Strange times at Barnstaple Town FC

Barnstaple Town have kicked off their new season with some decent results on the pitch but unrest on the terraces.

Starting with the football, Barum went down 2-0 to Clevedon Town on the opening day of the Western League season but gave a good account of themselves against a side tipped to be leading contenders for promotion.

This was followed by a visit from newly-promoted Ivybridge Town and a tricky encounter for Barum. After a goalless first period, Tommy Rogers grabbed the only goal with a tremendous strike into the top corner, nicely setting up the visit from Helston Athletic in the FA Cup.

Helston were the standout team in the Western League last season, deservedly winning the title and promotion to the Southern League, and they demonstrated their prowess at Mill Road by taking a 1-0 lead into the half-time break.

A penalty doubled the Helston advantage but that proved the catalyst for Barum, who pulled one back through Jake Williams and Ryan Keates levelled the scores with an accomplished finish, rounding the visiting ‘keeper to slot home.

An own goal completed the fightback and wild celebrations for Barnstaple, but Helston had one final response, pinching an equaliser to secure a replay down in Cornwall.  

In contrast to this excellent result in the oldest cup competition in the world, the Barnstaple Town Independent Supporters Association have issued the following statement:

“BTSA is deeply concerned with how the football club is being run. The Board are custodians of Barnstaple Town Football Club and need to demonstrate good governance. We urge the Board to improve in the following areas:

• Poor general communication with the fans and the wider community.
• Neglect or lack of care over the ground facilities.
• Lack of accountability on where the money generated from ticket sales and the bar goes.
• Allow players and managers to play and perform without constant interference or criticism.
• Poor relationship to the wider community. How the club conducts itself in public. The poor reputation of the football club throughout Barnstaple, and beyond.
• Lack of attention to the day to day running. Club too focussed on players. The Club being dissolved by Companies House and the bar license fiasco being examples.
• The lack of young players coming through and wanting to play for Barnstaple Town. The inability to retain a reserve side without paying them.
• The inability to retain, value or celebrate volunteers.
• End the scattergun approach of broken promises, such as the 3G pitch, the football academy at West Buckland School, shop in Green Lanes, and a 57-seater coach from Yeovil. Instead, there is a need for an effective five-year development plan, which is sensible and costed.
• Some of our fans are relatively new and others have been coming for years, and beyond. We all care about our club and we are concerned about how it is currently being run.

Strong stuff from the supporters association and it will be very interesting to see how Barnstaple Town respond. What is very clear is the need for improved harmony between the club and the fanbase because Barum is a wonderful, historic football club, capable of climbing up the football pyramid.