Post by Dave on Jul 25, 2022 16:53:04 GMT
Long Lane Home Of Watcombe Wanderers
Watcombe had always played their home games at the King George playing field just across the road from the Watcombe Estate. From memory there was once three pitches in use at the park, but they were some of the worst football pitches in Torbay.
The one of the right hand side of the park would have made a far better downhill skiing slope than it ever made a decent football pitch. The pitches were always going to hold the club back and the club needed to move if it any ambitions of moving up the football ladder.
Many years ago Watcombe were in talks with the Devon FA about playing their home games at Coach Road, but the Devon FA shocked most people when they allowed the Plymouth Argyle Reserve team have the use of it.
A few years later the club was offered Long Lane in Newton Abbot, the former home of Buckland and Milber. Watcombe made many improvements to the ground and moved up to the newly formed Devon League.
Sadly as has been the case for a number of teams who moved up to the Devon league, it has not worked out as hoped and the club now find themselves back playing in the South Devon Football League.
Long Lane itself has not changed since I was a very young boy growing up In Newton Abbot, it is very bumpy and full of large holes and you need to drive very slowly along it.
But once at the entrance to the ground there is plenty of parking in the lane, just pull in tight to the hedge. The pitch slopes down hill from the changing room side but is far better than many other local clubs pitches I have been to.
There is a café and toilets at the ground so well worth a visit.
