We can now confirm our captaincy appointments for the 2020-21 season.
Nick Grimes will become the new team captain while Dan Sullivan steps up to become vice-captain. Long-serving goalkeeper Lloyd Irish will be the club captain.
Grimes joined the Peacocks in August 2019 and became a mainstay at centre half during his first season with some mature displays while Sullivan, a former Supporters’ Player of the Year, has been with the club for three years and is a firm fans’ favourite. Irish meanwhile is a true club stalwart, having made over 350 competitive appearances in two spells since his debut back in 2008.
Tauntontown.com caught up with all three players as they prepared for Saturday’s Southern League curtain raiser. Nick told us:” I’m absolutely delighted to be named captain of this group of lads. I’d like to thank the management team for showing faith in me with their decision and hopefully I can go on to repay their trust by taking responsibility both on and off the pitch. It’s big shoes to fill after Wrizz’s (Matt Wright’s) departure with all the success he had over recent seasons but I’m looking to take it in my stride and if I can be as successful as him it will be a very fruitful period for the club”.
Dan was equally as upbeat, saying:” I’m excited about the season ahead. I think the club has brought in some very good players and we have gelled well in such a short space of time. I’m sure throughout the season we will keep getting better the more we play together. Having such a long time not playing football due to Covid means we, as a team, are ready to start the season, everyone is buzzing and it’s a very good feeling around the club. Being appointed vice-captain came as a surprise as it’s never been me who has been chosen before but I appreciate Rob putting his trust in me to be vice-captain and to help the team as much as I can, I hope to repay him with good performances and results.”
Lloyd who has only missed seven first team games since rejoining us in 2014 commented:” It’s an honour to have been made club captain of Taunton Town FC. When Rob phoned me to ask it was a no-brainer. Rob, Matt and Meaks have put together a great team for the new season and the new lads have settled in very quickly. It feels like a fresh start for all and there’s areal buzz around the place at the moment. The club is in a great position thanks to all the work that Kevin, Simon, the directors and all the volunteers do behind the scenes, we’re fortunate enough to just turn up and play football. I’m looking forward to returning to normality and seeing more faces back at the ground as well as in the community. We’re all buzzing to get going next weekend, we have a tough start but there have been some very promising performances in pre-season. I look forward to seeing you all soon at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium. #UTP!”
Head of Football Rob Dray added:” The new captaincy group this year will give us as a club and team fantastic representation on and off the pitch. Grimesy as a player and a person typifies the captaincy role and will only grow into it. Sully as vice-captain has been one of our most dependable match winners and deserves this opportunity to be part of the leadership group. Finally Lloyd is a club legend and as club captain is what we are all about. After discussing with all three they are all honoured and excited about their appointments.”
We would like to wish Nick, Dan and Lloyd the best of luck in their new roles.