First Cornish club to install Floodlights

[Mike Odgers]

Blaise Park-St.Blazey,I seem to have read that floodlights were installed maybe in the 1950's.Not the ones of today

Penlee Park Penzance had lights in the 1960's but were they only used for training and youth matches?

Falmouth Town were next with lights in 1973 but couldn't use them because of the Power cuts and three day working week caused by the the coal miners strike.

The epic F A Cup replays with Bideford were played on midweek afternoons.

The next club I am pretty sure was Bodmin Town as I remember the first Cornwall Senior Cup tie played under lights at Priory Park in the mid 1970's.(1975-76 Bodmin T 1 Falmouth T 2)

In 1950-51-52 Falmouth played the odd game at The Recreation Ground (Falmouth Rugby club)where there were floodlights.-I am trying to find out if ever a competitive match was played.

Please feel free to add any further information on this subject

[Dave Deacon]

Health & Safety wouldn't allow it now, but can remember watching games with my parents at St Blazey under their original lights (say 60s) when they would turn them off all but as soon as the game had finished, certainly before we had left the ground! Pitch black - literally!

[cornishteddyboy]

I read somewhere that the lights at Penlee Park were first fitted for the 1962 season and were paid for by the Supporters Club. The t-hut was built at the same time.

I remember a figure of £1500 but that could be for both or just the lights.

[Mike Odgers]

Do Marazion Blues still have floodlights-I recall a Cornwall County game there to officially switch them on.

I could find the date after searching for the programme

[Mike Odgers]

I have been informed that the County game at Marazion was 1991

Also from another contact -could this be the First S.W.League game played under floodlights?

Monday 4th.April 1960 7-30pm ko at The Recreation Ground,Falmouth

South Western League- Falmouth Town 7 Tavistock 1

Over to you St.Blazey, did you play league matches under those early lights?

[Paul]

Ill see what I can find out Mike.

[Paul]

By march of 1957 floodlights had been installed and another first was achieved as the first cornish club to have them. The floodlighting was erected by voluntary labour and paid for by way of £1 shares, although they were not exclusively used for football. Their use at the evening events for the carnivals brought large crowds and for a period eased the financial situation.

The lights were switched on by R.J.Blindell, president of the south western league at a match on 14th March 1957 against Plymouth Argyle.St Blazey scored early goals in each half , but foyr goals in 8 minutes from Argyle gave them a 7v2 win.

That season St Blazey and Penzance were neck and neck in all competitions. Pz won 3v1 at Blaize Park in a crowd of 4000.

[Mr.T]

I have been informed that the County game at Marazion was 1991

Also from another contact -could this be the First S.W.League game played under floodlights?

Monday 4th.April 1960 7-30pm ko at The Recreation Ground,Falmouth

South Western League- Falmouth Town 7 Tavistock 1

Over to you St.Blazey, did you play league matches under those early lights?

Hello Mike, I can remember dear old Sid Ridgeon telling me about Town playing at the Recreation Ground under lights, but i'm also sure someone mentioned Wolves playing there in the 50's maybe agaist Cornwall, anybody know?

[Mike Odgers]

Very interesting Trev,

I will work on that Wolves game which probably was against Cornwall

(I Have a contact who has programmes of all or most of all post war County games.

I know Cornwall played their very first game 1891 against Devon and it was reported to have been played at Falmouth and I think the Recreation ground was opened in the late 1880's ?

[SteveG]

Do Marazion Blues still have floodlights-I recall a Cornwall County game there to officially switch them on.

I could find the date after searching for the programme

I'm not so sure that they still work, even if they are there. I attended a Combo game there one April evening about thirteen years ago and it ended in near darkness.

looking back, it wouldn't have been all that long after they were officially switched on!

[midlandlilywhite]

I have no records of Wolves playing in Cornwall in the 1950s. If they did , I would like to know the details and if a programme is about. I have all Wolves home and away programmes since 1957 and many others before then, there is no mention of a visit to Cornwall in them.

[Mike Odgers]

After contacting another Cornwall historian, It does look doubtful if Wolves ever visited the Duchy

The nearest we can get is that the great Wolves and England Captain Billy Wright was reported to be on holiday in the Falmouth area during that era. lol

[Marazion2013]

Some of the lights had stopped working at Marazion but over the winter we have had all of the electrics replaced and have purchsed new bulbs. Just waiting for the cherry picker to come so we can put them in.