MOUSEHOLE AFC – “THE SEAGULLS”: A BRIEF HISTORY
Mousehole AFC was founded in September 1922, so the 2022/23 season marks its centenary. A well-attended exhibition
organised by the Mousehole Archive was held on the anniversary, displaying a huge collection of photographs,
news items and memorabilia covering the whole period. A book on the history of the club is in the pipeline.
First Team milestones
In 1948, following the first Mousehole Carnival – an important fund-raiser for many years – the club joined the
senior ranks of Cornish football, entering the FA Amateur Cup for the first time in 1949.
In 1950/51, despite trailing 5-1 on a Bodmin quagmire in a Cornwall Charity Cup First Round tie, Mousehole progressed to the Final, earning the support of the whole County, before losing as underdogs to Saltash United.
Mousehole’s entry to the Cornwall Combination League for 1960/61 coincided with a move as leaseholders to Trungle Parc
on recently reclaimed marshland on the rural outskirts of the village of Paul – the club’s home ground to this day.
In 1976, Mousehole won both the League Cup and the Eveley Cup – the latter played against the East Cornwall League Cup winners (Foxhole) – this ‘double’ being The Seagulls’ only competitive silverware in their 47-year continuous membership of the ‘Combo’.
In 1987, the club purchased the freehold of the Trungle Parc site from the local Council and celebrated
the occasion with a prestigious friendly match played against Manchester United.
In 2006/07, the side finished ‘Combo’ runners-up, and so qualified as founder members of South West Peninsula League
Division One West, playing their first-ever League game outside Cornwall in 2008 (at Vospers Oak Villa).
In 2015/16, The Seagulls won the West Division (Step 7 of the National League System), losing only one League game all season, as well as winning the Cornwall Charity Cup Final (5-0 v St Dennis) – repeating that Cup win two seasons later (5-0 v Wadebridge Town).
Since 2019, there have been significant advances both on and off the field, thanks to the management and coaching group of Jake Ash, Adam Fletcher and Andy Graham, and a Committee of 25 actively contributing members led by Chairman Deryk Heywood .
In 2019, Mousehole were promoted to the SWPL Premier Division (Step 6), and in 2021 to the Western League Premier Division (Step 5). They finished third in their first-ever Western League season, missing promotion to the Southern League by just four points.
The Trungle Parc stadium has seen significant work over recent years in order to meet the requirements of the higher Leagues,
and the pitch is widely considered to be one of the best in Cornwall.
Just 15 years ago, Mousehole – the furthest-west club in the NLS – were playing against teams only from the western half of Cornwall;
now they compete against clubs across five Counties and a 200-mile radius.
Development Team
In 2018/19, Mousehole Reserves, drawn away in every round, won the Cornwall Junior Cup for the first time (2-0 v Foxhole Stars).
Ahead of the 2020/21 season, in which they joined the newly-formed St Piran League – an NLS ‘Feeder League’, formerly Step 7 – they name-changed from ‘Reserves’ to ‘Development Team’, to match the aim of providing a pathway through to the First Team.
In 2021/22, two youngsters promoted from the Development Team made 25 First Team appearances between them at Step 5 level.
For the 2022/23 season, Drew Symons (Manager) and Tim Hurrell (Assistant Manager) arrived from Falmouth United to move the development strategy forward, working closely with the First Team management and coaching group
Important other teams at Mousehole include:
- a Women’s Team, successful members of the Cornwall Women’s Football League –
in 1999 they were not only founder members but Champions in the League’s first season
- a thriving Youth section comprising 13 teams across the age range, with entry into the
national FA Youth Cup for the first time in 2022/23
Andrew Large / 21.03.2023 – with thanks to Sean Perrott for additional historical information and editing
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