Welcome to the latest installment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this installment, we travelled to Somerset for some Southern League Division One South action. Frome Town played host as they took on Bristol Manor Farm at Badgers Hill. It was sure to be interesting as both clubs looked to consolidate their positions in the league.
It's All In The Name
The name Frome is derived from the Brythonic word frama, which means "fair, fine, or brisk" and describes the river's flow. In 2019, the BBC ranked Frome as having the most difficult name to pronounce in the United Kingdom. The Robins are the club's nickname because they mostly play in red.
Some Notable People From Frome:
Benjamin Baker- Builder of the Forth Bridge
Jenson Button- Formula One Driver
Guy Green- Film Director
Richard Vranch- Actor
Colin Dredge- Cricketer
Some Notable Former Players
Ryan Seager
Ryley Towler
Ronnie Briggs
Ryan Harley
Joe Low
Tristan Plummer
A History Lesson From AFC Finners
Frome Town was founded in 1904 and began their career in the Wiltshire Premier League. Over the next decade, they won several Somerset League Championships as well as a Wiltshire League Championship. After World War I, they joined the Western League and won the second division on their first try. In the 1930's, they also won consecutive Somerset FA Cups.
In the 1950's, they were promoted and advanced to the first round of the FA Cup. After the 1960's, they would spend over 30 years in the Western League's top division, winning it in 1979. During this time, they also won three Somerset Cups, two Western League cups, and a floodlit cup. In 1996, they were relegated to Division One.
In 2002, they were promoted back to the Premier League, and in 2009, they were promoted to the Southern Football League after winning the Somerset Premier Cup. They then advanced to the Southern Premier Division and are currently in the Southern League Division One South.
Here's a fun fact: in the early 2000's, the club hired a witch to improve their poor home record. The witch blamed the home dressing rooms, and after they changed them, they won 8 of their last 9 home games.
Honours
🏆 Western League Premier Division (Winners: 1978–79)(Runners-up: 1982–83, 2008–09)
🏆 Western League Division One (Winners: 2001–02)
🏆 Western League Division Two (Winners: 1919–20)(Runners-up: 1954–55)
🏆 Wiltshire Football League Premier Division (Winners: 1909–10, 1962–63)
🏆 Somerset County Football League Premier Division (Winners: 1906–07, 1908–09, 1910–11)
🏆 Somerset Premier Cup (Winners: 1966–67, 1968–69 (Joint), 1982–83, 2008–09)
🏆 Somerset Senior Cup (Winners: 1932–33, 1933–34, 1950–51)
🏆 Southern Football League Cup (Runners up: 2012–13)
🏆 Western Football League Cup (Winners: 1979–80, 1982–83) (Runners-up: 1954–55, 2001–02)
🏆 Western League Alan Young Cup (Winners: 1979–80)
🏆 Western Counties Floodlit Cup (Winners: 1983–84)
Matchday: Frome Town 0-0 Bristol Manor Farm
On a cold Tuesday afternoon, we started our journey in Pagham, West Sussex. With our full intentions on attending another game, we found out that our prospective game was called off due to the bad weather. As a result, we found another game in Somerset, so that's where we headed. We took the scenic route, driving past Stone Henge, and then we arrived at Frome Town.
Arriving at the ground, we utilised the free parking that was available. After paying the ten pounds entry fee, we were in the stadium. Immediately, we took our customary circuit of the ground. There are four stands that make up the ground which is remarkable for a club at this level. One notable thing I noticed is the graffiti mural behind one goal, which added character and something a bit niche to the ground.
By this mural, there is a food stand that sells a variety of food including burgers, bacon rolls and hot dogs. When looking at the food, I was slightly impressed. Homemade burger buns, grated cheese, and big burger. It looked amazing. Sadly, the taste was a disappointment. There was far too much bread, and it was slightly dry. It was a good idea, and like I said it looked great. There's just a few improvements needed.
The people at the ground were friendly. There were plenty of people willing to say hello and point me in the right direction. One thing that let it down slightly was the group of lads in the clubhouse insistent on dropping C bombs every other word. I have to give a shout-out to the lady who decided to entertain us with a bit of karaoke over the club tannoy, it was excellent. It really added to the good feel around the place, and while the atmosphere wasn't great, there really was lot of banter, which was awesome.
Teamsheet
Frome Town
Manager: Danny Greaves
Kyle Phillips
Ben Withey
Sam Teale (c)
Pierce Mitchell
Joe O'Loughlin
Jon Davies
George Rigg
Owen Humphries
Zac Drew
Jack Witcombe
Conrad Essilfie-Conduah
Substitutes
Sam Meakes
Seth Locke
Ben Starr
Tyson Pollard
Mitch McCann
Bristol Manor Farm
Manager: Lee Lashenko
Ben John
Mason Winter
Aron Robbins
Lloyd Mills (c)
Joshua Ford
Theo Llewellyn
Jayden Nielsen
Frankie Artus 🔴
Owen Howe
Ben Bament
Luco Ponsillo
Substitutes
Evander Grubb
Harry Lucas
George Fowler
Kai Stenner
Regan Lashenko
The game began evenly in dreadful conditions. Frome had the first chance after Humphries' good work allowed Jono Davies an early glimpse of goal, his shot hit well but too close to the keeper diving to his right. Drew collected a ball that was arched over his head minutes later before skipping along the edge of the box and blasting a shot just wide of the post.
The Robins continued to press, with confusion in the box forcing two or three close-range saves from Farmers goalkeeper Ben John. Kyle Phillips rode his luck before the break, his clearance ricocheting goalwards off the oncoming attacker and eventually bobbling past the post.
Frome started the second half on the front foot, with Owen Humphries denied a penalty after his legs were swept by the defender as he cut into the box. When Frankie Artus, who had received a booking in the first half, thudded in on the playmaker wlate and was dismissed, he was involved in a turning point that saw Frome take a one-man advantage. The Robins had 35 minutes to defeat Manor Farm's ten men, but a breakdown in formation appeared to give the visitors a second wind, with Jayden Nielsen rocketing a shot over the bar from the left.
Conrad Essilfie-Conduah had an opportunity to put his team ahead when a cross looped down to him when he was free in the box. His mistimed headed effort was possibly a sign of the fatigue that is permeating this squad as the demands of two games per week become apparent.
Zak Drew appeared to be the most likely candidate to break the deadlock, appearing at the end of Ben Withey's long ball into the box but failing to direct his volley on target. Soon after, the forward rounded the keeper and flashed a shot past the post, Davies desperately attempting to tap the effort in. The Farmers were still in the game, and Frome had to tread carefully when confusion in the attack resulted in a break for Nielsen. The midfielder had enough time to set himself up for a powerful left-footed shot, which Jack Witcombe anticipated and blocked with his toe, allowing Phillips to deflect the ball. In the rain of Somerset, the game ended 0-0 and a hard-fought draw.
Scores On The Doors
Atmosphere: 4/10
Food and Drink: 4/10
Stadium: 5/10
Welcome: 6/10
Overall Experience: 5/10
GG
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