Dawlish Town

By Ian_W

• July 6, 2011
EX7 0AF Sandy Lane Dawlish Devon https://www.fansfocus.com/uploads/0d1e2b1ebe1bde11129b071fe7ddb339.png 50.586609 -3.459537 Dawlish Argyle<br />Dawlish http://www.dawlishtownafc.co.uk

Dawlish Town Football Club was formed in 1889 by local workers mainly from the local farming community. Originally Named Dawlish Argyle, the Argyle was dropped in the early 1900’s, with the team being known as Dawlish untill “Town” was added in recent years in order to distinguish the Club from other newly formed local teams.

 

One of the earliest recorded honours was the East Devon Senior Cup in 1931/32. Dawlish played Torquay United in 1960, and after winning 3-0 were crowned as East Devon Champions.

 

One of the best seasons the club has experienced was in 1972/73. In that Season they only fielded two sides, but they won every Competition they entered 7 Trophies.

 

First Team:- Devon Premier Cup, Exeter & District Premier League, East Devon Senior Cup, Sellick Memorial Cup and Rothmans Invitation Trophy.

 

Second Team:-Exeter & District Senior League and Geary Cup.

 

Dawlish first team then joined the Western League in1973/74, with the second team taking over in the Devon & Exeter Premier Division. At this time there were two other Senior Saturday sides playing in the area, the then local side AL Dawlish joined Dawlish who added Town to the club name.

 

During the clubs history, there have been many Youth/Junior teams, A full Youth Section was formed in 1983 with five teams run by a separate Committee with mini soccer from the age of 5 to 10 years, and teams from under 11 to 16. The junior football committee broke away and took the teams away from the club to continue playing under the banner of Dawish United.

 

 

In 1988/89 the Dawlish third team won the Devon & Exeter Senior 3 league without loosing a match, only dropping three points in drawn games.

 

The clubs ambitions began to leap forward when the Dawlish Town floodlights appeal launched in 1986. The floodlights were turned on for the first game on 9th February 1987 when Queens Park Rangers who brought their full squad including names that everybody will know, David Seaman, Terry Fenwick, Sammy Lee, Leroy Rosenior and Manager Jim Smith to name a few.

 

At the beginning of 1987/88 Season, Dawlish played host to Aberdeen. In 1988/89 both Chelsea and Watford visited Dawlish Town. Torquay United played Chelsea at Sandy Lane in the same season due to the Torquay ground not being ready for pre-season friendlies. Many great clubs have graced the Sandy Lane pitch against Dawlish Town, one of the most popular are Crewe Alexandre, the club having gained a close relationship with Dario Gradi.

 

Other teams have included Burnley, Lincoln, Leyton Orient, Bury, Bristol City, Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday, Wimbledon, Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City and Torquay United. This list will no doubt be added to in the coming years.

 

New changing rooms were built along with other ground improvements to ready the club for the 1989/90 season to meet the improved Western League grounds standards.

 

Dawlish Town have played at Wembley twice. In May 1996 they won the Carlsberg Pub Cup Final on penalties after a 0-0 score at full time. Dawlish goalkeeper Jamie Day saved two of the penalties to give Dawlish a 4-2 victory.

 

The second visit to Wembley was on 22nd September 1996 when Dawlish played the Dutch Carlsberg Champions- Brigade Bodega in a first ever Carlsberg European Pub Cup. The Brigade Bodega won 1-0 with a goal in the dying minutes of the game.

 

In the Season 1999/2000 Dawlish regained their position in the Screwfix Premier Division after gaining runners up position in Division One. In March 2003, following the match against Bideford, a dispute between the manager and club very nearly destroyed all that the club had worked so hard for. The Manager resigned with the Players stated they would also be leaving the Club. Support from local sides and the Football League enabled the Club to continue and Dawlish Town were still able to field two sides the following Saturday. At the end of this season both the Dawlish Town teams had gained sufficient points to remain in their respective Leagues. The same season saw the Ladies team finished their first season in third spot in the Westward Developments Devon League Premier Division.

 

For season 2003/4 Dawlish re-entered their third Senior side in the Devon & Exeter League, they have gained promotion three years running, while in the season 2003/2004, the First team were relegated along with the reserves.

 

Around 4am on August 5th 2004 the Wooden Stand built in 1942 was completely destroyed by Fire. Plans were drawn up for a new Grandstand, refurbished toilets and other facilities during 2005, with work on the new buildings taking place in the close season with completion before the start of the 2006/07 Season.

 

The First team gained promotion to the Toolstation Premier Division after winning the First Division in 2005/06 with Chris Myers as Manager. In the season 2006/2007 the team cemented their position in the League finishing in 10th position.

 

For the start of the 2007/2008 season, Dawlish Town had five teams competing at five different levels, The First Eleven, Reserves, Thirds, Ladies, under 16s playing in the Pioneer League.

 

In a remarkable season the First team finished runners up in the Premier Division of the Western League, winners of the Les Phillips Cup with a 5-2 victory over rivals Bideford and won the St Lukes Bowl 3-1 against Willand. The under 16s finished runners up in the Pioneer League and the Ladies top off a fine season by winning the Newquay Plate.

 

For the 2008/2009 season Dawlish Town will be competing at 6 different levels and progressing further with their Football in the Community programme, which has gone from strength to strength in the previous seasons.

 

With further ground improvements being carried out at Sandy Lane, the future has never looked better for Dawlish Town AFC.

 

 

 

Cup Competitions

Carlsberg Pub Cup 1996 (Wembley Stadium)

Devon County FA St Lukes Challenge Bowl 1982/83, 2007/08

Devon County FA Premier Cup 1969/70, 1972/73, 1980/81

Devon County FA Senior Cup 1957/58, 1967/68

Western League Amateur Trophy 1976/77

Western League Challenge Cup 1980/81, 1983/84

East Devon Senior Cup 1931/32, 64/65, 65/66, 67/68, 69/70, 70/71

Geary Cup 1936/37, 52/53, 61/62, 63/64, 64/65, 76/68, 70/71, 71/72, 72/73

Lidden Cup 1953/54

Sellick Memorial Cup 1967/68, 1969/70, 1970/71, 1972/73

Rothmans Invitation Cup 1971/72, 1972/73

Rowdy Blackwell Cup 2003/04, 2004/05, 2005/06, 2006/07

Les Phillips Cup 2007/08

 

 

Devon & Exeter League

 

Premier 1966/67, 1968/69, 1969/70, 1971/72, 1972/73

Senior 1933/34, 34/35, 57/58, 62/63, 65/66, 69/70, 71/72, 72/73, 2000/01

Junior III 1953/54

 

 

Toolstation Western League

 

First Division 2005/06

 

 

 

Ladies

 

Ifracombe Tournament 2003/04

North Molton Tournament 2004/05

Cornwall Plate 2007/08