THE HISTORY OF TAFC

            The first football club in Torpoint was founded in 1887. Three of the founders: T.W. Stacey, J Rouse and J Rose went on to win County honours. Torpoint was represented at the inaugural meeting of the Cornwall County Football Association held in the Royal Hotel, Truro in 1889. The eight clubs that formed the Association were Dunheved College (Launceston), Liskeard, Millbrook, Penzance, Porthcurnow, Probus School, Torpoint and Truro.
             In 1892 a junior cliub was formed, which became a senior team in 1897. That year the team defeated Penzance 1-0 to win the Premier Trophy of Cornwall. Under the name Torpoint Defiance, this team affiliated to Devon in the season 1899/00 and went on to win the Devon Senior Cup that year, beating Plymouth Argyle at the Rectory (Devonport).
             Torpoint Triumph, a second junior team had been formed by this time, and had also progressed to senior status. In 1905 the two teams combined under the name Torpoint Association Football Club and became affiliated to Cornwall Football Association.
             In the season 1905/06, under the leadership of Jack Coaker, the team won the Cornwall Senior and Charity Cups as well as the Plymouth and District League Championship.
             In 1906/07 the team entered the English Cup and played Staple Hill at Home Park. This resulted in a goaless draw, but Torpoint won the replay 3-0 in Bristol. However in the next round they lost 2-0 to Radstock.
              The team had had a successful run until the outbreak of the great war, winning the Senior Cup four times in five years and the Charity Cup on three occasions.
              The name Athletic was added when the club restarted after the war. Over the next twenty years Torpoint Athletic won the Senior Cup a further five times and the Charity Cup twice. They also won the Plymouth and District Division Two championship in 1919/20 and the Division One title the following year. During this period the following players went on to play in the Football League: F.Prideaux (Swansea,Exeter), J.Hodge (Bristol City), W.Harris (Aston Villa) and F.W.Black (Argyle).
              After WW2 the club competed as a junior club, and in 1945/46, under the Chairmanship of Ted Short and Secretary Charlie Partridge won P & D Division Two and beat flushing 6-0 in the Cornwall Junior Cup. frank Bolton scored four of the goals and seven coaches of supporters made the trip from Torpoint to watch the final.
              From 1946 to 1948 Athletic returned to senior football in P & D Division One. After this the team returned to junior football, winning the P & D Division three Championship. They remained a junior club until 1951/52 when no team could be raised.
              1952/53 and 53/54 saw a return to senior football but failed to raise any interest and no team was fielded the following year.
              In 1955/56 the club beat Pendeen 3-0 to win the Cornwall Junior Cup, however the team nearly folded again through lack of funds. Les Cardew and others put Athletic back on a firm financial footing and the Ladies supporters club was formed which subsequently went on to raise thousands of pounds for the club.
              1956/57 saw torpoint win P & D Division One, the P & D senior Charity Cup and the Coronation Cup. In 1960 the town council forced the team to leave The Mill, where football had been played since the 1930's. The team relocated to Defiance Field.
               In 1960/61 Torpoint Athletic left the Plymouth and District League to become founder members of the East Cornwall League. That season the team won the League Cup and Presidents Cup and finished as runners-up. 1960/61 brought league championship success.
               The club applied to join the South Western League, the first campaign coming in 1962/63 and has been a member of the league ever since. That team included many local players: John Bolton, Lou Dearden, Ben Lines, Malcolm Prout, Gary Selley and Barry Stephens, as well as Brian Mallet and Mike Waterfield who moved to Torpoint to live.
                Torpoint returned to the winning ways of the pre war years, winning the South Western League title in 1964/65 and 1966/67and  the Charity Cup in 66,67 and 68.
                 Eleven enjoyable years were spent at Defiance Field, however it was always the wish of the club to return to what many considered to be the home of football in Torpoint, The Mill.
                 In 1970 the option to buy The Mill was offered to the club. The Committee led by Chairman Reg Devonshire and Secretary Les Cardew formed the "200 Club". The weekly and monthly draw helped the club raise the finance required. In 1971 Torpoint Athletic purchased The Mill. The grand opening of the pitch took place on Wednesday August 11th. Torpoint played a County Eleven, losing 3-2.  

Torpoint Athletic FC