shot just inside the far post for 3-0 on 64 minutes.

And it became 4-0 after 79 minutes with another ‘goal of the season’ contender.  This time Luke Johnson released Tyler Tonkin for a rampaging run down the right and his chipped ball into the middle was volleyed acrobatically into the roof of the net by Jake Andrew from around the penalty spot.  And the striker was on hand again in the first minute of added time, as youngster Louis Graham – with his first touch after coming on as a substitute – moved the ball forward adeptly into space where Andrew won the challenge with the converging defender and goalkeeper to roll the ball into an empty net.

So with the First team’s season ending on a memorable evening, the Reserves gaining promotion as Champions, the newly created Thirds finishing a creditable fourth, the Women’s team achieving a highest ever runners-up spot, and the new Youth teams showing great promise, Mousehole AFC have much to be proud of and, just as importantly, a great deal to look forward to next season and beyond.

Mousehole:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Tyler Tonkin, Billy Curtis (c), Liam Andrew, Calum Eliot, Kevin Lawrence, Jamie Thomson, Josh Otto, Paulo Sousa, Luke Johnson, Jake Andrew.    Substitutes:  Connor Davey (for Josh Otto, 64), Jordan Adlard (for Jamie Thomson, 85), Louis Graham (for Paulo Sousa, 90), Paul Williams

Scorers:  Luke Johnson (24), Kevin Lawrence (51, 64), Jake Andrew (79, 90+1).

Officials:  Martin Ault (Referee), Marc Rose & Stephen Nute (Assistant Referees), Shaun Edge (Fourth Official).

Mousehole and the Endorsed Academy have significantly bolstered their strategy for a bright future with the appointment of Sam Shulberg, who will play a multiple role in the club’s long-term plans.

Shulberg was the First-team goalkeeping coach at Yeovil Town – the youngest in Football League history – and stepped in as Assistant Manager on an occasion, as well as being instrumental in the set up of their Academy.  Joining from Torquay United where he began coaching the First team and ended up running the Academy, he is a UEFA-qualified coach. 

As the inaugural Head of Education for the Endorsed Academy, the 23-year old will be responsible for both Further and Higher Education Learning, which will form an integral and vital part of the partnership between Endorsed and Mousehole AFC.  

The 23-year old is full of enthusiasm for his new venture:  “The ambitious developments and vision of Mousehole and the Endorsed Academy are very much in line with my own thinking.  I’m delighted to be able to make a contribution as we continue to realise the potential in this untouched ‘goldmine’ area for young talent. I’m looking forward to breaking new ground with the Head of Education role, as we develop exciting plans to build an incredible club and sports platform in Cornwall.”

Shulberg is no stranger to Mousehole, as he deputised in goal for the injured Steve Parker-Billinge when The Seagulls pulled off a shock 3-2 win in the League Cup at unbeaten leaders Ludgvan earlier in the season.

HAYLE RESERVES 3-5 MOUSEHOLE RESERVES

TRELAWNY LEAGUE DIVISION 1

SATURDAY 28^TH APRIL 2018

AT TREVASSACK PARK 3G PITCH

 Mousehole Reserves completed their League fixtures and finished off a memorable week – having guaranteed themselves promotion three games previously and then securing the title at RNAS Culdrose on Wednesday – with another win in an exciting end-to-end game at third-place Hayle Reserves on Saturday.

Their superb playing record for the League season reads:  Played 20, Won 17, Drawn 2 and Lost 1, with 78 goals scored and 18 conceded.  Those stats, remarkable in themselves, conceal a fascinating club record in that they won all ten of their away games during the season, the only  Mousehole team to achieve that in living memory.

Playing their fourth game in a week, The Seagulls were without Matt Howes, JJ Simmonds and Lee Robinson, but still had enough strength in depth in the squad to put a competitive side on the field.  It took a lot of effort to get going and start playing in the more accustomed manner, with early shots on goal from Tom Hooper and Nathan Goodspeed going wide of the target, and Jonathan Fitchett in the Mousehole goal having a busy period and just managing to finger tip a Hayle shot over the bar.

However, against the flow of play The Seagulls scored the opener with a combination between Chris Bullock and Tom Patrick whose shot found the back of the net.

Hayle then started to pile on the pressure, the Mousehole defence looking in trouble as numerous attacks started to break through the line, and it took some sterling work by Player-Manager Harry Tonkin to calm the situation.  But Hayle were rewarded for the efforts when a forward dribbled past several defenders to shoot home for an equaliser.  Fitchett was called on again to make a superb save to keep the scores level, though he was powerless as Hayle scored their second to take the lead a minute before the half-time whistle.

Following the start of the second half Mousehole appeared more focused, and good work by the forwards resulted in several on-target shots.  The Hayle ‘keeper made a fine save to keep out a Chris Bullock free kick at the expense of a corner, but from the resulting flag-kick Josh Storey headed in to make it 2-2.    Shortly afterwards Michael Fitchett’s mid-air challenge resulted in a head injury and he was replaced by Caleb Marsden.  Marsden had missed the two midweek games through injury but he quickly established some influence and a few minutes after shooting just wide of the post he scored to put Mousehole into the lead again at 3-2.

Responding to this setback Hayle were awarded a penalty, but the spot kick hit the upright and was netted on the re-bound, with the assistant referee flagging for offside but over-ruled by the referee, so that the scores were now level at 3-3.  Back came Mousehole, and Josh Storey popped up for his second goal to take the score to 4-3.  It was not long before Mousehole were awarded a penalty of their own, and after some ‘discussion’ it was the captain’s decision to give the opportunity to Josh Storey, and he duly despatched the kick for his hat-trick to complete the scoring.

After another ‘Flying All Together’ performance, the League Championship Shield was presented by a Cornwall FA official to Mousehole Reserves’ captain Joe Davies and the team, together with individual player medals.

The squad has developed a winning mentality, as evidenced by their season’s playing record, and the only ‘what-might-have-been’ is the other silverware they might have picked up if the various Cup competitions had not been cancelled after a weather-disrupted few months.

So, Harry Tonkin and Mark Trevail’s men return to the Trelawny League Premier Division just one season after relegation, and they will be looking to continue their impressive form at the higher level when the new campaign gets under way in late August.

Mousehole Reserves on the day:  Jonathan Fitchett, Joe Davies (captain), Tom McGarry, Harry Tonkin, Michael Fitchett, Chris Bullock, Jamie Simons, Tom Hooper, Nathan Goodspeed, Caleb Marsden, Josh Storey, Louis Main, Kyle Bickmore, Mark Trevail, Tom Patrick, Tom George.

 MOUSEHOLE v MILLBROOK

SATURDAY 28^TH APRIL 2018

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

AT TRUNGLE PARC, KICK OFF 3PM

Fifth-place Mousehole face top-of-the-table Millbrook tomorrow in a vital match for both teams.

If Mousehole continue their fine winning form, with three victories in a row under new Player-Manager Calum Elliot, they will remain in touching distance of the four teams above them – Millbrook, Liskeard, Ludgvan and Porthleven.  And with points guaranteed to be dropped in the Liskeard v Ludgvan encounter on the same day and another four matches to play involving top-six ‘head to heads’, it could make for a very interesting last few games of the season, with the six title rivals currently separated by only seven points.

If however Millbrook win at Trungle Parc – on paper the most difficult of their remaining five games – they will continue to lead the table and at the same time have a nine point advantage and greatly superior goal difference over The Seagulls, who will then have only three games left.

Millbrook have lost only three League games all season and beat Mousehole 4-1 at Jenkins Park on 19^th August.  They have not lost a League match since a floodlit 4-2 defeat at Elburton Villa on 17^th October, since when they have won 11 and drawn 4.  Their other previous defeats were 1-0 at Illogan and 3-0 at home to Penzance.  Millbrook are the Division’s highest scorers with 88 goals – one better than Liskeard – and have conceded 37 – again one better than Liskeard and equal to Elburton. They have two players in the ‘Golden Boot’ charts – Rikki Shepherd with 15 goals and Ryan Knight with 14.

The club is expecting a sizeable crowd for this important fixture and car drivers are asked to arrive early to avoid traffic congestion on entry to the ground.  The clubhouse will be open as usual from early on, with all-comers welcome, and a free match programme will be available.

Following the news that senior player Calum Elliot will take the reins as First team Manager, Mousehole AFC are delighted to announce that Dave Leonard will remain in a leadership role with The Seagulls.

Calum Elliot has moved quickly to agree that Dave will take on the role of Player Liaison, which involves communication with players and promoting the club across the county.  Elliot regards Dave as having enormous energy as well as an ambitious vision for the club and is looking forward to an effective working relationship.

Leonard was pleased to be able to clarify his position at Mousehole:  “Following recent changes and developments, I am really looking forward to continuing in a specific role as player liaison and leadership support to help Mousehole Football Club achieve their ambition of promotion and progression.  I have so far greatly enjoyed my time at the club and am committed to working closely with the leadership team to help develop and promote the club in realising its long term strategy”.

The club would like to put on record its thanks for Dave Leonard’s effort, commitment and professionalism and we look forward to continue working together.

#FlyingAllTogether

The club have parted company with 1st Team Manager Kevin Richards with immediate effect.

The club would like to thank Kevin for his contribution to this season and wish him all the best for the future.

1st Team player/assistant manager Calum Elliot will lead the team until the end of the season.

#cornishfootball #flyingalltogether #FAT

PENZANCE 1-4 MOUSEHOLE

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

GOOD FRIDAY, 30^TH MARCH, AT PENLEE PARK 

The Good Friday morning ‘local derby’ saw Mousehole gain their third win of the season against their local rivals and in so doing secure the necessary points to maintain their position among the promotion challengers.

The Seagulls had beaten The Magpies twice at home, 2-0 on Boxing Day in the League and 4-0 in February in the quarter finals of the Cornwall Charity Cup, and this was another fiercely contested encounter.  A much-changed Penzance side – including ex-Seagulls’ Player-Manager Wayne Quinn returning after injury to play the first 45 minutes – came back strongly in the early part of the second half after trailing 2-0 at the interval.

Mousehole dominated the first half, taking the lead on 18 minutes when Will Vouama made a direct 40-yard run at the right side of the back-pedalling Penzance defence before striking a low left-footed shot into the far corner of Dom Angove’s goal.  The ‘keeper then kept out Luke Johnson’s shot with his legs in the 35^th minute and Jake Andrew headed just wide four minutes later from Paulo Sousa’s flighted free kick.  But Andrew made no mistake on the stroke of half-time to double the lead deservedly with a downward header from six yards after a short-corner routine between Sousa and Kevin Lawrence had created the chance.

Penzance started the second period brightly, with Lewis Caspall’s inswinging corner marginally out of reach of Mark Vercesi in front of goal on 48 minutes, and ‘keeper Steve Parker-Billinge just able to deflect a dangerous low cross-shot past the post a minute later.  And they got back into the game on 66 minutes when Billy Curtis’ sliding tackle on Lewis Caspall was judged by Referee Luke Wilkes to be worthy of a penalty and the former Seagull despatched the spot kick despite Parker-Billinge getting a hand to the ball.

With the game now end-to-end and the tackles getting more determined, Mousehole had a flurry of close-range shots blocked on 70 minutes, Mark Vercesi drove in a 25-yard free kick kept out by Parker-Billinge’s dive two minutes later, and in the next action Referee Wilkes awarded a corner rather than a likely-looking penalty after Will Vouama’s jinking run through the home defence had been halted.

With Vouama injured in the tackle, Steven Ziboth came on as substitute and played a crucial role in Mousehole’s third goal, skilfully holding on to the ball on the left of the penalty area to set up Jamie Thomson for a low drive into the corner from a central position 18 yards out in the 79^th minute, the experienced midfielder’s first goal for Mousehole since transferring from Helston Athletic.

And a well-worked move resulted in The Seagulls’ fourth goal on 86 minutes.  Calum Elliot and Kevin Lawrence’s quickly-taken free kick found Josh Otto in space, and the youngster’s flick inside the full back enabled substitute Chris Prout to send over a perfect cross from the byeline for Jake Andrew again in the right place to head home from six yards, for his fifth goal of the season against his former club after his hat-trick in February.

After the Cornwall Senior Cup Final against Premier Division Saltash United on Monday at St Blazey, Mousehole return to the same venue on Wednesday for an important League clash with the host club, followed by a home League match against Wendron United at Trungle Parc on Saturday (7^th), kick off 3pm.  The following week sees the Cornwall Charity Cup semi-final against Liskeard Athletic on either Tuesday 10^th or Wednesday 11^th with the venue yet to be confirmed.

Mousehole v Penzance:  Steve Parker-Billinge, Billy Curtis (captain), Liam Andrew, Calum Elliot, Kevin Lawrence, Jamie Thomson, Josh Otto, Paulo Sousa, Luke Johnson, Jake Andrew, Will Vouama.

Substitutes:  Connor Davey (for Luke Johnson, 65), Steven Ziboth (for Will Vouama, 77), Chris Prout (for Paulo Sousa, 78), Paul Williams.

Scorers:  Mousehole – Will Vouama (18,), Jake Andrew (45, 86), Jamie Thomson (79);  Penzance – Lewis Caspall (66 pen)

Referee:  Luke Wilkes.     Attendance:  Not known.

MOUSEHOLE 0-1 ELBURTON VILLA

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE, DIVISION 1 WEST

SATURDAY 24^TH MARCH 2018, AT TRUNGLE PARC 

After their heroic mid-week exertions in the League Cup semi-final against Premier Division Tavistock, Mousehole returned to League action on Saturday against Elburton Villa with both sides in search of crucial points to maintain their challenge in the ‘mix’ at the top of the table.  And just when the game looked to be heading for a 0-0 draw, it was the Plymouth-based visitors who grabbed the winner in the first minute of added time to make it five consecutive wins without conceding a goal and ruin The Seagulls’ 100% home record.

The run of form has seen The Villa side become the ‘dark horses’ of the promotion race in their second season since relegation from the Premier Division.  Only seven points now separate the top seven teams, with Mousehole in the middle of the pack, but they all have a different number of games to play, including against each other, so the race is still wide open.  The Seagulls have played more games than the rest, but with ten games left and six of those at home they are still in with a great chance, despite dropping points on Saturday.

Mousehole gave a debut to Torquay United’s 19-year old goalkeeper Neal Osborn, but in a game in which both teams’ defences were dominant, neither he nor Jack Dixon at the other end had a single shot to save.  In fact, the match was notable for fewer goal chances than yellow cards, as both sides put in some determined challenges with the visitors in particular expressing overt displeasure at most of the refereeing decisions that went against them.

The Seagulls had slightly the better of the first half, a Paulo Sousa free kick from 25 yards spinning just past the angle on 18 minutes, Steven Ziboth poking a shot from the left past the far post after clever set-up play by Will Vouama on 20, and Jake Andrew scuffing a shot wide from 12 yards after 28 minutes.

Will Vouama continued to be Mousehole’s main man in the early stages of the second half, his weaving run from the halfway line being blocked illegally right on the 18-yard line in the 55^th minute, and another penetrating run on 72 also earning a 20-yard free kick.  But Elburton stood firm and started to fashion chances of their own.  Captain Lewis Chrimes got in a great position from a threatening free kick but put his header into the side netting from close range on 73, and from that moment on the game opened up.  Five minutes from the end The Villa withstood a flurry of attacks with Vouama again the creator and Calum Elliot up front to spearhead the attack, but on 90 minutes Villa’s 17-goal dangerman Nick Aplin came close with a 20-yard shot deflected just over the bar.  From the inswinging corner the ball was only half cleared and Josh Tattersall was in space 15 yards out to volley a low shot through a crowd of players into the far corner.

Mousehole have the oppportunity to get back to winning ways with the Good Friday local derby against Penzance at Penlee Parc (11am), but Wayne Quinn’s side have gained some creditable results in recent weeks, lifting them up to 9^th in the table, seven points below Mousehole with a game in hand, and will be looking to avenge their two defeats to The Seagulls at Trungle Parc this season – 2-0 in the League on Boxing Day and 4-0 in the Cornwall Charity Cup quarter-final in mid-February.

Mousehole v Elburton Villa:  N Osborn, B Curtis (c), C Elliot, L Andrew, P Sousa, J Adlard, R Holland, W Vouama, L Johnson, J Andrew, S Ziboth

Substitutes:  J Otto (for J Andrew, 85), K Lawrence (for R Holland, 86), J Thomson, C Davey

Scorer:  Elburton Villa – J Tattersall, 90+1

Referee:  Kevin Knowles.     Attendance:  84.