One Club Players

[Ian Pethick]

Now, this is a tough one, and something for people to don their thinking caps regarding, but in Cornish senior football (I am thinking Western League, SWL/Peninsula. ECPL and Combo) have there been any one club players? To qualify I would have a threshold of 10 seasons, although that might have to be reduced. I can think of several that you heavily associate with long periods at one club (Tommy Matthews springs to mind), but really can't think of any that have played exclusively at senior standard for them.

I have started this as a counter to the "players signing for numerous clubs" thread.

[Tommy Matthews]

Thank you WOTP for remembering me. I spent 10 happy seasons at Falmouth but my cousin Peter Kelly spent his entire career at Porthleven, a true one-club man that puts my longevity to shame. 

[Ian Pethick]

My pleasure Tommy. Was actually reading on a Facebook page about the epic, Ice Station Zebra style, expedition after Falmouth v Dawlish in 1978/79. According to this piece,after a blizzard, the bulk of the Plymouth based players got stranded near St Blazey and didn't get home until Sunday, with South Devon based keeper Bryan Helkey not making it back until Monday morning.

[THEMAGPIE]

One that I can’t recall playing anywhere else was Neil Curnow at St Just? Pretty sure he’s been with them from day one and still playing now I’m led to believe?? (May be wrong though)

[Dave Deacon]

I’ve had it suggested to me that Sean Middleton from Newquay played nearly his whole time at Mount Wise.

Can anyone back this up?

[baldy]

25 minutes ago, Dave Deacon said:

I’ve had it suggested to me that Sean Middleton from Newquay played nearly his whole time at Mount Wise.

Can anyone back this up?

Played down West for a while (Portleven?), so nearly is correct.

[Ian Pethick]

Roger Quaintance is another player that has been suggested. Remember him playing in 90's, 2000's, 2010's and up until fairly recently with Liskeard 3rds, but think he may have had a spell with Torpoint early on in his career.

 

[THEMAGPIE]

18 minutes ago, Keith B said:

Neil's dad Steve also for St Just I believe  (I may be wrong too).

Steven Curnow played for Pendeen, Ludgvan and others I believe Keith

[Ian Pethick]

8 hours ago, Dave Deacon said:

I’ve had it suggested to me that Sean Middleton from Newquay played nearly his whole time at Mount Wise.

Can anyone back this up?

Couple of other Newquay players from the 90's that I don't remember playing anywhere else (apart from one or two guest appearances for other clubs) were Steve Halstead and Conrad Robins.

[Ian Pethick]

Another suggestion received (he doesn't want to register or post on here, reads it though),Steve Searle of St Dennis, played in both of their ECPL title winning sides in 90's. On both occasions they went undefeated through the season.

[Greygen]

1 hour ago, Way Of The Park said:

Roger Quaintance is another player that has been suggested. Remember him playing in 90's, 2000's, 2010's and up until fairly recently with Liskeard 3rds, but think he may have had a spell with Torpoint early on in his career.

 

Great player Roger! still playing, with his gumshield in. Real credit to local football

[Ian Pethick]

45 minutes ago, Greygen said:

Great player Roger! still playing, with his gumshield in. Real credit to local football

Liskeard Athletic cult hero. Place in the club's history secured when he scored with a long range effort v Bodmin in the Senior Cup Final 1994 at Poltair. It was with his right foot as well (usually only for standing on).

[Foul Throw 3]

2 hours ago, Way Of The Park said:

Roger Quaintance is another player that has been suggested. Remember him playing in 90's, 2000's, 2010's and up until fairly recently with Liskeard 3rds, but think he may have had a spell with Torpoint early on in his career.

 

Still playing for Dobwalls Reserves in Duchy Div 1 East.

Imagine Sam Matthews played for Torpoint at some point but didn't Bodmin retire the No.7 shirt for him? Very Jude Bellingham/Birmingham City of them.

[Martin Eddy]

Gareth and Clive jones and I think Dave Searle at St Day

[Dave Deacon]

21 hours ago, Way Of The Park said:

Now, this is a tough one, and something for people to don their thinking caps regarding, but in Cornish senior football (I am thinking Western League, SWL/Peninsula. ECPL and Combo) have there been any one club players? To qualify I would have a threshold of 10 seasons, although that might have to be reduced. I can think of several that you heavily associate with long periods at one club (Tommy Matthews springs to mind), but really can't think of any that have played exclusively at senior standard for them.

Good subject WOTP which is proving rather hard to think of many! Not many modern day footballers at all at "Over 10 seasons and one club at SWL/SWPL and higher", if any!

 

[Mike Odgers]

Falmouth boy Toby Clark left  Town in 2003 due to work commitments and I believe joined Saltash and it was not until 2019 he rejoined Falmouth.

So I would guess he is a top contender.

[Dave Deacon]

15 minutes ago, Mike Odgers said:

Falmouth boy Toby Clark left  Town in 2003 due to work commitments and I believe joined Saltash and it was not until 2019 he rejoined Falmouth.

So I would guess he is a top contender.

I'm obviously mssing something for this thread - a "one club player" surely can only be as it says - one club!

[Ian Pethick]

51 minutes ago, Dave Deacon said:

Good subject WOTP which is proving rather hard to think of many! Not many modern day footballers at all at "Over 10 seasons and one club at SWL/SWPL and higher", if any!

 

Thanks Dave, probably have to dig back into the past to find them. Have it in my mind that players used to stick around at clubs for longer, and were heavily identified with them, but it is probably just me looking at the past through rose tinted specs. 

1 minute ago, Dave Deacon said:

I'm obviously mssing something for this thread - a "one club player" surely can only be as it says - one club!

Think there are so few of these "one club" players, that the qualifying criteria has broadened out to 10 seasons with the same team.

[Greygen]

Craig Swiggs at Bodmin?

[Marcus Grose]

Simmo at Bodmin ?

[Greygen]

Dave Hallett Tavistock must be one?

[kevin richards]

6 hours ago, Greygen said:

Craig Swiggs at Bodmin?

Craig played for Alan Carey at Porthleven.

[Billy Davies]

11 hours ago, Way Of The Park said:

Another suggestion received (he doesn't want to register or post on here, reads it though),Steve Searle of St Dennis, played in both of their ECPL title winning sides in 90's. On both occasions they went undefeated through the season.

Correct WoTP I played in goal the first time and managed the team when we went undefeated a second time. A quality player but an even better bloke. Top class all round.

[John Mead]

Not wishing to boast but a stat I'm quite proud of. I started playing at Penzance at the start of 1962/63 season, aged 14 and injury forced an end to my playing days at 29 - but I'm still there! My son, Andrew, also had at least 15 seasons with Penzance, until injury curtailed his career in his early 30s.

It must be something in the blood, as my father also had a long involvement as a committee member at Penzance from the late 1940s. 

[RAPPO]

Dave Kemp, prolific striker for Perranwell. Started playing for the club at 14 and played for them all his career well into his mid 30’s!!  Reckon Kempy must have scored around 500 goals for them in that time as well. A one club man through and through 👍👏🏼⚽️

[S Abbo]

Simon Ellis at Illogan must of made his debut 20 years ago...  still going strong now.. 

[Darin Morse]

Happy to say I am a genuine one club man, having played my entire career for Foxhole.

Mind you, it was only three games for the reserves

[cornishteddyboy]

14 hours ago, RAPPO said:

Dave Kemp, prolific striker for Perranwell. Started playing for the club at 14 and played for them all his career well into his mid 30’s!!  Reckon Kempy must have scored around 500 goals for them in that time as well. A one club man through and through 👍👏🏼⚽️

Dave is still at Perranwell. Like John Mead, they also filled in all the back room roles, when they finished playing. 

If your criteria is only 10 seasons with one club I could list many from the Combo. 

Pat Maloney, at least 16 years at Illogan

Stuart Lenton at Newquay Combo, 28 seasons 1963-92 apart from one at St Agnes 1989-90 but that still means he had 26 years under his belt before moving for those twelve months.

Have a look at my goal scorers list on my website. You might spot a few names.

http://www.cornwallcomboleague.co.uk/anylettergoals.html

[Ian Pethick]

1 hour ago, cornishteddyboy said:

Dave is still at Perranwell. Like John Mead, they also filled in all the back room roles, when they finished playing. 

If your criteria is only 10 seasons with one club I could list many from the Combo. 

Pat Maloney, at least 16 years at Illogan

Stuart Lenton at Newquay Combo, 28 seasons 1963-92 apart from one at St Agnes 1989-90 but that still means he had 26 years under his belt before moving for those twelve months.

Have a look at my goal scorers list on my website. You might spot a few names.

http://www.cornwallcomboleague.co.uk/anylettergoals.html

Would really like to keep it to one club men (seems like they can be found in the Combo and East Cornwall), don't think we're far away from an eleven.

[David Bray]

On 10/12/2021 at 08:35, Way Of The Park said:

Couple of other Newquay players from the 90's that I don't remember playing anywhere else (apart from one or two guest appearances for other clubs) were Steve Halstead and Conrad Robins.

Both played for Sticker in the late 80's. 

[Mike Odgers]

2 hours ago, David Bray said:

Both played for Sticker in the late 80's. 

Steve Halstead also started a season at Falmouth.

[mattelot]

5 hours ago, Mike Odgers said:

Steve Halstead also started a season at Falmouth.

Think Conrad Robins also played for Town didn't he Mike?

[100%cornish]

What about Mike Toffee Tummon i cant remember him playing for anyone else 

[Dave Deacon]

5 minutes ago, 100%cornish said:

What about Mike Toffee Tummon i cant remember him playing for anyone else 

Liskeard

[100%cornish]

Never knew that Dave think he may of had trials with Torquay 

 

[Tommy Matthews]

Think you’re right 100%. Not surprised either he was a brilliant player and one that I always hoped to be like. Really lovely bloke too who was hard as nails on the pitch and a real gentleman off it. 

[John Mead]

On 13/12/2021 at 12:21, 100%cornish said:

What about Mike Toffee Tummon i cant remember him playing for anyone else 

Also played at Penzance.

[MattP]

At Polperro (St Piran) both Dave Gilbert and Scott Sayer are one club men, having started their careers in Duchy 4 and risen through the ranks with the club, and both still playing today 21-22 years later. Gilbert in particular must be knocking on 700 games now.

A couple of other stalwarts who never played for other clubs are Matt McDonough and George Saada, both now retired but started in the same reserve side and went all the way to the ECPL double winning side in 2013.

[Duncswe63]

1 hour ago, MattP said:

At Polperro (St Piran) both Dave Gilbert and Scott Sayer are one club men, having started their careers in Duchy 4 and risen through the ranks with the club, and both still playing today 21-22 years later. Gilbert in particular must be knocking on 700 games now.

A couple of other stalwarts who never played for other clubs are Matt McDonough and George Saada, both now retired but started in the same reserve side and went all the way to the ECPL double winning side in 2013.

Seen Dave Gilbert play for millbrook only a couple seasons ago? 

[MattP]

28 minutes ago, Duncswe63 said:

Seen Dave Gilbert play for millbrook only a couple seasons ago? 

He was only practising 

[cornish leg end]

Neil curnow definitely at st just proper clubman would rather retire than play for anyone else. And he’s had plenty of offers over the years. 

On 11/12/2021 at 10:32, Darin Morse said:

Happy to say I am a genuine one club man, having played my entire career for Foxhole.

Mind you, it was only three games for the reserves

You was a st stephens boy aswell wasn’t you? Or was that just youth? 

[Martin Eddy]

Simon Barrand at Redruth United 

only Darren Lewarne has played more games.Simon played for around 20 years and is now involved behind the scenes 

[BrummyBarry]

10 hours ago, Postman Pat said:

Simon Barrand at Redruth United 

only Darren Lewarne has played more games.Simon played for around 20 years and is now involved behind the scenes 

Callum Salmon has also had a large stint hasn't he? 

[Martin Eddy]

Yeah he is not far behind Simon and still playing well for the reserves