Category: First Team

Tuffley Rovers will once again play a home game away from their traditional Glevum Park home, as they host Flackwell Heath in an Emirates FA Cup tie that will be played at Brimscombe & Thrupp’s Meadow ground.

Having travelled to Windsor to ‘host’ their Extra Preliminary Round tie, two weeks ago, Rovers had hoped their pitch might be ready for the next round but the drainage works have overrun and Rich Cox’s side will now face a home game at a venue familiar to them, rather than their own home.

Jamal Lawrence is the only absentee from the Rovers squad, as they prepare for the tie against Marcus Richardson’s Flackwell Heath side and Cox will be hoping his charges can put their 2-0 defeat at Corsham Town last week firmly behind them, as they look to reach the First Qualifying Round for only the 8th time in their history and for the first time since 2017.

Admission to the game at Brimscombe will be £6 Adult/Standard and £3 for concessions. U10s are entitled to free entry, if accompanied by an adult.

The official match-day programme can be viewed online and printed copies will be available at the game.

Tuffley Rovers’ FA Challenge Cup journey, which saw them play their home tie at Windsor last weekend, will once again see them playing at home, but away, when they host Flackwell Heath on Saturday, 21 August, as fellow Uhlsport Hellenic League, Premier Division Brimscombe & Thrupp have agreed to host Rovers’ Preliminary Round tie at The Meadow.

Despite the ongoing drainage works at Glevum Park nearing completion, the next round of the historic cup competition is likely to come too soon for Rovers to host their Spartan South Midland League, Premier Division opposition at their traditional home. Cue, Brimscombe’s committee coming to the rescue as they were able to accommodate a plea for assistance and host the tie at a venue that might allow Rich Cox’s side to run out in front of a healthy home support.

The final arrangements for the tie are still to be confirmed but Rovers’ Secretary, Neil Spiller, was delighted a fellow Gloucestershire club had been able to step up to help with the match arrangements.

“Unfortunately, when trying to arrange our tie for the previous round, we had identified a venue that could host our tie, but only if we played on the Sunday and the rules of the competition meant that we had to offer Windsor the opportunity to use their pitch, which they inevitably chose to pursue”, he said. “This time, with their own tie away on the Sunday, Brimscombe & Thrupp were able to step in to help and we couldn’t be more grateful to Clive Baker, Allan Boulton and Scott Boulton for their support and cooperation in helping us offer a relatively local solution for our own supporters.”

Further details on the tie (a 3pm KO on the 21st) will be published shortly.

Tuffley Rovers will begin their 2021/22 Emirates FA Cup campaign with a home tie that is being played ‘away’ at Windsor FC’s Stag Meadow ground today, due to the pitch and drainage renovation works at their own Glevum Park home.

The Extra Preliminary Round tie, kicking-off at 3pm, will see Rich Cox’s team facing Mark Cooper’s Combined Counties League squad at Windsor’s home, but with Rovers as the home team, but there is a potential added incentive for the Tuffley Rovers squad to secure a victory today, with the potential for the next round to be played at home, making it the first game at Glevum Park since April, as the draw will see today’s winners hosting Flackwell Heath in the next round of the competition.

Cox has confirmed that he has virtually a full squad to choose from for the game, with Rudi McKinnon, Warren Mann, Xander Jones, Harry Morgan and Jack Copland all available after missing the midweek Hellenic League, Premier Division defeat at Thornbury Town. Only Jamal Lawrence is absent from the Rovers squad for the trip to Windsor.

A copy of today’s match-day programme is available via the club website.

Former Cheltenham Town Scholar, Aaron Basford, has become the latest addition, to a Tuffley Rovers squad being rebuilt by the recently appointed manager, Rich Cox.

Cox, who had a spell as the Caretaker Manager of the Hellenic League Premier Division side last season, following the departure of former Player/Manager Mark Pritchett in July 2021, is overseeing his first pre-season as the club’s manager and has taken the opportunity to freshen up his squad, with Basford the latest addition to a youthful but exciting squad.

Alongside the signing of former Cheltenham Town, Hungerford Town and Gloucester City forward, Jamal Lawrence, Cox has started to build a squad with plenty of attacking promise, as well as having retained key defensive pairing Jacob Geddes and Macaulay Herbert, who forged a solid central defensive partnership over the fragmented 2020/21 season. It is Basford, however, who Cox sees as a pivotal signing and a signal of his ambition.

“I’m delighted with the signing of Bash and this is a big signing for the club. Along with the others we’ve managed to sign, alongside the retention of several existing players, it’s a statement of intent of where we want to take Tuffley Rovers”, he confirmed.

“Bash isn’t just a talented footballer he is a fantastic young man. I’ve known and worked with him for a very long time at Cheltenham Town, where I’ve seen him develop, both as a player and person and we’ve always had a strong relationship. He’s young, hungry and wants to enjoy his football. I see Tuffley Rovers as the place where that can happen.”

With several attacking players already signed for the 2021/22 season, Cox sees Basford’s ability to play in a number of positions as a crucial factor in signing him.

“He is a versatile forward, who can play across different positions and is a threat in the final third. I think the Glevum Park faithful had a glimpse of his talent, and what he can bring, during a game against us last pre season for Evesham and I’m sure they will be excited to see him wearing the claret and blue this season.”

Basford himself is keen to link-up with Cox again and is eager to get started with is new club.

“I am very happy to sign for Tuffley Rovers and ready to prove what I can do on the pitch. I am hard working and will keep going until the final whistle”, he added. “I’m determined and motivated to do well for the club and hopefully when we come to the end of the season we will all be proud of how we have done.”

Cox had already added Sam Mendes, Josh Swales, Felix Davis, Will Turner, Xander Jones and Lucas Price. Youngsters Laurie McNally and Jack Copland have also been added to the squad, after success with the club’s U18s squad last season.

In addition to this he has retained the signatures of Dom Kent, Warren Mann, Joe Shutt, Rudi McKinnon, Adam Clark, Luke Soule, Harry Morgan, Lewis Bainbridge and Luke Troke, amongst others.

More signings are anticipated, including two players awaiting International Clearance, as the club builds for the new season, which is now only 10 days away.

Having recently launched their new kit designs and range of merchandise, in association with AthElite Sports (https://www.athelitesports.co.uk/tuffley-rovers-fc), Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division side, Tuffley Rovers, can now confirm their first team kit sponsor for the 2021/22 playing season as South West Electrical.

The deal with the new sponsor has come about through a long-term connection with the joint owner of South West Electrical, Shayne Anson (now of Cirencester Town), a former Assistant Manager of the club’s Premier Division side and someone who also played for the club’s U18s side previously.

Anson and his business partner, Liam Lusty, started their business earlier this year and they specialise in domestic and commercial installations and see teaming up with Rovers as a fantastic opportunity to both gain a little more exposure of their company, but also make a contribution to a club in their local area.

“We are delighted to be teaming up with Tuffley Rovers”, Anson confirmed.

“We are both local lads and we also have a lot of friends who are involved in the club, both as players and in other roles. We saw this as an opportunity to team up with a friendly club that we feel close to”, he added. “We are both extremely excited to be part of the bigger project at Tuffley Rovers.”

Rovers’ Chairman, Dan Boon, is delighted to have secured this sponsorship, as part of a wider sponsorship push that is beginning to reap rewards.

“Obviously, knowing Shayne, in particular, makes this deal a little more special for us and we are delighted to have agreed a sponsorship package that should be good for both parties”, he confirmed. “From the moment we started discussions the relationship has been really positive, with both Shayne and Liam giving us a sense that they really want to support the growth and development of the club, alongside the excellent start they’ve had to the launch of their business.”

With the deal agreed, Rovers will now wear the South West Electrical logo on their three shirt designs for the next season, with the new AthElite Sports designs already attracting a great deal of positive feedback.

The club are also expected to announce several further sponsorship deals over the coming days, ahead of the new kits being used in the 2021/22 playing season.

Hellenic League Premier Division side Tuffley Rovers AFC have moved to confirm the appointment of Richard Cox as their new, permanent first team manager with immediate effect.

Cox, who had been holding the role on an interim basis since Mark Pritchett resigned in August, was the unanimous choice of the club’s Executive Committee following a recent recruitment process.

Rovers’ Football Chairman, Dan Boon, was pleased with the appointment but quick to confirm that the club had undertaken a robust selection exercise to ensure the right appointment.

“At the outset of this exercise, we made it clear that we saw this appointment as pivotal to the future of the club”, Boon confirmed. “Whilst Rich had the advantage of knowing the club well, he impressed the panel with his plans for developing the club and making us as successful as possible. We had some great applications, which emphasises the progress which has been made by the club.”

Cox, who will be the club’s fourth permanent manager since they returned to the Hellenic League in 2013, will take up the role with immediate effect, alongside his role as Lead Youth Development Phase coach at Cheltenham Town.

“I’m pleased we have secured Coxy’s services as the first team manager and see this as an opportunity for us to build on the foundations we’ve started to lay, off the field and in attracting good young players to the club”, said Ken Blackburn. “Hopefully this can be the start of a new era for Tuffley Rovers.”

Having had the appointment confirmed, Cox was quick to convey his enthusiasm for the task ahead.

“I am delighted to be appointed to the role on a permanent basis”, said Cox. “I feel that, after having the role on an interim basis, I have unfinished business and can’t wait to work with everyone involved to drive this great club forward.”

Rovers await confirmation of the plans for the re-commencement of the Hellenic League season, with a cup competition likely to take place in April and May if the Government roadmap proceeds as intended.

Applications are now invited for the role as First XI Manager at Tuffley Rovers AFC, with the successful candidate leading our Hellenic League Premier Division squad.

Tuffley Rovers are seeking to appoint a new first team manager to lead their Hellenic League, Premier Division squad in the 2021/22 playing season. We are looking for a candidate who can:

• Provide a knowledge and experience of local football that will assist in player recruitment
• Have a passion for and proved record in player development
• Offer commitment to training, match-days and other club activities
• Act as a leader to coaches across our adult sides, as well as setting a positive example in relation to conduct and personal development
• Support and mentor coaches in our Development Squad and U18s
• Hold at least an FA Level 2 Coaching Qualification or be prepared to complete the qualification following appointment

This is an unpaid role but the successful candidate will be able to claim expenses associated to their duties as first team manager.

Anyone interested in applying for the role should submit their CV to ExecutiveCommittee@tuffleyroversfc.co.uk not later than 5pm on 6 March 2021, together with a covering note offering a self-assessment on their suitability for the role.

To discuss the role prior to applying, candidates can contact Ken Blackburn (Head of Football Development) on 07876 047536.