BAFTA-winning film director Mark Jenkin has taken Cornish stories to international screens, yet most home games you will still find him behind the goal at Interiora Trungle Parc cheering on the boys in green. His connection to the club runs deeper than a passing interest. Family roots, childhood memories on the old pitch, the pull of community, and the sheer pleasure of watching Mousehole play the game the right way have made him a familiar face at home matches.
We sat down with Mark Cornish identity, pandemic-era epiphanies, beautiful football, and why a newly built road has accidentally given him the perfect 10k loop.
Before we talk about football, tell me about your association with the local area. Where did you grow up? What does being Cornish mean to you?
I grew up in North Cornwall and went to Wadebridge School, spending most of my childhood around St Minver and Wadebridge. But both sides of my family are from Penwith. My dad’s a Newlyn boy, with the family originally from Mousehole, and my mum is from St Ives. So although we lived upcountry, we were always back down west, either visiting grandparents or coming to Newlyn and St Ives every weekend.
Some of my earliest memories are of going to Paul cemetery to visit my granddad’s grave, then walking over to Trungle Park with my dad for a kick-about. Back then the pitch was totally exposed — horizontal rain, rooks in the trees — a properly haunting place. Now I live in the village myself, and I can’t imagine being anywhere else.
Being Cornish is central to my identity. Even when I moved away in the ’90s for college and university, I was already trying to work out how I could come back. There weren’t many creative career options here at that time, but I’ve been lucky enough to build a life and a career in Cornwall. I’m proud of the culture, the history, and the people — those who’ve grown up here and those who’ve chosen to be here. This is home.
Talk me through your involvement with Mousehole. When did you first come to see us, and what keeps you coming back?
Mousehole was always in my consciousness because my dad talked about the club and its old heroes. As a junior playing for Newlyn, we’d come up against the Mousehole sides. I’d also come up to Trungle Park as a kid for the odd game.
But the real turning point was the pandemic. I used to go to Argyle all the time, but when football restarted after lockdown, I wasn’t quite ready to go back into a big stadium. During our daily walks, we’d pass Trungle Park and see the pitch looking immaculate and players training at a distance. When fans were allowed back in, I decided to try Mousehole instead of Argyle.
I remember walking in and being blown away by the quality of the pitch. I remember thinking – bloody hell, this is proper! Then the football itself — Western League at the time — was a revelation. I’ve barely missed a home game since.
What keeps me coming back is the quality of the football, the emotional hit you get from a Saturday, and the group of mates I only ever see at games. My work life is all over the place — writing, shooting, editing, travelling — so Mousehole gives me a sense of structure. If the lads are at home, I know exactly where I’ll be: behind that goal.
Your career takes you around the country and the world, and you’re often spotted wearing a Mousehole shirt. What do you tell people who’ve never heard of the village or the club?
I do like to wear the shirt when I travel, especially if I know I’m going to be photographed. People often ask about it because not many teams play in green. When they do, I tell them it’s Mousehole — the greatest football team in the world. And then I usually end up explaining the size of the village and how we’ve had attendances at Trungle Park that are almost double the population of Paul. There can’t be many clubs anywhere who can say that.
I’ve had some brilliant moments with the shirt. Once, I was on Venice Beach in Los Angeles wearing the all-green centenary kit, and someone walked straight up to me and said, “Is that a Mousehole shirt?” He was from Falmouth, had just landed in LA, and recognised it from a hundred metres away.
And now the shirts are travelling even further. As wrap gifts on the new film, I gave Mousehole kits to George MacKay and Callum Turner. Callum actually has two, and George wears the centenary one to the gym every time he goes. So the word is spreading — slowly but surely — about the greatest club in the world.
I believe a recent addition to the club has changed your exercise routine?
Yes — the new road! I used to have a running route from Trungle Moor up the old lane, across to Lamorna, through the quarry and back. It was always just short of 10k, so I’d tack on an extra loop.
Since the new road was built, if I run up Trungle, through the car park and up the new road before heading to Lamorna, it comes out as a perfect 10k. So I have the club — or Prince William, or whoever signed it off — to thank for that.
What other changes would you like to see at the club? What do we need to do more of?
Honestly, the only thing I’d love to see is more people at games. That’s easy to say and hard to achieve. Attendances can be baffling — a sunny Saturday against a big side might get under 200, then a rainy Tuesday against a nothing team pulls in nearly 300.
Bigger crowds help the atmosphere and the finances, and now the access is better the ground can definitely handle it. But it’s the same everywhere: Penzance want more, the Pirates want more. Every club does. If I figure out the magic answer, I’ll let you know.
Is there a film to be made about a small non-league club in a rural setting? Are you tempted?
Sports films are tricky. It’s incredibly hard to get the actual sport looking right. Even great films like The Damned United were clever enough not to show too much football. Actors rarely convince as players.
You could say it might be easier to portray this level of football because audiences wouldn’t expect it to look like the Premier League — but unfortunately Mousehole play such a beautiful style that I doubt you’d ever find actors able to do it justice.
QUICK-FIRE QUESTIONS
Best ever memory at the club?
Either promotion to the Southern League or a home game against Falmouth. I arrived late after the Gorsedh ceremony — I’m a bard — and squeezed in behind the goal even though the F-Troop had taken it over. We came from behind and won it with a last-minute scramble, right in front of them. They went silent, we went mad. A brilliant moment.
Worst memory?
Any game that’s called off for weather. Nothing worse than walking up the hill only to hear it’s off — especially that New Year’s Day fixture against Tavistock a couple of seasons back. Totally gutting, though obviously nobody’s fault.
Favourite player of all time?
Goldie. A club legend. I’ve thought I’d watched his “last game” about five times. His leadership, his talking, his work off the ball — even when he was playing with his arm hanging off, he made the team better. When he does finally retire, it’ll leave a huge hole.
Favourite player at the moment?
I won’t single anyone out — but let’s just say I’m really looking forward to seeing Jack Calver back on the pitch.
Which team do you support other than Mousehole?
Argyle. I was brought up watching them because Cornwall was a rugby county — if you wanted football, you crossed the border. I used to think I was a West Ham fan who watched Argyle, but eventually realised it was the other way around. Still West Ham as well though — that’s inherited from my dad.
What do you think of the new kit?
I love it. As long as it’s green, I’m happy. It’s got a retro, late-1980s graphic designer vibe — a bit like that Dutch ’88 kit. Looks great.
What’s on your running playlist?
Nothing. Music makes me too aware of time passing. I listen to audiobooks or podcasts — it’s how I consume most of my reading.
Mark Jenkin’s new film, Rose of Nevada, premieres next Spring
