Post by Dave on May 11, 2015 9:21:50 GMT
I was very impressed when I recently visited Broadpark the home of the Rams to watch a game between their first team and Upton Athletic. Below is the history of the club followed by a few pictures of the ground and clubhouse I took while I was there. Below the photos is a great article that appeared in the Herald Express on the October 11, 2012 about the clubs legend Malcolm Wildman.
Kingsteignton Athletic affectionately known as the Rams, after the fact that every year the village of Kingsteignton celebrates by holding a ram roasting festival. Formed in 1930 and commenced South Devon league competition in the 1930-31 season. There are records of football being played in the village long before the formation of the club, even in fact long before the formation of the football association in 1863. It was not until the 1920's when there were two village clubs, Kingsteignton Forrester's and the Kingsteignton Liberals that newspaper match reports appeared with any resemblance of regularity.
The current club owes its existence to no small degree to one man a Mr J Cooke, a Forrester player; it was he that proposed the joining of the two Kingsteignton clubs to form one new club Kingsteignton Athletic.
Home fixtures were played at Orange Farm, where St Michael’s road now stands & it was not long before the newly formed team found success, Herald cup finalists in 1931 and 1936 and winners of the trophy in 1935. In 1934, Athletic were the South Devon league champions & runners up in both 1935 and 1936.
Since those early years of high success, the club has experienced pinnacles of success intertwined with troughs of mediocrity. Certainly no South Devon league club was more successful between the years 1950 to 1971; they won the league championship 4 times and were runners up on a further 4 occasions. They won the coveted Herald cup five times, including the prized hat-trick in 1553 to 1955 and were finalists on eight further occasions.
Matters though have not always gone quite so well for the club, in the early 1960's the Athletic faced potential disaster. The Devon and Courtenay Clay Company required the club's then home ground, Homer's lane for ball clay mining, for a desperate few months the club was potentially homeless. The club would surely have folded had it not been for the generosity of one lady, Mrs W Goodyear, she offered the club a home on approximately a quarter of an acre, comprising of two fields divided by a hedge, in Broadway Road. Mrs Goodyear agreed that the ground should be called Broadpark. During the time that the teams were playing their football at Homers lane there were no pitch side facilities, so the home and away teams changed at the local pub the Dewdrop.
The first league match at Broadpark produced a 2-1 win by the reserve side over Torbay. Richie Caldwell gaining the honour of scoring the first goal on the ground with Dave Bowen scoring the winning goal after Torbay had equalised. The Broadpark ground and facilities have greatly improved; the current club house was completed in 1972.
Honours
SDFL champions:
1934, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1966, 1967.
SDFL runners up:
1935, 1936, 1957, 1963, 1964, 1969.
Herald cup winners:
1935, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1967, 1971, 2000, 2001.
Herald cup finalists:
1931, 1936, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1995, 1996.
Fred Hewings cup winners:
2001.
George Belli cup winners:
1996.
Devon Senior cup finalists:
1965.
Div 1 champions:
1983.
Div 1 runners up:
1985, 2000.
Senior two Winners:
1966, 1967
Senior two runners up:
1970
Division 2 Champions:
2002
Division 2 runners up:
1970
Lidstone cup winners:
1967, 2002
Division 3 Champions:
1993
Ronald cup winners:
1993
Charity Shield Winners:
1997.
Devon County U18
champions: 1997
Devon County U18
runners up: 1998
Pioneer league U15
champions: 1995
The Ground
WHILE fixtures across Torquay were falling foul of the weather, the sun was blazing at Broadpark as Kingsteignton Athletic prepared to celebrate an event commemorating the 50th year since something remarkable happened to turn their fortunes.
A young player arrived from Preston, Lancashire, a Northern lad who had once featured in the reserves of a Preston North End side containing the likes of Tom Finney.
When Malcolm Wildman left his Deepdale roots for Devon, coming to stay with the Harris family and his future wife June, little could anyone have imagined the impact he was to have on the club and community.
Wildman joined Kingsteignton in 1962 amid a bleak period for the club. Their last silverware had been back in 1955, and the Devon and Courtenay Clay Company had recently acquired their home ground, Homer's Lane leaving the club's existence in the balance. Fortunately, they had just been offered the two fields on Broadway Lane that were to become Broadpark.
Life club member Mike Beer was playing there at the time when rumours circulated that a semi-professional footballer from League Division Four side Stockport had joined the club.
He said: "We thought we've heard all this before, but as soon as he started playing you could see he was a cut above."
Then team secretary, Stan Neck was also immediately impressed with the new arrival: "He was just a terrific player; I think he was the best player we ever had to tell you the truth."
And appreciation of Wildman's talent was not confined to Broadpark. Another former secretary, John Bibbings, said: "Most people say he was the best player ever to play in the South Devon League; he was that good."
Certainly the signing of Wildman marked the beginning of another golden spell for the Rams, culminating in successive league titles in 1965-66 and 1966-67, and a fifth Herald Cup win in 1967. And success bred success, with Malcolm's talent drawing others to the club.
Committee member Roland Gardner added: "Better players wanted to play in that team. Nobody said no to Kingsteignton in those days."
Malc's contribution was not confined to the field of play. He went on to manage and, though he didn't take to that role, he became the father figure providing advice – of an honest Northern variety – to the managers and players who came after. He has been the club secretary and is now approaching twenty years service in his latest stint as chairman. And his style is still very much hands on.
"He's been down here putting a new window in recently," revealed treasurer Sue Smith. "And he organises the firework night, our biggest fundraiser."
Even the building of the clubhouse itself was partly initiated by Malcolm. But why did a player with such conspicuous talent decide to remain a one-wman club and forego the chance to play professionally?
Steve Wildman, one of Malc's sons, admitted he didn't have the answer.
"He said to me he got offered more money to play on a Saturday than he would have had during the working week but he was loyal to the manager of the time."
Clearly Malc Wildman is someone for whom club loyalty is something you can't put a price on and the club's eagerness to show their appreciation was clear to see in the extent of the effort that had been put into his special day.
First on the agenda was a Certificate of Achievement presentation by SDFL chairperson Lisa Buley.
Then, Malc kicked off the afternoon's Devon Senior Cup match between Kingsteignton Reserves and Woodbury. In the clubhouse afterwards, Mike Beer presented Malcolm and his wife June with a plaque from the club along with flowers and a gift. Malc's response was typically measured and straight to the point: "I've got to say I wouldn't change it for anything. Great guys, great girls, great club, and I've loved every minute of it."
Although the day was mainly for Malcolm, it is also 80 years since the club itself first competed in the SDFL, and like their talismanic chairman, they are happy to strive for success at the local level for now. Having finished third in Division One last season, this year's promotion was something of a bonus but there is definitely a buzz around Broadpark.
"There's a good atmosphere," explained committee member Helen Workman. "There's camaraderie and the social side is there again which is good for the teams."
As guests enjoyed a pleasant late afternoon buffet laid on in a gazebo decorated with balloons and banners, June Wildman summed up a successful afternoon: "I'm very proud and it was such a surprise for him. I'm so pleased."
How can you summarise the legacy of a man whose influence can be seen in every inch of the club that he has spent nearly a lifetime nurturing? Perhaps with Mike Beer's closing words: "All I can say is Malcolm, with this club, is the club."
Read more: www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Rams-bow-man-brought-club-s-glory-days/story-17066586-detail/story.html#ixzz3Zol7DL1d
Follow us: @tqheraldexpress on Twitter | theheraldexpress on Facebook
The Rams
TAKEN FROM KINGSTEIGNTONATHLETIC.COM
TAKEN FROM KINGSTEIGNTONATHLETIC.COM
Kingsteignton Athletic affectionately known as the Rams, after the fact that every year the village of Kingsteignton celebrates by holding a ram roasting festival. Formed in 1930 and commenced South Devon league competition in the 1930-31 season. There are records of football being played in the village long before the formation of the club, even in fact long before the formation of the football association in 1863. It was not until the 1920's when there were two village clubs, Kingsteignton Forrester's and the Kingsteignton Liberals that newspaper match reports appeared with any resemblance of regularity.
The current club owes its existence to no small degree to one man a Mr J Cooke, a Forrester player; it was he that proposed the joining of the two Kingsteignton clubs to form one new club Kingsteignton Athletic.
Home fixtures were played at Orange Farm, where St Michael’s road now stands & it was not long before the newly formed team found success, Herald cup finalists in 1931 and 1936 and winners of the trophy in 1935. In 1934, Athletic were the South Devon league champions & runners up in both 1935 and 1936.
Since those early years of high success, the club has experienced pinnacles of success intertwined with troughs of mediocrity. Certainly no South Devon league club was more successful between the years 1950 to 1971; they won the league championship 4 times and were runners up on a further 4 occasions. They won the coveted Herald cup five times, including the prized hat-trick in 1553 to 1955 and were finalists on eight further occasions.
Matters though have not always gone quite so well for the club, in the early 1960's the Athletic faced potential disaster. The Devon and Courtenay Clay Company required the club's then home ground, Homer's lane for ball clay mining, for a desperate few months the club was potentially homeless. The club would surely have folded had it not been for the generosity of one lady, Mrs W Goodyear, she offered the club a home on approximately a quarter of an acre, comprising of two fields divided by a hedge, in Broadway Road. Mrs Goodyear agreed that the ground should be called Broadpark. During the time that the teams were playing their football at Homers lane there were no pitch side facilities, so the home and away teams changed at the local pub the Dewdrop.
The first league match at Broadpark produced a 2-1 win by the reserve side over Torbay. Richie Caldwell gaining the honour of scoring the first goal on the ground with Dave Bowen scoring the winning goal after Torbay had equalised. The Broadpark ground and facilities have greatly improved; the current club house was completed in 1972.
Honours
SDFL champions:
1934, 1949, 1953, 1954, 1966, 1967.
SDFL runners up:
1935, 1936, 1957, 1963, 1964, 1969.
Herald cup winners:
1935, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1967, 1971, 2000, 2001.
Herald cup finalists:
1931, 1936, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1957, 1964, 1965, 1969, 1995, 1996.
Fred Hewings cup winners:
2001.
George Belli cup winners:
1996.
Devon Senior cup finalists:
1965.
Div 1 champions:
1983.
Div 1 runners up:
1985, 2000.
Senior two Winners:
1966, 1967
Senior two runners up:
1970
Division 2 Champions:
2002
Division 2 runners up:
1970
Lidstone cup winners:
1967, 2002
Division 3 Champions:
1993
Ronald cup winners:
1993
Charity Shield Winners:
1997.
Devon County U18
champions: 1997
Devon County U18
runners up: 1998
Pioneer league U15
champions: 1995
The Ground
The Presentation to Malcolm Wildman
WHILE fixtures across Torquay were falling foul of the weather, the sun was blazing at Broadpark as Kingsteignton Athletic prepared to celebrate an event commemorating the 50th year since something remarkable happened to turn their fortunes.
A young player arrived from Preston, Lancashire, a Northern lad who had once featured in the reserves of a Preston North End side containing the likes of Tom Finney.
When Malcolm Wildman left his Deepdale roots for Devon, coming to stay with the Harris family and his future wife June, little could anyone have imagined the impact he was to have on the club and community.
Wildman joined Kingsteignton in 1962 amid a bleak period for the club. Their last silverware had been back in 1955, and the Devon and Courtenay Clay Company had recently acquired their home ground, Homer's Lane leaving the club's existence in the balance. Fortunately, they had just been offered the two fields on Broadway Lane that were to become Broadpark.
Life club member Mike Beer was playing there at the time when rumours circulated that a semi-professional footballer from League Division Four side Stockport had joined the club.
He said: "We thought we've heard all this before, but as soon as he started playing you could see he was a cut above."
Then team secretary, Stan Neck was also immediately impressed with the new arrival: "He was just a terrific player; I think he was the best player we ever had to tell you the truth."
And appreciation of Wildman's talent was not confined to Broadpark. Another former secretary, John Bibbings, said: "Most people say he was the best player ever to play in the South Devon League; he was that good."
Certainly the signing of Wildman marked the beginning of another golden spell for the Rams, culminating in successive league titles in 1965-66 and 1966-67, and a fifth Herald Cup win in 1967. And success bred success, with Malcolm's talent drawing others to the club.
Committee member Roland Gardner added: "Better players wanted to play in that team. Nobody said no to Kingsteignton in those days."
Malc's contribution was not confined to the field of play. He went on to manage and, though he didn't take to that role, he became the father figure providing advice – of an honest Northern variety – to the managers and players who came after. He has been the club secretary and is now approaching twenty years service in his latest stint as chairman. And his style is still very much hands on.
"He's been down here putting a new window in recently," revealed treasurer Sue Smith. "And he organises the firework night, our biggest fundraiser."
Even the building of the clubhouse itself was partly initiated by Malcolm. But why did a player with such conspicuous talent decide to remain a one-wman club and forego the chance to play professionally?
Steve Wildman, one of Malc's sons, admitted he didn't have the answer.
"He said to me he got offered more money to play on a Saturday than he would have had during the working week but he was loyal to the manager of the time."
Clearly Malc Wildman is someone for whom club loyalty is something you can't put a price on and the club's eagerness to show their appreciation was clear to see in the extent of the effort that had been put into his special day.
First on the agenda was a Certificate of Achievement presentation by SDFL chairperson Lisa Buley.
Then, Malc kicked off the afternoon's Devon Senior Cup match between Kingsteignton Reserves and Woodbury. In the clubhouse afterwards, Mike Beer presented Malcolm and his wife June with a plaque from the club along with flowers and a gift. Malc's response was typically measured and straight to the point: "I've got to say I wouldn't change it for anything. Great guys, great girls, great club, and I've loved every minute of it."
Although the day was mainly for Malcolm, it is also 80 years since the club itself first competed in the SDFL, and like their talismanic chairman, they are happy to strive for success at the local level for now. Having finished third in Division One last season, this year's promotion was something of a bonus but there is definitely a buzz around Broadpark.
"There's a good atmosphere," explained committee member Helen Workman. "There's camaraderie and the social side is there again which is good for the teams."
As guests enjoyed a pleasant late afternoon buffet laid on in a gazebo decorated with balloons and banners, June Wildman summed up a successful afternoon: "I'm very proud and it was such a surprise for him. I'm so pleased."
How can you summarise the legacy of a man whose influence can be seen in every inch of the club that he has spent nearly a lifetime nurturing? Perhaps with Mike Beer's closing words: "All I can say is Malcolm, with this club, is the club."
Read more: www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/Rams-bow-man-brought-club-s-glory-days/story-17066586-detail/story.html#ixzz3Zol7DL1d
Follow us: @tqheraldexpress on Twitter | theheraldexpress on Facebook