Month: September 2021

For Tuffley Rovers football is finally coming home on Saturday, 25 September as they host Fleet Spurs in The BuildBase FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round, in a 3pm KO at Glevum Park – the first home competitive game at which spectators are permitted since 29 September 2020; a gap of 361 days!

In fact, since the start of the 2020 calendar year Rovers have played just four competitive fixtures at their home ground when spectators have been in attendance, with two additional games played in April 2021 when spectators weren’t permitted, due to a combination of poor weather in the 2019/20 season, the Covid-19 pandemic across the 19/20 and 20/21 seasons, and then a delayed start to their 2021/22 home campaign due to pitch renovation works.

Rovers have played three games as the host club since the drainage works started but all have been played at opposition grounds or at neutral venues, but their pitch has now been declared fit for play by an independent turf consultant and passed an inspection by a match official earlier this week, so it is ‘game on’ on Saturday.

Fleet Spurs, of the Wessex League, will be the first visitors since Rovers beat Ardley United 2-1 a year ago and the fixture will KO at 3pm.

Admission to the FA Vase tie will be £5 for Adults, £3 Concessions and Under 16s are entitled to free entry to the game. Season tickets are not valid for the game.

Almost one year after the last competitive home game with spectators allowed, Tuffley Rovers will finally host a first team fixture at Glevum Park this Saturday.

Having commenced a significant pitch improvement scheme in April 2021, Rovers had hoped to be hosting games before this Saturday’s FA Vase tie against Fleet Spurs, but the moment has now arrived when football can come home!

Following a delay in the installation of a new irrigation system, Rovers have been forced to play all their league games away from home and two cup ties have been played away from Glevum Park, albeit with Rovers as the home team. This included playing at Windsor and Brimscombe & Thrupp whilst being the host club.

The work that began back in April saw an entirely new drainage system installed and it required extensive work to first install and then to allow the grass to recover.

    

The installation became a fairly protracted process when delays in the availability of parts pushed the project back 14 weeks but following two separate inspections this week, the pitch has been declared fit for play and Rovers will finally host a game.

Although there is still some grass growth pending, meaning visible areas of sand on the surface, as well as visible drainage lines (due to changes in the colour of the grass) it is anticipated that the considerable problems faced by the club in the past – with the pitch usually unplayable for much of the winter – are finally consigned to the past.

Rovers are due to welcome spectators back for the 3pm KO on Saturday, as they look to book a place in the 1st Round Proper of this season’s FA Vase.