Worthing Football Club recognises the incredibly difficult period that Taunton Town FC are facing at the moment. We hope that they are able to manage through it and they should know that our door is open if they need any help.

History

Taunton Town Football Club is based in Taunton, Somerset.They play their home matches at Wordsworth Drive (pictured below), which they moved into during the 1953 season. The club is affiliated to the Somerset County FA.

After being formed in 1947, they were admitted into the Western League in 1954. They struggled over the next ten years, and it was not until the 1970s that the club started to prosper. Having won the Western League in 1968–69, the
club then finished as runners-up in the same league in four successive seasons from 1973.

They gained promotion to the Southern League in 1977 and purchased their ground from the local council. In the early 1980s they dropped back down into the Western League for financial reasons, but did not enjoy further success until
1989–90. The following twelve seasons saw the club win the title on four more occasions (1995–96, 1998–99, 1999–2000 and 2000–01) and finish as runners-up four times (1993–94, 1996–97, 1997–98 and 2001–02).

In 2001 the club won the FA Vase, which it had narrowly missed out on seven years earlier. Following their string of good results, Taunton rejoined the Southern League for the 2002–03 season. The club are currently members of the National League South for the 2023-24 season, following their promotion from the Southern League Premier Division South at the end of the 2021-22 season.

Form

As previously mentioned, the Peacocks are going through an incredibly difficult period on and off the pitch having had a number of home games postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

Their last victory came on 9th December when they beat Farnborough 4-0 at home. The Peacocks have gained four points from their last six matches as they battle against the drop this season.

Last Six
2/3 – Truro City (A) – Lost 2-0
24/2 – Dartford (A) – Drew 1-1
10/2 – St Albans City (A) – Lost 6-0
6/2 – Truro City (H) – Drew 0-0
3/2 – Welling United (A) – Drew 0-0
27/1 – Aveley (H) – Drew 2-2

The Gaffer

Rob Dray joined the club in the summer of 2016, being appointed to the backroom team as coach before taking charge of his first game as Manager in September 2018.

Upon joining the Peacocks, he became part of the successful management team that guided the team to the FA Cup 1^st Round Proper and the Southern League West Division title in consecutive seasons.

He then assumed the role of interim manager in September 2018 following the departure of Leigh Robinson before being appointed Head of Football a month later, leading the Peacocks to a tremendous second place finish in their first ever season at Southern Premier level.

After two seasons curtailed due to Covid, he achieved his finest moment when guiding the Peacocks to the Southern Premier South title in 2021, a feat which earned promotion to the National League South for the first time in the club’s history. Despite a crippling injury list, he steered the club to a highly respectable 14th place finish in their debut season.

The Captain

Former Exeter City Academy member Nick Grimes has been captain of the Peacocks since the truncated 2020-21 season.

His career began at Exeter City where he progressed through the ranks and played for the club’s Under 18 side. He was offered a pro contract ahead of the 2016-17 season but went on to attend Hartpury College where he represented both the Under 19’s and senior side.

He also joined local Southern League club Slimbridge in October 2016 before signing for Cinderford Town in the summer of 2017, winning the Player of the Year award in his first year and being appointed captain of the club for the following season. However, he moved on to Truro City in October 2018, scoring on his debut against Dartford.

He departed the White Tigers at the end of the campaign to join Tiverton for a fleeting stay prior to his move to the Cygnet Health Care Stadium where he has made well over 100 appearances and has been named club captain.

Key Player

Experienced forward Nat Jarvis has lead the line for the Peacocks this season.

Jarvis joined the Cardiff City Academy as an 8 year old and graduated to their Under 18 side in which he finished as top scorer in 2009-10. He joined Southend United on a month’s loan in September 2010, going on to make 7 appearances before returning to Cardiff where he secured his first pro contract in May 2011.

He scored on his competitive debut for the Welsh side in August 2011 against Oxford United in a League Cup tie before joining Newport County on loan a month later where he made 31 appearances in two separate loan periods during the season and appeared for County in the FA Trophy Final.

Following his release from Cardiff in 2013 he initially signed for Brackley Town in August before making a couple of appearances for Bath City around Christmas and then switching to Gloucester City for the rest of the campaign.

Jarvis joined the Peacocks in 2022 from Cymru Premier side Barry Town United.