Tiverton Town

Tiverton Town FC

Ground: The Slee Blackwell Solicitors Stadium/Ladysmead

Capacity: 3,500

Club Founded: 1913

League: Southern League Division One South - Step 4/8th Tier (current level)

Tiverton Town FC can boast a proud record in the FA Vase and have utilised their success by building a fine home ground and playing several seasons at Step 3 non-league football.

A History of Tiverton Town FC

The Early Years

The club were initially formed as Tiverton Athletic in 1913, playing games at the Athletic Ground. For their first sixty years, 'Tivvy' played in local competitions, winning several honours along the way. By then, the club had moved to Elm Field and later, in 1946, to Ladysmead on Bolham Road after their previous ground was virtually destroyed in World War II.

After twice winning the Exeter & District League title, as the likes of Alec Collard and Terry Lee proved too good for opposing sides, the club entered the Western League in 1973. After relegation and a threat of extinction, Tivvy regained their Premier Division place in 1988-89. The club began a period of huge success initially under manager John Owen.

The Golden Years

The 1992-93 season saw Martyn Rogers in charge of the team that would end up as runners-up in the league. They also went all the way to Wembley in the FA Vase, where they were defeated 1-0 by Bridlington Town. The FA Cup first round was also reached for the first time.

The following 1993-94 season saw Tivvy crowned Western League champions, a title they went on to retain at the end of the next campaign. After a season of runners-up, the club went on to win the league title twice more. During this period, Leyton Orient became the first Football League club to visit Ladysmead.

Double Wembley Winners and Promotion

Tiverton reached the final of the FA Vase in 1997-98. A goal from Peter Varley was enough to defeat Tow Law Town at Wembley. The trophy was retained in 1998-99 when a late goal from Scott Rogers was enough to defeat the highly fancied Bedlington Terriers in the final Vase at the old stadium. 

The win coincided with finishing league runners-up, which led to promotion to the Western Division of the Southern League. Promotion to the Premier Division followed in the 2000-01 season, where Tivvy remained for ten years.

The Martyn Rogers Era

The club almost progressed to the newly formed second tier of non-league in 2003-04, where they defeated Chelmsford City but lost to Dorchester Town in the playoffs. After nineteen years at the helm, Rogers stood down in May 2010. 

The following ended in relegation to Division One South & West. John Clarkson managed the side to the playoffs a few seasons later before Rogers returned for a second spell, taking his side to the playoffs in 2016-17, where Taunton Town and Salisbury were defeated as Tiverton returned to the Premier Division.

The Southern League was expanded in 2018-19, with Tiverton being placed in Premier Division South of the competition. Leigh Robinson was named manager in October 2023 before being replaced by Asa Hall eighteen months later as the side slipped to relegation.

My visit

Wednesday 15th August 2012

I was making my way back from Exeter, having been to their League Cup tie the previous evening, while determined to visit some clubs in the area as I travelled. 

The weather was terrible with heavy rain, and I was soaked when I walked towards Tiverton town centre after visiting Tivvy's cross-town rivals, Elmore AFC. I sheltered for a while under shop overhangs to check the map app on my iPhone as my printed map had been reduced to mush. 

As is often the case, the size of the town I was visiting deceived my initial estimations. It was far larger than I had expected. Locals scurried about trying and failing to keep dry, whereas I was so wet I just got on with it. 

I walked up Castle Street and found what I'm sure was a very pretty People's Park, at least on a sunny summer's day. Fortunately, the path took me to the top of the steps, offering a view of Ladysmead and a way down to the grounds entrance. The gate by the clubhouse was open so I walked in, had a look around, getting my bearings while in the dry. 

Ladysmead looked just about the perfect non-league ground to my eyes. There was a long seated stand along the far touchline. Both ends had covers and a few rows of terracing, which continued to the final side, where a roof continued in front of the clubhouse. It was a decent size and all four sides offered covered accommodation.

I walked back towards the town centre in search of the bus station, past the castle and the fine St Peter's church. I was most impressed by the town's tidiness and the number of maps on display. They obviously cared that people found their way around and appreciated the place. It looked like the sort of area I could really enjoy throughout a pleasant afternoon.

I had a twenty-minute wait for the bus to Taunton, which turned out to be a plush coach. This met with my approval, as I relaxed in a reclining seat and dozed. It hadn't met with the same enthusiasm from the elderly residents who struggled up the steps, and there was no bell to ring when they neared their stop. 

The driver was a kind man with a sense of humour, and this soon won the hearts of his passengers. Despite the awful weather, I really liked Tiverton, its surroundings and the friendly people. I really should make an effort to return.