Welcome to the latest installment of the Gloucester Groundhopper blog.
For this chapter, we travelled to the small town of Tytherington for some Hellenic League Division One action as Tytherington Rocks took on Long Crendon Football Club at Hardwicke Playing Fields.
It's All In The Name
The origin of the nickname The Rocks is unknown. However, because Tytherington is a quarry town, the origin likely lies there.
A History Lesson From The Gloucester Groundhopper
Tytherington Football Club was founded in 1896 by Mr Manuell, the local headmaster, and others, including the Reverend John Bingley. Reverend Bingley insisted that the club play in the colours of his old college, Brasenose in Oxford, in order to gain his support.
The club used to play in the Wotton-Under-Edge League and would travel to away games in Waggonetts, a four-wheeled horse-drawn cart with seats on both sides. In the early days, the club played at a variety of locations, one of which was Mill-Leaze Fields. This is the field behind Tytherington's village shop. They eventually settled in at the Hardwicke Playing Fields. The club used the Swan Inn as their changing rooms until the Parish Council built a new pavilion on the Playing Fields in 1938.
Tytherington F.C. was suspended by the Gloucestershire Football Association in the 1920s for failing to pay a fine. The fine was imposed after a referee was thrown into an adjacent brook following what the home team perceived to be some questionable decisions! Tytherington disbanded until 1932, when Tytherington Rocks F.C. was formed, joining The Bristol Suburban League and playing mostly in the second and third divisions until the outbreak of World War II.
Despite a lack of equipment and supplies, Tytherington managed to field a team during those years, competing in the Iron Acton & District League and, later, the Wotton & District League. Ambrose Johnson was a rock musician in the 1930s and 1940s. He is the only survivor of the 1930s team who can tell the story.
The club won the Iron Acton & District League League and Cup double in 1944-45. Tytherington won the Berkeley Hospital Cup in 1945-46 after finishing runners-up in the Wotton & Dursley League. When the Bristol & Suburban League reopened in 1947-48, the Rocks applied and were accepted into the First Division. This gave them Senior Amateur status in the Cup Competitions, and they performed admirably until they were eliminated by one of Bristol's top clubs, Bristol St George. The Rocks led 4-0 at halftime but lost 5-4.
Tytherington formed a youth team called the Pebbles in 1947-48. They competed in the Gloucestershire Junior Boys' Football League. They were a part of this league until it folded in 1954-55. During their six years in the league, they reached the Cup final in 1952-53, but were defeated 3-2 by Winterbourne Juniors at Alveston. The following season, they were crowned League Champions.
Rocks were drawn home to Thornbury Town in the G.F.A Senior Amatuer Cup in 1948-49. The game, drew 400 spectators, but Rocks were soundly defeated 4-0. Rocks struggled in their first two seasons back in the Suburban League, being relegated both times, but they recovered in 1949-50, winning promotion back to Division two after finishing runners-up to St Aldhelms.
Tytherington ran a Reserve side in the Stroud League in the early 1950s, but it only lasted a couple of seasons due to a lack of players. They did, however, reach the Berkeley Hospital Cup final in 1953, defeating Wickwar 5-4 in extra time. This was the club's second attempt at running a Reserve team; the first was before the war, when they competed in the Wotton & Dursley League.
In 1956-57, Rocks reached the G.F.A. Minor Cup final, but were defeated 5-1 by De-Veys at the Electricity Sports Ground in St. Phillips. The club spent the majority of the 1960s in Division Three, but by the end of the decade had gradually slipped down the league to Division Five.
Tytherington Rocks were promoted from Division Five after finishing second to Barton Hill Rangers in 1973-74. The season highlight was defeating Barton Hill 3-2 at home despite having a player sent off early in the first half. Tytherington remained in Division Four for the next four seasons before being relegated to Division Five in 1977-78. After a long struggle to upgrade the facilities, a new shower / toilet and storage area was finally completed and opened for the 1979-80 season.
This had been a collaborative effort involving the Football Club, the Cricket Club, and the Parish Council, with the latter providing funding for the installation of the electricity supply. This marked the end of candlelight and the old tin bath, for which Rocks had become known throughout the league.
The majority of the project's enthusiasm came from Ron Holpin, who was in charge of the practical aspects, Tony Hennessy, who was in charge of the financial aspects, and Dave Kemp, who was in charge of the plumbing.This coincided with the formation of a Reserve team, which was elected to Division Seven of the Bristol & Suburban League.After finishing fourth in Division Five in 1982-83, the Rocks' first team was promoted to Division Four, but the league restructured their divisions and promoted Tytherington Rocks.
Jack Parr took over as manager in 1983-84 and led the club to promotion from Division Four to Division One, where they began the 1987-88 season. Tytherington Rocks also advanced to the G.F.A. Intermediate Cup Semi-Final, where they were defeated 5-1 by Fishponds Athletic. Under the management of Ron Holpin and later Mike Lee, the Reserves were promoted three consecutive seasons between 1985 and 1987, and they reached the final of the G.F.A. Primary Cup in 1986-87, but lost 2-0 in extra time to Ibstock.
In 1987-88, the third team in the Bristol Suburban League's Division Seven was formed. The team had been Streamside U16s the previous season and finished fourth in their first season in senior football, being promoted to Division Five after missing out on the Sixth Division. This season also saw the club take over Streamside Junior Football Club, renaming them Tytherington Rocks Juniors.
The new floodlight training area opened in 1987; it was an area to the right of the pavilion that had been overgrown with brambles and had very uneven ground. It was levelled with the hiring of a J.C.B. and club volunteer labour. It was difficult work, but it has benefited the club over the years. Ted Oakey, Ted Pitt, and Ambrose Johnson, three ex-Rocks players, officially opened it.
In 1988-89, Brian Lansdown took over as manager and guided the team to Premier Division Two. The first team spent a few seasons in the middle of the table before being promoted to Premier Division One in 1993-94. At this point, the club began to improve the ground, erecting a rope around the pitch on first-team match days and providing dugouts for substitutes and managers to sit in if needed. In 1994-95, the club finished third in the Premier Division, and the perimeter fence around the pitch was improved with steal tubing replacing the rope on three sides.
In 1996-97, Rocks won the Bristol & Suburban Premier League and applied for promotion to the Gloucestershire County League, but were denied, which was a huge disappointment for everyone at the club.
Meanwhile, the Reserves team had been steadily climbing the league ladder, finishing runners-up in Division Two.
With all of the success on the pitch, something needed to be done to improve the facilities so that the higher grades of football could be accommodated. The Pavilion's exterior remains unchanged, but the interior has been transformed. A bar has appeared, as well as separate home and away changing facilities, including showers for both teams and separate changing facilities for male and female referees. All of this had to be accomplished in order to be accepted into the Gloucestershire County League. This was accomplished through the efforts of club members who worked as builders, plumbers, fundraisers, and general labourers. Over the course of two years, an estimated £10,000 was spent. The players were still paying a £20 signing fee and £2 per week match fee at the time. They also built a small stand on the halfway line for spectators to stand under in inclement weather.
Nuclear Electric donated £500 towards the cost of the fencing around the playing area, and Mother India Restaurant donated £600 towards the playing equipment. Karly Kars agreed to sponsor the kit for the next five seasons, investing £500 per season. 1997-98 was a successful season for all three teams, with all three winning promotion. The First team won the Bristol & Suburban League's Premier Division 1 for the second season in a row, the Reserves won Division One, and the 'A' team was promoted from Division Five.
The club's first season in the Gloucestershire County League was a struggle, and a new manager, Shaun Honour, was appointed, and the club eventually survived, finishing sixteenth but clear of relegation. In 1999-2000, the team finished in the middle of the table. Under Mikey Jefferies' management, the Rocks had their best season yet, finishing fourth in the league and reaching the G.F.A. Challenge Trophy final at Oaklands Park Almondsbury. The Rocks led Hellenic Premier League rivals Yate Town 2-1 at one point before conceding three goals to lose 4-2. In 2001-02, they finished fifth in the table. The club had its most successful season in its long history in 2003-04, led by Andy Mathias. They finished second in the Gloucestershire County League and were beaten in the League Cup Competition.
The club decided to take advantage of the opportunity to play at a higher level of football after applying for promotion to the Hellenic League and their facilities passing the Ground Grading Criteria. The first season in Hellenic League Division 1 (West) was very successful, with the team competing for the title with three other teams for the majority of the season. After losing at home to Clanfield on the final day of the season, the team finished fourth. Nonetheless, the club's committee was overjoyed with the results of the club's first season at the higher level of football.
The 2005-06 season was the most successful to date, with the club finishing third in the promotion table and reaching the Challenge Cup semi-finals before losing to Ardley United over two legs. Season 2006/2007 was the team's third season in the Hellenic league, and they aimed for a top three finish throughout the season, but they eventually finished fifth again under the guidance of Jamie Burton and Barry Granger.
In 2007/08, Tytherington Rocks had a good start to the season, maintaining a run of good form leading up to the new year, when they were in sixth place and decided to apply for promotion to the Premier League, but over the course of the remaining season, they were drawing too many matches, and with only four matches left, Manager Jamie Burton resigned, and Barry Granger took over for the remainder of the season. 'The Rocks' eventually finished eighth.
Tytherington finished last in the Hellenic League Division One West in 2017-18, earning just one point. The club entered a new era in 2021 when it was promoted to Division One of the Western League. Tiago Carreiras and Jake Edwards were also named to the Rocks' new management team. Tytherington Rocks Reserves now compete in the Premier Division of the Bristol and Suburban Association Football League after a merger with North Bristol United FC.
Honours
🏆 Iron Acton and District League (Champions: 1944-45)
🏆 Iron Acton and District League Cup (Winners: 1944-45)
🏆 Wotton and District League (Runners-up: 1945-1946)
🏆 Bristol and Suburban League Division Three (Champions: 1949-1950)
🏆 Bristol and Suburban League Division Five (Runners-up:1973-74)
🏆 Bristol and Suburban League Premier Division Two (Champions: 1993-1994)
🏆 Bristol and Suburban League Premier Division One (Champions: 1996-1997)
🏆 Alf Bosley Memorial Cup (Winners: 1996-1997, 1997-1998)
🏆 Gloucestershire County League (Runners-up: 2003-2004)
🏆 Hellenic League Division One West (Champions: 2011-12, 2013-14)
🏆 Berkeley Hospital Cup (Winners: 1945-46)
🏆 Bristol Premier Sunday League Beaufort Cup (Winners: 2020-21)
An Interview With Tytherington Rocks chairman, Mark Thorpe:
GG: Could you tell us how long you've been with Tytherington Rocks and how your experience has been?
MT: I've been with The Rocks for just over two years. It was difficult for me at first because I had never been a part of a community before. I began by assisting the small community with the bar, but soon discovered that I was also assisting with sponsorship. After a difficult few years and while expecting his first child, the then-chairman stepped down on the night of our AGM last year. At the time, the club was struggling in the Hellenic League Division One, having finished bottom for several years in a row. Fortunately, after negotiating and ultimately avoiding the bottom two, we were able to stay at step 6, where we are now.
GG: Could you tell us about the Tytherington Rocks Matchday experience and what we can expect?
MT: The experience of the match day at the rocks. It's fantastic!! Friendly and genuine feeling of a non-league local village club with no cliques. Sincere, hardworking, enjoyable, and all-inclusive.
GG: Who has been Tytherington's standout performer this season?
MT: I don't think you can name just one player. Dykes, the man between the sticks, has come through for us numerous times this season. Nate Croot, our club captain, has stepped up this season and scored more goals than the previous three combined. Tom Bidder has been a valuable asset. And our main man up top, Kyle Head, has taken the supply from around him and optimised it better than anyone else, resulting in a slew of goals. But, in reality, we are a squad team, and anyone can be our star player on any given day.
GG: Can you give us an overview of how non-league football is perceived in the football world?
MT: I believe that the Wrexham story, as well as smaller, less glamorous examples further down the leagues, has given non-league football a significant boost in recent years. But I believe there is much more that can be done, and clearly money has a huge impact on clubs' ability to succeed and ultimately progress, which in my opinion is neither good nor bad, just a fact. Even if it means focusing more media attention on it in order to boost non-league clubs' income and ability to secure more sponsorship.
GG: Who is your all-time favourite player, and why?
MT: Paul Scholes - as a united supporter and a true red. For me, he was never confrontational, but simply went about his business. A hero who goes unnoticed. He was one of the best with the ball at his feet, but he never sought the spotlight.
GG: What was your favourite football match with Tytherington?
MT: Last season's final game, with the assistance of FC Bristol. We won the game to stay in the league, but we also raised funds for Brain Tumour Support in memory of our ground man and former player Steve Smith, who is currently battling the illness. At this time, our thoughts are with him and his family. But, to return to the question, the game was excellent, but the money we raised was incredible. It demonstrates how sincere and thoughtful our fans and followers are. We raised over £500, which was heartwarming.
GG: Which Tytherington managers have left the most impressions on fans?
MT: Unfortunately, after only being involved for two years, I recently agreed to leave the club with two former managers. Rolling back the years, the club enjoyed great success under the guidance of former players such as Dave Marshall, Micky Lee, Micky Jeffries, and of course the fantastic years under Gary Powell when Rocks truly rocked! I'm really enjoying watching the club's fortunes improve under current manager Steve Farr and his fantastic and well-regarded assistant Michael Magee. Mike has brought a slew of new ideas to the club, including online match day programmes and peer-to-peer social media exposure. Steve and Mike have brought a real buzz back to the club, and the results this season have been an added bonus!
GG: Who, in your opinion, was the largest team to play at Tytherington's ground, and why?
MT: Nailsea and Tickenham in my time, and only in my time. Prior to that, we had hosted the likes of Cribbs and Yate Town (both Southern League), but I guess the size of Tytherington as a village (less than 1000 population) compared to some of our rival teams from towns with populations of over 30,000 speaks for itself.
GG: Can you tell us about Tytherington's playing style in general?
MT: I really dislike using this one. Man City and Liverpool, on the other hand. 4-4-2 with powerful wingbacks. High-scoring attacking wingbacks who can run. It's entertaining and exciting to watch, but it can also be nerve-racking at times.
GG: Could you tell us a funny club story?
MT: I'm not sure this is funny in and of itself, but it is historic for a club like The Rocks. We had a player from Fiji who was nicknamed 'Fiji' about 20 years ago. He had previously or currently played for the Fijian national team. When this became widely known, Sky Sports arrived at the Hardwicke playing fields to film the game, particularly 'Fiji's' performance!! Everyone seemed to be trying to get on camera!
Matchday: Tytherington Rocks 3-0 Long Crendon FC
First and foremost, I believe Tytherington Rocks should be applauded for how wonderful they have been to us since we decided to visit. Chairman Mark Thorpe was easily reached for the interview and was really helpful in managing our visit.
We headed to Tytherington on a brutally chilly Saturday afternoon in search of a goal-filled game following our recent 0-0 draw at Yeovil Town. The route from Gloucester is very straightforward, heading straight down the M5 and a turn off at Thornbury. The ground is nicely signposted making it quite straightforward to find.
Arriving at the ground, we were greeted by a chirpy gentleman who charged us £3 each for entry- thanks to a leaflet we spotted online (thanks Gareth) that allowed anyone showing said leaflet half price entry. There is ample parking at the ground, which is available for free.
After this, we looked around the facilities. At the ground, there is a small stand which houses around 200 (I'm guessing) people and a reasonable club bar that had a television showing the early kickoff (West Ham United vs Manchester United).
It was here in the bar that Mark Thorpe came and introduced himself. Making friendly chat and engaging with not just us, but all around us too. This made the club feel like a family club, and made us feel really comfortable in our surroundings. The staff around the club were engaging too, meaning we never had to battle to have a conversation which was great to experience.
The food in the ground is okay. There were hot dogs available for £3 and as I always say, you get what you pay for. I didn't actually buy a hotdog- as I am on a diet (typed while eating a kebab)- but my dad did. He said it was okay. Hence the score given.
Overall, it is a really friendly club, and I'd rather go to a friendly club who have a smaller ground and feel wanted, than go to a larger ground, and feel unwelcome.
Teamsheet
Tytherington Rocks
Manager: Steve Farr
Peter Dykes
Mathew Sumner
Kalil Traore
Andrew Peterson
Connor Davey
Kian Watmough
Tarji Jones
Stuart Nelson
Kyle Head ⚽️
Liam Bishop ⚽️
Nathan Croot (c)
Substitutes
Toby Waterman
Tom Bidder
Max Ferretti
Jackson Gillard
Sam Russell ⚽️
Long Crendon FC
Manager: Tom Folley
Josh Cullen
Thomas Sykes
Tijeanne Bartley
Dino Bonwick
Declan Allen-Stokes
George Ashworth
Calvin Allen
Owen Cox
Christian Warwick
Josh Richardson
Liam Burt
Substitutes
Ryan Sagar
Michael Garn
Jibreel Meddah
Ebubechukwa Nwabueze
Tom Folley
From the opening whistle, the game favoured Tytherington Rocks. They were bigger, wiser, and faster on the ball. Having said that, Tytherington only needed 28 minutes to break the tie. Kyle Head performed well down the right, fending off the defender before crossing for Liam Bishop, who took one touch before firing brilliantly into the top right corner.
The second occurred shortly before halftime. Tytherington clearly believed that their greatest success would come from the open regions, and it was here that they doubled their lead. Kyle Head was passed in down the left and held off his man before turning on a sixpence and blasting low into the bottom right corner to make it 2-0.
The second half was hardly a spectacle by any means, with the temperature decreasing and thoughts naturally shifting to the pigs in blankets people would be eating in the coming days. However, there was a last goal to celebrate when Tytherington were put through and the ball made its way to Sam Russell, who had pretty much the entire goal to aim at, to finish. In the end, Tytherington won with relative ease, and the three points will be viewed as a significant step towards the play-offs.
Scores on the Doors
Atmosphere: 3/10
Food and Drink: 5/10
Stadium: 3.5/10
Welcome: 9/10
Overall Experience: 6/10
GG
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