The summer sun is shining on Wordsworth Drive, and with it comes that familiar flutter of anticipation as football prepares to return to the Cygnet Health Care Stadium. After Richard Luffman’s side secured a 9th-place finish in their first season together, The Peacocks are ready to build on those solid foundations for what promises to be an exciting 2025-26 campaign.
With six home fixtures and four away matches lined up, the pre-season schedule offers several challenging tests as the team prepares for the Southern League Premier Division South season ahead. From National League South opposition to local rivalries and a championship academy side, there’s plenty for Peacocks fans to look forward to.
As new signings settle in and familiar faces return, these summer fixtures represent a chance to prepare, and they’re the first chapters in what we hope will be a memorable season.
Home Fixtures
Merthyr Town – Saturday, 5th July, 1:30pm
Welsh Champions Provide First Test at Wordsworth Drive
The Peacocks’ first home preseason game comes against a formidable opponent in Merthyr Town. After dominating the Southern League Premier Division South last season with 91 points and 105 goals, the Welsh side emphatically earned their promotion to the National League North. This early July clash offers Taunton supporters their first glimpse of Luffers’ squad against quality opposition.
The fixture carries additional intrigue as it marks new striker Kane Simpson’s first appearance against his former club, having made the switch from Merthyr to Taunton. Simpson, who contributed 20 goals and 16 assists for Merthyr during their promotion campaign, will be keen to demonstrate his abilities in claret and blue against familiar faces.
Facing last season’s champions provides an immediate benchmark for The Peacocks, and it’s safe to say the new partnership at the back of Grimes and Booth will be put to the test. It’s the perfect chance for supporters to return to the Cygnet Health Care Stadium and see how the squad is shaping up.
Bath City – Tuesday, 8th July, 7:45pm
National League South Challenge Under the Lights
The Peacocks welcome locals Bath City to the Cygnet Health Care Stadium for their second home pre-season fixture. Having finished 15th in the National League South last season, the Romans provide another stern test for the lads.
Similar to Simpson against Merthyr, new signing Elliot Frear will face a familiar side when Bath City arrive. Frear, who recently said that Luffers “sold me the vision and ambition for Taunton Town,” made 141 appearances for the Romans over four years before joining the Peacocks this summer.
The match also marks club captain Nick Grimes’ first encounter with Bath since returning home from them, with the armband now his for the 2025-26 campaign.
This evening kick-off provides the perfect opportunity for supporters to enjoy midweek football under the lights at Wordsworth Drive for the first time this season.
Bridgwater United – Tuesday, 15th July, 7:45pm
Local Derby, Local Players, Local Fans
A much-anticipated clash arrives in mid-July as Bridgwater United make the short journey to Wordsworth Drive. This Somerset derby gives The Peacocks a great chance to get one over on the Robins in front of a lively crowd.
In a move that underlines Taunton Town’s commitment to youth development, Luffers has confirmed that the U18s squad will feature prominently in this fixture: “We’re really keen on local Taunton talent – they have a real connection to the town. Against Bridgwater, we’ll be giving our U18s a runout, so come down and see how they rise to the challenge of a local derby against a strong side.”
This represents a fantastic opportunity for supporters to witness the next generation of Peacocks talent testing themselves after their championship-winning season in the Floodlight South League.
To celebrate this community occasion and ensure the Cygnet is packed with fans from across Somerset, the club has announced special reduced ticket prices:
- Adults – £6
- Concessions / Students – £4
- Under-16s – FREE
This midweek derby under the lights has all the ingredients to be a pre-season highlight, so bring your friends, bring your family, and help create a great atmosphere.
Stoke City U21s – Saturday, 19th July, 1:00pm
Championship Academy Stars Visit Taunton
The Peacocks welcome top young talent to Taunton as Stoke City’s Under-21s journey to Somerset for what promises to be a fascinating fixture.
As a Category One academy, Stoke’s youth setup represents the highest standard in English football development. This presents a unique challenge for the squad, offering a chance to test themselves against technically gifted players.
The Potters’ U21s squad features goalkeeper Tommy Simkin, who recently starred for Walsall in the League Two playoff final and has earned an England U21 call-up for the European Championships. There are bound to be other future stars lurking in the Stoke squad.
The early Saturday afternoon kick-off is perfectly timed for the school holidays. So, if you have any football-crazy youngsters, it’s a great opportunity to show them what elite academy football looks like.
In a few years, they could be saying, “I saw him play at the Cygnet!”
Chippenham Town – Tuesday, 22nd July, 7:45pm
Wiltshire Visitors Provide Penultimate Home Test
The Peacocks continue their pre-season preparations with another challenging fixture as Chippenham Town visit Wordsworth Drive for a midweek encounter.
Having competed in the National League South last season, the Bluebirds will provide a solid test of Taunton’s progress as the new campaign approaches. By this point in the pre-season, fitness levels should be building, and Luffers’ tactical plans will have taken shape.
For supporters, it’s another chance to enjoy evening football at the Cygnet and see how the team measures up against higher-tier opposition in what will be one of the final opportunities to see the squad at home before the competitive action begins.
Bedford Town – Saturday, 2nd August, 3:00pm
Final Test Against More Champions
The Peacocks conclude their pre-season campaign with a Saturday afternoon fixture against Bedford Town – the second league champions to visit Wordsworth Drive this summer.
The Eagles soared to the Southern League Premier Central title last season, the same level of the football pyramid that Taunton will be competing in. This provides the perfect final examination of the squad before the competitive season begins.
With Bedford bringing championship pedigree to Somerset, this match represents the culmination of a challenging preseason schedule that will offer no respite, from National League South opposition to academy stars, local derbies, and now a clash with another title winner.
This will be the last chance to see The Peacocks in action before points are at stake. By this stage, we should see something close to Luffers’ preferred starting eleven and get our clearest indication of how Taunton Town will approach the upcoming season.
Come and see the final piece of the puzzle fall into place before the real business begins.
Away Fixtures
Even in pre-season, the players and staff massively appreciate any away support. There’s something special about hearing Peacock voices on the road, and it would be great to see some of our most dedicated fans make every preseason game.
Portishead Town – Tuesday, 1st July, 7:45pm
The pre-season journey begins with a midweek trip to Portishead Town, an hour up the M5. This is the very first chance for you to see Luffers’ new squad in action.
Willand Rovers – Friday, 11th July, 7:45pm
Just a 20-minute drive from Taunton, this local fixture against Willand represents our most accessible away day.
Pen-y-Bont – Saturday, 26th July, 3:00pm
The Peacocks head across the Welsh border for our longest pre-season journey, providing a proper away day experience and a chance to test ourselves against different opposition.
Exmouth Town – Tuesday, 29th July, 7:45pm
Our final away fixture is an hour-long trip to the Devon coast to face Exmouth Town.
Be Part of It
As we approach the 2025-26 season, the pieces are falling into place for what promises to be an exciting campaign for The Peacocks. The backroom staff have acted decisively in the transfer market, completing signings early to give the squad maximum time to gel during these crucial preseason fixtures.
From our established key players like Grimes, Gould, Moulden, and Brain, to exciting new signings such as Booth, Simpson, and Frear, to the emerging talents in our U18s squad, these ten matches will shape exactly what our starting lineup might look like.
To make attending as accessible as possible, we’ve reduced ticket prices across our home pre-season games, with an even bigger reduction for our derby clash with Bridgwater:
- Adult – £8
- Concessions / Student – £5
- Under-16s – £1
All pre-season matches are pay-on-the-gate, so no advance booking is required. Simply turn up, pay your entry, and be part of the journey from the very beginning.
Whether you can make one match or all ten, your support means everything and drives our players forward. We hope to see familiar faces and welcome new ones as football returns to Taunton this summer.
Up The Peacocks! 🦚
