ONE hundred years on and they’re still ‘proud to be a village club’ – but Bishopsteignton United need your support more than ever.

The club’s first recorded match took place 100 years ago today – a 3-2 win over Chudleigh Reserves on October 15, 1920. The scorers are noted as Parish (2) and F Heywood.

The club has been able to print some centenary T-shirts to mark the milestone, but coronavirus has put paid to any grander plans to mark the occasion.

‘We are 100 years old, but the last 15 years has been a massive struggle,’ said David Morgan, the current club chairman.

‘Around 10 years ago the club did “fold” for a season, but was ultimately saved by a group of former players.

‘It was dubbed “Operation Phoenix”, and we basically played friendlies for a season to ensure we kept the name and could go again the following year.

‘We have always been proud to be a village club – there are certainly no delusions of grandeur.’

These days the first team plays in Division Two of the South Devon League. Despite a tricky start to the season, things are starting to look up.

‘We have seven or eight 17 and 18-year-old local lads in the squad,’ said Morgan, who began his 30-plus-year association with Bishop as a player himself.

‘They all want to play for us, which is a good sign. Since I’ve been involved the ethos has always been about playing and meeting friends for life.’

Much of the outfit’s history up to 1991 is documented in a booklet produced by Dennis Back in the 1990s.

‘With that [the booklet] and a few other scrapbooks, we have a very rich history – and I don’t think many other clubs of our ilk have that,’ said Morgan.

In his foreword to the booklet, Back wrote: ‘We are a village club, and therefore not a rich club. Our sponsors are magnificent, but running a football club is extremely expensive and extra finances are difficult to obtain.’

And he went on to emphasise: ‘...we want the villagers to both know we exist, and encourage your support.’

In light of the coronavirus pandemic, which has had a catastrophic effect on sports clubs at all levels, those thoughts are still as prominent as ever.

‘It would be nice if more people in the village were able to come and support us,’ Morgan added.

‘All clubs are out of pocket because of the way last season was terminated – and as a club which is primarily funded by the players we’re no different.’

For anyone interested in watching Bishopsteignton United or getting involved, they play their home games at Michael’s Field.