Morwenstow AFC, A brief history 1946 - 2006

Morwenstow Football Club was formed in 1946 at which time there was a strong influence of servicemen returning to the parish. The club had its first Annual General Meeting on the 15th August 1946 and was entered into the Kingsley League for the 1946-47 season. The team played their games in a field at Darzle farm, Woodford and remained there for almost 30 years.

From here the club moved to Mr John Olde's field for the first half of the 1976-77 season and Mr Geoffrey Savage's field at Crosstown for the second part. The club remained here until 1979 when they moved to the Playing Fields in Shop, where they remain today.

Morwenstow's first taste of success was as early as the 1947-48 season when they won the Kingsley League Southern Section, amassing 33 points out of a possible 40. They then met Appledore who had been the Northern Section Winners but lost the final by the odd goal in 3.

In 1949 Morwenstow Reserves were founded for the first time with both teams being run by a selection committee of; R Prouse, W Gifford, F Moore, C Staddon, A Booker, P Jennings and H Bailey. During the 1950's the club was also represented by many soldiers from Cleave Camp.

It was not until the 1954-55 season that the club had their next success when they went one better than the 1946-47 side by winning the Kingsley League outright, beating Hartland in the final at Bridgerule. This feat of winning the Kingsley League was something that became a regular occurrence for the club over the next 20 years.

The continuing success of the team culminated in the 1972-73 season when a total of 5 cups were won. These were, The Kingsley League, The Pickard Cup, The Torridge Cup, The Holman Cup and The Hutchings Cup. Due to this continued success the club decided to enter into the North Devon Premier League for the 1973-74 Season. The reserve team was also re-formed to represent the club in the Kingsley League.

The late 70's and early 80's was another period of sustained success for the club. They were runners-up in the North Devon Premier League for 4 seasons out of 5 and there were appearances in many cup finals winning the Hansen and Brayford cups during this era.

The 1987-88 season saw the team struggle throughout the season and eventually relegated to the senior division. Two seasons were spent in the division before Morwenstow returned the Premier League as Senior Champions having netted 121 goals in the process.

Since returning to the Premier league the only success until the 1997-98 season was in the Waltho Cup beating Dolton 1-0 in the final. It was the 1997-98 season though that saw a return to winning ways. There were runners-up medals in the Torridge and Waltho cups, alongside wins in the Westward Ho! Cup, The Launceston Knock-out Cup and perhaps most significantly for the first time in the Cornwall Junior Cup. This was the first success for the club in the Cornwall Junior Cup. The final was played at Falmouth Town against Penryn Athletic with Rob Francis netting both goals in a 2-1 victory.

Since breaking their duck in the Cornwall Junior Cup the club have gone on to win it twice more in 2002 against Perranporth and in 2004 against Holmans SC. The 2003-04 season being another particularly good one with the club winning the Brayford and Launceston Cups to go with the Cornwall Junior Cup.