The wait is over!
It’s all eyes on the Cygnet Health Care Stadium tomorrow (10th August) where the Peacocks commence their Southern League Premier South campaign against Gloucester City, ko 3.00pm. After two years in the Vanarama National League South ended in relegation in April, Taunton now face the task of reacclimatising to their former Southern League habitat in what is sure to be a challenging yet intriguing season.
It has been an extremely busy summer at the club following the appointment of new manager Richard Luffman who has assembled a brand new backroom team along with a playing squad containing only one player who featured for the Peacocks last season. Town have consequently crammed in ten friendly games and the held-over Somerset Premier Cup Final during the past five weeks to allow maximum opportunity for the new faces to gel.
The game with Gloucester will prove a testing one to begin proceedings, with City having resided at National League level since 2009 until their relegation from the North Division last season. They have recruited experience over the summer including former Peacocks centre half Dan Ball, stalwart ex-Weston-super-Mare midfielder Dayle Grubb and former Yeovil defender Ben Richards-Everton.
New boss Luffman meanwhile has had to whittle his sizeable squad down to 16 names which won’t include summer recruit Tiago Sa who has a slight knock, otherwise everyone is fully fit for selection. The Town boss conceded it has been difficult to finalise his troops for tomorrow’s opener, saying:” We’ve obviously had to leave players out of the squad which has been difficult because the standards have been really good from everyone over the whole of pre-season so the biggest decision this week has been picking a 16, but we’re really happy with what we’ve got squad wise. We’ve got a lot of attacking options to hopefully come on and change the game later on if needed.”
Focusing on the match with the Tigers, he continued:” It couldn’t have been any tougher game to start. Gloucester are rightly one of the favourites to win the division, they’ve got some brilliant players that have played in the National League and have Football League experience. We know what a tough game it’s going to be, but we want to test ourselves against the top teams. We’re going in as as underdogs so we’re going to need all our supporters behind us. They’re hopefully going to be to the 12th man for us tomorrow which will inspire us to work that bit harder and do the extra yards that are going to be required. I’ve got full faith though that the group that we’ve put together will have a strong season and we’re comfortable that we’ve added the right bodies into the squad. It’s been a massive rebuild over the summer with 15 players of the 16 tomorrow in line for their first league start for the club but we’re very much looking forward to it and to meeting all the fans tomorrow that weren’t at last week’s friendly. Hopefully we can we can secure three points for them!”
Matchday Information
Turnstiles and Main Bar opens at 12 noon
Match tickets are available to purchase in advance online
Admission is also payable by card or cash at the turnstile, priced at £14 for Adults, £11 for Concessions (state pensioners & Students with ID), £5 for Youth (6 -16 years), children aged under 6 are free with paying adult.
Supporters are reminded that parking is now £5 per vehicle.
Printed Match Programmes will be available to purchase tomorrow from the Club Shop.
Match commentary will be available on Peacocks Radio
We welcome our Match Mascots Berrow Juniors Under 7’s and Under 8’s
Last meeting: the two sides have not crossed paths for more than 20 years, the last occasion being in the Southern League Western Division in February 2004 when City avenged an earlier 5-0 away defeat with a 3-1 victory at their old Meadow Park ground. Neil Griffiths gave City the lead and Antony Lynch levelled with a penalty before second half goals from Neil Mustoe and Andy Hoskins sealed the points.