Category: First Team

Tuffley Rovers will play their ninth home game in their last eleven fixtures on Saturday, buoyed by seven points accumulated from the last four games, a run that has lifted them up to 16th place in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division table, nine points clear of the relegation places with eight games remaining.

The visitors this weekend are Hallen FC, who have suffered a wretched season, amassing just ten points from their 29 games, although they too have been on an improved run, with six of those points coming in the last ten games. They currently sit sixteen points adrift of their hosts – and at least fourteen points short of climbing out of the relegation zone – so the game promises to be pivotal in the fortunes of both teams as the end of the season is fast approaching.

Rovers Manager, Neil Mustoe, has improved his squad in recent weeks and has managed to retain the services of Bristol Rovers loanee Harvey Greenslade for the fixture, although he is likely to be recalled from his work experience agreement after the game, with a move to a higher level looming, in order to continue his development. Greenslade has netted three times since joining in early January and Rovers have taken seven points from the five games he has featured in. Mustoe will be hoping the 17 year old signs off with another excellent performance, at the end of the week where he was named as the Player of the Month for January 2022.

As ever, Rovers’ match-day programme is available online, with printed copies available via the turnstiles.

After a stunning comeback to earn a point against the league leaders, Bishops Cleeve, last weekend Tuffley Rovers will be looking to banish the memory of what is arguably their worst result tomorrow, when they welcome Hereford Lads Club to Glevum Park, just over three months after then manager Rich Cox oversaw a 9-1 defeat at the County Ground, Hereford.

With nine league games remaining, interim boss Neil Mustoe finds his side 18th in the twenty team Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division, with a six point gap between them and Calne Town, the team currently sitting in 19th (the highest relegation placing). However, the recent win at home against Shrivenham – Rovers’ first since October – and the home point against Cleeve have brought renewed hope of a move away from trouble. Four points out of twelve available at Glevum Park since Mustoe took on the role doesn’t round like it should offer much hope, but it is a pleasant contrast to zero points from the twenty-one points available up to the new manager taking the reins.

Lads Club arrive at Glevum Park after defeating Calne 6-2 at home last week and have won three games in a row, but they have lost their last two games away from the County Ground and with only five wins from thirteen games on the road this season, Mustoe might be hoping that his own team’s resurgence in form will carry his side to a result that might open up additional space between them and the sides in the relegation spaces, as the season draws towards a conclusion.

Sam Mendes is the only withdrawal from the squad that turned out against Bishops Cleeve seven days ago, as he has been nursing a groin injury, and Lewis Bainbridge replaces him, having missed the previous game.

As ever, Rovers have produced their match-day programme for the fixture, which is available online now. Printed copies will also be on sale at the turnstiles.

Match sponsored by 

Tuffley Rovers will host league leaders Bishops Cleeve on Saturday afternoon at Glevum Park, with the visiting squad likely to include a host of former Rovers, including ex-Manager Mark Pritchett and Brennan Denness-Barrett who joined Cleeve on Friday after his work experience arrangement at Rovers was cancelled.

The visiting squad is also likely to include Luke Merchant, Kieran Alder and Jake Rhodes, whilst Will Turner spent time with the squad during pre-season and visiting coach, Freddy Ward, made a handful of first team appearances during Doug Foxwell’s time as manager.

After another chastening defeat at Bradford Town last weekend, Rovers boss Neil Mustoe hopes to welcome back Ashley Davies and Joel White into the starting line-up and should have pushed through one further signing in good time for the 3pm kick-off. Davies is a former Cleeve player and Rovers could include two others, if Liam Wright is fit to return alongside Lucas Price.

Rovers are desperate for points and although performances have improved in Mustoe’s brief tenure as manager, they have just one win and sit only five points above the relegation places, with ten league games remaining. Cleeve arrive at Rovers’ home with a nine point lead at the top of the table (with eleven games to play) on the back of three consecutive wins and ten wins in their last eleven league games.

When the sides met earlier in the season Rovers became the only side to prevent Cleeve scoring this season, as the sides fought out a 0-0 draw at the Mitres’ temporary home, Evesham United.

As ever, Rovers’ official match-day programme is now available online and printed copies will also be available on the turnstiles.

Although he was in the dugout for the 27 December Hellenic League game against Longlevens, Neil Mustoe will officially take charge of his first game as Tuffley Rovers interim manager on Monday 3 January and the new, New Year regime will see his new charges presented with a stern test, as high-flying Brimscombe & Thrupp will visit Glevum Park.

Mustoe worked with caretaker boss Ritchie Warden for the Longlevens game but Warden will revert to his role as Assistant Manager for this game and stand alongside the new manager in the dugout.

With Warren Mann and Jack Beardsell suspended, Mustoe will be forced into changing his squad, despite the encouraging performance last time out, but there was some good news when Joel White was declared fit and able to return to the squad after missing all but two games since the end of October; a period that has coincided with Rovers’ dreadful run of form.

As ever, the official match-day programme is available online and printed copies will be available on the turnstiles.

INTERIM MANAGER APPOINTMENT

Tuffley Rovers have moved quickly to appoint Neil Mustoe, the former Gloucester City captain, who had a successful career as a professional footballer, as their new manager on an interim basis until the end of the 2021/22 playing season.

Ritchie Warden – who was yesterday confirmed as holding a caretaker role following the departure of Rich Cox on Sunday – will take charge of the squad in their fixture against Longlevens on 27 December, when Mustoe will have a watching brief and the new manager’s first match in charge will be the home game against Brimscombe & Thrupp on 3 January.

Rovers’ Head of Football Development, Ken Blackburn, worked with Mustoe when they were both involved at Gloucester City and moved quickly to canvas his interest when Cox stood down but hadn’t necessarily anticipated to be in a position to appoint so quickly.

“I’ve kept in touch with Muzzy (Mustoe) on a regular basis and when Rich Cox stood down he seemed the perfect candidate, so I got in touch”, Blackburn confirmed. “I wasn’t necessarily expecting him to be in a position to help now, so it was a really pleasant surprise to find he could take on the role from the New Year.”

Chairman Dan Boon also welcomed the appointment.

“I’m pleased to announce that Neil has agreed to take the role on an interim basis until the end of the season”, he said. “The pedigree and leadership qualities that Muzzy will bring is exactly what the squad needs right now.”

Mustoe started his professional career at Manchester United, playing in the 1995 FA Youth Cup winning side, before spells at Wigan Athletic, Cambridge United, Stevenage Borough and Yeovil Town. He then moved to his home town club, making almost 350 appearances for City before his retirement in 2014.

Warden, who served as the Assistant Manager to Cox, will remain as part of Mustoe’s coaching team.

Following the resignation of Rich Cox on Sunday, Tuffley Rovers’ committee have asked Assistant Manager Ritchie Warden to take charge of team affairs, on a caretaker basis, pending the appointment of a new first team manager.

Ritchie, who joined the club last season, will take charge of the team for our 27 December fixture against Longlevens and he will be supported by our U18s manager and Development Squad coach, Craig Darkin, in the immediate short-term.

The club will be looking to appoint a new manager in the near future. Anyone interested in the vacancy should contact the club via admin@tuffleyroversfc.co.uk.

Club statement

Tuffley Rovers have today accepted the resignation of our first team manager, Rich Cox.

Chairman Dan Boon confirmed “It is with great disappointment that we have accepted Rich’s resignation from his role. Coxy has been with the club for almost four years and has been an incredibly loyal and committed member of the club, both in his original role as an Assistant Manager to Mark Pritchett and more so since his appointment as manager.”

“In accepting Coxy’s resignation we acknowledge that our current form and league position is not where he or the club would like to be in and after ten consecutive defeats in all competitions a change of manager may benefit the club.”

Cox has stepped down from the role he was appointed to ahead of the 2021/22 season. Before his appointment as manager, Cox had also held the role on a caretaker basis during the aborted 2020/21 campaign after Mark Pritchett had resigned in July 2020 and prior to that he had served as Pritchett’s assistant since 2018.

All at the club would like to place on records its sincere gratitude for what Rich Cox has done for the club and he will always be welcome back to Glevum Park at any time.

The club will look to make an interim appointment imminently, ahead of a our 27 December game against Longlevens and a recruitment process to appoint Rich’s successor will start straight away.

Tuffley Rovers will host Corsham Town in a Uhlsport Hellenic League, Premier Division fixture at Glevum Park on Saturday (3pm KO) looking to end an abysmal run of form which has seen them lose their last nine competitive fixtures, including a run of eight consecutive league defeats.

Manager, Rich Cox, has had time to reflect as his side have had a  two week break from action since their last defeat, against Lydney Town on 4 December, and he will hope that the time between fixtures will give his young squad a chance to regain their poise and recover their form.

Jamal Lawrence, who last played and scored the winner when Rovers won, away at Westfields on 26 October, is set to return after injury but Rovers most experienced player, Warren Mann, is ruled out of the game. Cox has added Scott Nicholls to his squad during the gap in play and another new signing, Jurek Marszalek, is fit to play after recovering from an injury picked up shortly after he signed for the club. Brennan Denness-Barrett and Sam Mendes are suspended, so Matt Butler has been called up from the Development Squad, after scoring nine goals in eleven games this season.

Corsham Town arrive at Glevum Park having already recorded one victory over Cox’s men this season – a 2-0 victory when the teams met on 14 August – and sitting seventh in the table, with 42 points from their 22 league games. Much of their recent success has been founded on an impressive defensive record which has seen them concede just 20 goals in the league.

For Rovers that presents a particular challenge, as they have currently gone 450 minutes without scoring in the league (when a 90th minute own goal offered little consolation in the defeat at home to Thornbury Town) and it is now a little over six weeks since Joe Shutt was the last player to score a Hellenic League goal for the team.

Cox will definitely be hoping for some Christmas cheer as he side play their penultimate game of 2021.

The official match-day programme is, as ever, available online and printed copies will be available at the turnstiles.

Tuffley Rovers will be looking to end a miserable run of form this evening, when they host Cheltenham Saracens at Glevum Park in a GFA Challenge Trophy match. KO is 7:45pm.

After a run of five consecutive defeats (and six defeats in seven games) Rovers have seen their Hellenic League Premier Division season stall, meaning they will be all the more wary of their in-form hosts, despite the visitors playing a division below, in Hellenic League, Division One (West).

Manager Rich Cox has named three of the club’s U18s in the squad, with promising striker Tomo Shyamapant joining midfielder Demi Yussuf, who already has two substitute appearances under his belt and was in the squad on Saturday, whilst mercurial talent Damarei Bryan gets first call-up.

As ever, the official match-day programme will be available on the turnstiles but is already available online.

Tuffley Rovers will host Royal Wootton Bassett Town, in their latest Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division fixture, their third consecutive home game (and fifth in their last seven fixtures) and their players, management and supporters will undoubtedly be hoping for an improvement in their results, as Rich Cox’s side go into the clash on a run of four consecutive defeats and five losses in their last six competitive fixtures.

KO will be at 3pm at Glevum Park.

Rovers will then be at home again on Tuesday evening – when they host Cheltenham Saracens in their GFA Challenge Trophy tie – as they continue a long run of games at their Glevum Park home.