The following article was originally published in the printed programme for the Mousehole v Malvern match on 17th August 2024. To purchase back issues of Mousehole matchday programmes, visit our club shop.

It’s Sunday the 14^th July and Jack Calver is stretching his willpower to the limit. Two hours before England kick off in the Euro 2024 final against Spain. But Mousehole have a big game the next day – Exeter City at home and their captain knows where his priorities lie.

I ask him if he might be tempted to sneak out for a beer.

“No chance. One of my mates, Billy from Truro, just rang me saying  ‘I’m outside yours. Like, well, just around the corner picking someone up, I’ll get you’. I was like, No, do not come to my house.”

For Jack, football is life. He started playing for Plymouth Argyle when he was seven, nineteen years ago.

“There was I think eight of us from Looe, our nine aside team, eight of the lads were all asked to go up at the same time. So we’re all buzzing, obviously. Then a few of the lads sort of got to the age where you had to make a decision between your local team or Argyle, and a few of the boys knocked it on the head and said too much commitment. But I carried on.” 

The hours as an apprentice at Argyle were long. Two training sessions a day, staying behind to clean up after the first team.

“It was something of a drag, but then it all changed when you got that first year pro, you were obviously being able to train and then go when you wanted after training. So that was quite nice. But even that, I don’t know, it was a lot of commitment, obviously, but I suppose you do it if you want to try and make it in the game. So it was all worth it I think.”

After leaving Argyle, Jack had spells with Bideford and Plymouth Parkway. He came to Mousehole in the 21/22 season and was made captain for their second campaign in the Western League, following the departure of Billy Curtis. 

“Jake pulled me aside before the Tavistock friendly and said Billy’s going, I’d like you to step up and be captain for the season. And I was buzzing, to be honest. It just, I don’t know, I was very proud, because Mousehole is such a good club, and the fans love it down there. So to be captain of a big club like Mousehole… Yeah, I was very honoured.”

Throughout his footballing journey, Mum and Dad Les and Lynne have been there. 

“They’ve drove me a lot in the last few years as a well, since I joined Argyle, they were traveling up to the likes of Oxford, Swindon, Cheltenham, Portsmouth, all them sort of places on their own just to watch 11 o’clock kickoffs in the morning. They were leaving Looe at stupid o’clock just to get out there and make kickoff. Even now at Mousehole they’re there every game, home and away. On the coach with us. So yeah, they are a massive part of my footballing life.”

Dad Les is a constant vocal presence on matchdays.

“Mum went for a stage few years ago when she actually used to stand away from him, because he’s just constant. He doesn’t shut up. He’s relentless, going at the refs. their management. I look over sometimes and he’s just sort of trying to gee me up. And I’m like, shut up. Leave me to it, let me do let me do it. But, yeah, he gets so into it. He loves it.”

Jack went on the lead the team to the Western League title in his first season. His memories of that rainy April day when he lifted the trophy will stick long in his memory. 

“That’s the best day of my football and career so far. 100%. It was nine months of graft.     A lot of people don’t see how much hard work we put into training, We travel and make an effort for the training Tuesdays and Thursdays, horrible weather, away days, long hours. I think people sort of take that for granted, but the lads, we all worked so hard that season, I think we finally got our awards. So yeah, I was over the moon that we could achieve what the club wanted to and what we deserved.”

Jack describes himself as a winner who hates losing – always miserable after a loss. He’s had one or two bouts of injury over the last two years but is a constant presence at every match. In the changing room or on the sidelines, being vocal and encouraging the team.  The low point last season in the late autumn when the team went on an extended losing streak was a real challenge, but he was determined to tough it out and it paid off with Mousehole eventually turning their season around in style. 

“Jeez, that was bad. we lost about five or six on the bounce. And you’re like, what? What’s going so wrong. But then I thought, Nah, you can’t just knock it on the head now, because that’s an easy way out. So you’ve got to sort of step up and try and, you know, prove that you are good enough and the team are good enough to get themselves out of this situation. And we did that obviously finishing in the playoffs. So it was a real testament to everyone.”

Jack has signed for his third season as captain and is relishing the challenge of – perhaps – a campaign that will end even better than the excitement of last May. For him though, the real driver is playing for a club he describes as having “such a good feeling”.

“I knew that I was always going to end up at Mousehole. I haven’t looked back, to be honest, this decision I’ve made.  I think joining the club because such good family club, a forward-thinking club, it’s amazing. They just want to go up and up and up. 

And I want to be part of that.”

Injuries Finally Catch Up With Seagulls

A bird can’t fly with an injured wing but Mousehole have managed to reach the top of the league with several crocked players. It had to catch up with them in the end and frustratingly it did so in a local derby as they fell to their first league defeat of the season away at Helston.

Early goals were conceded at set pieces either side of Ryan Tresidder going off with a pulled hamstring. With no chances created in the first half, it looked like the second forty-five minutes would be a tough ask but a patched-up Mousehole found some form.

A goal early in the second half created by the mini-maestro Symons and finished superbly by Goldsworthy looked like it might be the foundation of a comeback win. Hopes were dashed though when an unfortunate deflection let in Helston for a third. This was quickly followed by another set-piece concession to make it 4-1 to the newly promoted home side.

Mousehole didn’t give up though and with fifteen minutes to go hope was restored when Symons latched on to a Fresnada through ball and reduced the deficit to two.

Sufficient chances were created to save a point but sadly non were converted and the 100% start came to an end. Taking in the last five matches of last season that was a run of eight wins in a row!

There’s twelve days till the next match so time to lick wounds and restore muscles. In spite of this defeat nine points from four games represents a great start to the season.

A Gritty Three Points

An even first half saw Mousehole take the lead when Nixon floated a perfect cross to the far post. Turner rose high and nodded it in but frustratingly hit the post with his knee on the way down. His game was run but the match had a long way to go.

With Max Hill having left the field due to a pulled muscle the Seagulls’ defence were stretched, unlike the lanky Yorkshireman’s hamstring, and so it was no surprise when Malvern equalised just before half time.

With two of the team’s star performers already back in civvies the second half was always going to be a battle and it was quickly evident that Jake Ash’s half time team talk had been sprinkled with grit. Going against type Mousehole often played it long but they took the lead on 50 minutes thanks to a typically flowing move.

Ryan Tresidder received the ball in a tight spot on the left wing but showed remarkable footwork to outfox his marker and stride away up the line. He rolled it forward for Nixon who ghosted past his full back and got in to the box. Just before he was fouled he played it across for stalwart centre forward Mark Goldsworthy to slide it in. Three goals in three home games show that Golden Oldie Goldie is rolling back the years.

With forty minutes to go it seemed that Malvern had to get the equaliser and maybe a winner but the Mousehole of 2024 are made of tougher stuff. Bodies were put on the line as wave after wave of attack crashed into the home side’s box but the defence was not breached. The defence were magnificent but deserved Player of the Match winner Ollie Chenoweth was head and shoulders above every player on the pitch, metaphorically and literally. One save with about 15 minutes to go was world class as the Malvern number 9 fired a header into the top corner. He was already peeling away to celebrate but he didn’t account for Chenoweth intercepting the goal bound effort. Ollie punched the air and the home crowd celebrated like it was a goal. It was really worth two as an equaliser at that point could have seen Malvern go on to win.

The five minutes of time added on seemed to last several weeks and so the final whistle was greeted like a long lost relative with hugs and cheers around Trungle. Three more points, top of the league, and a day to remember.

Full Time 2-1
MOTM – Ollie Chenoweth
Att 167

A tight first half in which Mousehole just edged it on chances, ended 1-0 to Willand thanks to a penalty following a defensive mix up.

The second half began with another penalty for Willand, this one hotly disputed by the home team, and a surprise to Willand. River Allen scored again.

Goldsworthy pulled one back after 65 mins

The Willand no. 7 was sent off for an off the ball incident and shortly afterwards Mousehole were level thanks to Hitman Hayden Turner.

Late on Willand saw another red card.

In spite of the two man advantage Mousehole were unable to force the winner and so they do it all again on Wednesday.

Full Time 2-2

MOTM – Tim Nixon

Mousehole’s last match of the 2023/24 season was a disappointing loss in the Play-Off Semi Final away against Frome but the sun was out for the return to action for The Seagulls, the country’s most Westerly club.

The visitors, Evesham Utd, had been one of the few teams to take all three points away with them from Trungle Parc last season so it promised to be tough game. With several new faces in their line-up Mousehole started brightly and both sides had chances but Mousehole broke the deadlock. A great diagonal from Max Hill released new boy Jordan Hackett, his immediate control allowed him to cross for Goldsworthy to finish from close range.

There were few other chances and the half ended 1-0.

Evesham had the best of the first 20 mins of the second half creating a few good chances but their shooting was always off target.

Turner missed a penalty for Mousehole after 70 mins when Mitchell had been felled. A great save by Harris.

Near the end Aaron Heap was red carded for a foul on Mousehole’s Symons. The ensuing melee led to four bookings, two on each side!Evesham still pushed hard but couldn’t draw level. A delighted Trungle celebrated a first league win of the season.

MOM Ryan Barrett MAFC

Full Time 1-0

END OF AN ERA AS DERYK HEYWOOD STANDS DOWN AS MOUSEHOLE CHAIRMAN

After six years of relentless hard work and unprecedented success, Deryk Heywood has decided to stand down as Chairman of Mousehole AFC’s Committee.

In 2018, with Mousehole’s First team then playing in the South West Peninsula League Division One West (Step 7), Deryk joined the Club as General Manager, having previously served as Chairman of Porthleven AFC.  

It’s one of the measures of the Club’s success during Deryk’s tenure that Mousehole now ply their trade in the Southern League at Step 4 – and in reaching that level they became only the second-ever team in Cornwall to do so.

After Tim Richardson ended his five-year stint as Chairman, Deryk was voted in as his successor, and his work for the Club since then has in effect combined the role of Chairman and General Manager, always as an unpaid volunteer.

With his unceasingly busy, ambitious and determined attitude, Deryk has overseen dramatic changes at the Club, while at the same time managing a successful restaurant business – almost adding up to two full-time jobs at the same time!

He will be remembered for his drive in setting up the many stadium improvements at Trungle Parc that would have seemed no more than a pipedream all those years ago, and which provide a lasting legacy for future generations of members, supporters and players.  

Liverpudlian Deryk first came to Cornwall very nearly 50 years ago, and indeed had a spell at Mousehole as a goalkeeper from 1977 before moving on to play for Penzance.  

He is a well-known, popular and affable character on the Cornwall football scene, with a seemingly endless list of personal contacts – as well as memories and anecdotes! – always ready to shake hands and stop for a chat.

While still having a great deal to offer to the game, his overall Committee responsibility has now passed on to Billy Jacka, Mousehole’s award-winning groundsman, who was voted in as Chairman at the Club’s recent AGM.

Deryk’s ‘Personal Statement’ follows.

*****

A PERSONAL STATEMENT FROM OUTGOING MOUSEHOLE CHAIRMAN DERYK HEYWOOD

“It has been a great privilege and honour to have served as  Chairman of Mousehole Football Club for the past six years.

On reflection, it’s now time for someone else to take the helm and help drive the club towards further success.  So, with my best wishes, over to Billy Jacka and his team to maintain and take forward what we have all done exceptionally well to achieve.

Mousehole has always had a well-regarded reputation, and with a huge amount of togetherness we have developed it into a leading Cornish football club, in many ways ‘against the odds’.

Everyone who attends our recently developed stadium, whether a regular or a visitor, agrees it’s a friendly and welcoming place to be, with a good matchday vibe.  We can all be proud of that. 

Our major achievements include:

• sourcing major sponsorships for First Team campaigns in three different Leagues – Peninsula, Western and Southern – as well as advertising boards that fill every inch of pitch-side space;
• improving the matchday experience with our hospitality offer, a supporters’ ‘terrazzo’, a tea hut selling genuine Cornish pasties, club merchandise shop, and bar offering a great range of beers;
• upgrading the stadium facilities with the Solomon Browne Stand at the car park end, a new 100-seater stand opposite the clubhouse, turnstile access, and a dedicated media section; and
• much-acclaimed media coverage which has captured attention far and wide

The Club-owned campsite has provided the mainstay of income.  It’s enabled us to do two things: invest in club facilities: and in the campsite itself, which now has its own separate entrance from the football club, electric hookups, hard standing pads for all-year round motor homes and caravans, a recreation meadow, and improved water and ‘elsan’ points.

On the playing side, the First Team has progressed from Step 7 of the non-league system to Step 4, the Development Team is pushing for promotion from Step 7, the Women’s Team has a constant inflow of eager newcomers, and the Youth section spans the whole age-range.

All these developments have, of course, come with a price tag – some of them quite hefty – including the overall cost of operating at Step 4.  The club’s collective ambition has now seen it reach a stage where both expenditure and income require a serious and diligent business-like approach to consolidate the gains made and to improve its financial basis sustainably.  That’s the challenge from now on.

One of the Club’s greatest assets is its freehold ownership of over six acres of land at its Trungle Parc HQ, held in trust, very importantly, under a ‘community’ rather than ‘ownership’ model of governance.

Currently, an unused parcel of land on the perimeter is subject to the Club’s  planning application for constructing five affordable homes, the intention being to sell the plot for the benefit of local younger people and provide an essential boost to the Club’s future financial health.  A lot of work and preliminary expenditure has already gone into this project.  Some of the net proceeds are earmarked for a much-needed new access road.

Planning permission has already been granted to the Club to construct a new access route running directly from the Newlyn to Lands End road, thereby relieving the village of Paul from all traffic to the football club and to the campsite.  This will make the current (and notorious!) rutted entrance driveway a thing of the past, while also making it feasible to develop the clubhouse for non-football activities and commercial income. 

I extend a huge ‘thank you’ to all Committee Members, Officers and Directors, volunteers, supporters, sponsors, advertisers, and each of the football teams and support staff – who have in their different ways, and over a prolonged period, played their part in making Mousehole the great club that it is today – a true collective example of The Seagulls “Flying All Together’. 

And my sincere best wishes for its deserving future.

Deryk

Southern League Div One South – 2024/2025