Tuffley Rovers - Glevum Park

Tuffley Rovers FC
Glevum Park
(Opposite GPO Logistics)
Lower Tuffley Lane
Gloucester
Gloucestershire
GL2 5DP

07545 492261 (Chairman, correct as of Jan 2020)
Official Website
Twitter

Ground Number: 904
Tuesday 4th February 2020
Tuffley Rovers 3-0 Shortwood United
Banbury Litho Hellenic Floodlit Cup






TUFFLEY ROVERS FC - A BRIEF HISTORY

The club was established in 1929 and spent the next 60 years in local leagues such as the Stroud & District, North Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire Northern Senior League. In 1988 they joined the Gloucestershire County League and after two mid-table finishes, they were champions in 1991. This granted them promotion to the Hellenic League Division 1 where they gained a very credible 3rd place in their debut season. The following season saw them win the league and gain promotion to the Hellenic Premier. They spent the next 12 seasons here, two 4th place finishes in 1996 and 2000 being their best finishes in the club's history. The 2005/06 season saw financial issues force them to resign from the league and take the place of their reserve side in the  Gloucestershire Northern Senior League. Back to back promotions saw them regain their place in the Gloucestershire League for the 2007/08 season. By 2012/13 season, a runners-up spot behind local rivals Longlevens was good enough for promotion to the Hellenic D1 West. In 2015, a runners-up spot, again behind Longlevens saw Tuffley promoted to the Hellenic Premier. Mid-table finishes have been the order of the day since their return, with two 10th place finishes being the highlight. The side currently sit in 15th place prior to tonight's game.

The best run in the FA Cup came in 1999 as they beat Eastleigh before losing 5-0 to Lymington & New Milton in a 2nd Qualifying Round Replay. The 2nd Round of the FA Vase was reached in 1994 with wins over Cirencester Town and Wotton Rovers prior to a 4-1 defeat at Westbury United in the 2nd Round. They matched that again in 2016, losing to Bodmin Town. Local cup wins include the Hellenic League Floodlit Cup (1999 & 2003), the Hellenic D1 Cup (1993), the Stroud Amateur Cup (1998 & 2007), the Stroud Intermediate Cup (1957) and the Harry Greening Memorial Cup (2013). Tuffley is one of 15 suburbs of the suburb Gloucester and has a population of just under 6,000. The area has two pubs, two libraries, a community centre, a sports centre and a shopping centre.



MY VISIT

Glevum Park was originally meant to be my 900th ground when they were due to play Westfields on Tuesday 7th January. However, despite minimal rain in the days leading up to the game, it was called off due to an area of the pitch being unplayable. Credit to the club, they made a decision early and so an easy diversion to Leicester Nirvana was made on that occasion. There'd be no such problems on this occasion with the game being confirmed as going ahead on the morning of the game. This fixture had stood out when looking at games for the week on Sunday due to me having already started my blog and knowing a good place for dinner. The day of the game came and I woke around 6.30 am, having got an extra two hours sleep compared to a workday. After getting ready and having some breakfast as well as killing time, I started my walk down town just before 11.30. After getting some lunch and other stuff I came home and had an hour to catch up before leaving at 3.20. After getting petrol, I met Anwar at 4 and we were on our way. The journey was pretty standard, half an hour delay, twenty minutes of that caused by the traffic lights at Eynsham that have no doubt blighted many a journey. We were at Muchachos, our chosen pre-match dinner place by 6.10. I opted for the lamb chutney burger meal that came in at £5.79. It took 25 minutes to come but when it did, it was freshly cooked and delicious. So good it was, I didn't even add it to my football costs. It was a ten-minute drive to the ground with us getting there at 7.10. Entry was a great value £5 programme. After getting some pictures of the ground, I sat in the bar for a while, buying a Tuffley Rovers pen for £1.50 to add to my vast collection. I also got some chips at half time for £1 and these were pretty good.

 


Tuffley Rovers were in mixed form since the new year with them winning one (3-0 at Home to Easington Sports) and losing one (4-2 away to Fairford Town) in the league and winning 1-0 at Hardwicke before losing 2-1 at Bitton in the Gloucestershire FA Trophy. Shortwood United, playing a division lower in the Hellenic D1 West had started the year well with wins over Moreton Rangers (3-1) and at Cirencester Town Development (4-0). However, they'd been winless since having drawn 0-0 at Stonehouse Town and 3-3 at home to Wellington. They'd suffered defeats at Bourton Rovers (4-2 in the league) and at home to Roman Glass St George (6-0 in the Gloucestershire FA Trophy). At the time of the game, they were a mid-table 8th in the league. Earlier in the season, Shortwood had caused a surprise result back in August as they beat Tufflet Rovers 5-0 in the FA Vase in the previous meeting between the two sides. The hosts were dominant early on and it took a good save from Adam Clark in the Shortwood goal after a few minutes to deny Dominik Kent. Kent nearly opened the scoring again on 10 minutes, rounding Clark but Joe Tryner was there to hook the ball of the line. Tuffley continued to dominate, a shot being deflected over for a corner. After 20 minutes, Shortwood United suffered a blow when Tryner was stretchered off. The game was held up for five minutes as the unfortunate player went off with a suspected fractured arm. Shortwood started to get chances on the break, both Josh Beadle and Guy Halliday firing just wide from distance. The game was goalless at the break but five minutes into the second half, Tuffley took the lead as Callum Ebanks headed powerfully home from a left-wing cross. The lead was doubled on 52 minutes, a penalty was awarded for a foul just inside the area and Warren Mann converted the penalty. firing low to the right. The hosts confirmed the victory on 61 minutes as Jake Rhodes headed in from a corner from the right. Shortwood had a few chances on the break, forcing a couple of good saves from Tuffley keeper Luke Merchant but they couldn't get a goal back. Most of the 103 crowd went home happy, but Shortwood had bought a few. We left at 9.45 and listened to the nights FA Cup results coming in on Radio 5. After that, it was the BBC Three Counties Non-League show with me dropping Anwar off at 11.20 and getting home myself at 11.45. I didn't stay up for long and was in bed by midnight but with work at 4 am in the morning, I still needed a nap the following afternoon when I came home.




THE GROUND

Glevum Park is a surprisingly decent venue for the level and would probably be good enough for step 3 football. Behind the near goal where you come in are two areas of cover. An area of flat covered standing holding around 60 and a seated stand for the same amount. Along both sides are smaller seated stands probably holding about 40 each. The rest of the ground is open. The tea bar, clubhouse and club shop offer a reasonable range for the level at great value prices. All in all, a nice ground and friendly club to visit, one of the better at step 5.

The car park is small, but there's plenty of parking in the industrial estate outside. The city of Gloucester is 3 miles drive away or 45 minutes walk whilst the village of Tuffley is a lot nearer and has a few facilities. Muchachos takeaway is well worth a visit in the city centre where there are plenty of pubs.