Frome Town vs. Tavistock: Preview and Ticket Info

Steve Jupp, BA11's Club Historian, examines our first Southern League assignment.

The countdown is finally over and season 2025-26, one which many Frome followers feared, over a summer of stress and angst, their club might not take part in, is upon us with Tavistock providing the opposition for an eagerly anticipated Badgers Hill opener.

Archie Ferris heads into his second season at Badgers Hill as the Robins face up against Tavistock on Saturday

Opening day has been highly lucrative for the Robins over the past couple of decades or so for they have not tasted defeat in their first fixture of any campaign since a 0-2 reverse at Odd Down in August 2003.

Since dropping out of the Premier Division last spring, Danny Greaves has wasted no time in ringing the changes with a raft of new signings and the latest, Charlie Bullock last week, became the TWELFTH new addition to the squad. Welcome Charlie along with Emmanuel Athanasiou, George Dowling, David Duru, Harris Feltham, Charlie Holliday, Theo Llewellyn, Harry Lucas, Theo Lynden and Jensen Wakefield and welcome back Mike Baker and Sam Meakes.

Relegation, pure and simply, was down to poor home form with the paltry three league wins here last term in stark contrast to an impressive unbeaten Badgers Hill record in the previous promotion-winning campaign. Indeed, all FIVE of the final home encounters ended in defeat and with the side finishing SIX points adrift of safety, those FIFTEEN dropped proved very costly.

New season, new page, but it will be far from easy against a Tavistock team who are already up and running following last week’s 5-0 FA Cup success over struggling St Austell.

Southern League encounters - Frome Town vs. Tavistock

Season Home Away

2022-23 L 0 – 4 L 3 – 4

2023-24 W 3 – 1 L 2 – 6

Tavi have had the better of recent head-to-head meetings, often scoring a hatful of goals in the process as they embark upon what is now their FOURTH season at Southern League Division One South level following a rapid rise up the pyramid from competing at Step Seven as recently as 2015.

After finishes of 6th and 11th, last term became one of struggle until an upturn in results in their last ten games lifted them out of the drop zone to a final position of 16th.

Frome Town vs. Tavistock: Preview and Ticket Info

Having survived the summer’s off-field dramas, there are high hopes among the Badgers Hill faithful of a swift return to Step Three, but there are a number of capable clubs in this division with similar aspirations. It’s a marathon not a sprint (particularly with, hopefully, some decent cup runs thrown in) and new faces will take time to gel.

Just being able to watch the Dodge here in Southern League action is a relief and a pleasure (usually!) and, if the Lambs can be silenced come five o’clock, that would be the icing on a very tasty cake.

Squad Update

Since the decision to pull out of final planned pre-season fixture, several players with knocks and niggles have come through either both or one of the training sessions this week in good shape, ensuring the Robins go into Saturday's opener with a strong and fit group.

There was a welcome boost in the form of centre-back Mike Baker who returned to training on Wednesday, a good 7 to 10 days ahead of schedule. Winger Charlie Holliday, however, pulled up in Monday's session with a slight groin issue. Late decisions will be made on the pair's fitness, but otherwise Danny Greaves has a fit and healthy squad to select from.

The manager also spoke on the latest episode of the Dodge the Question podcast ahead of the fixture: "Opening day is always a really difficult - it doesn't matter who you play against - and Tavistock are obviously a difficult side to play against.

"The manager Stuart Henderson has been there a while now and always manages to pull together a good, youthful side, who play a decent brand of football. They come off the back of a really strong FA Cup win on the weekend, full of confidence and with no fear.

"Tavistock will know all about what's happened to us over the summer with a new group that's been put together, and will now hop to catch us cold. A tough game, but one we're looking forward to."

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The latest information on ticketing, which can be bought in advance or on the gate, is as follows:

Adults - £12

Concessions - £9

Students - £4

Under 16s - £2

We also offer packages for youth organisations (consisting of 2 x Adult Tickets and up to 15 x Under-16 Tickets, as well as Matchday Partner or Sponsorship packages for up to 5 x Adult Tickets and including Under-16 Tickets. For more information, check out the link above, or make contact with the Club!

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Check out our 25-26 Season Guide!

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Listen to the latest episode of the Dodge The Question podcast!

With the start of the new season just around the corner, Steve & Zeb are joined by manager Danny Greaves to chat all things about the preparations and expectations for the coming campaign.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/409EbajoM57maT4fPDEFRh?si=eb6d12d4062a44ca

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/s02-e06/id1751186747?i=1000720697305

You can also listen on Frome.FM radio every Friday at 5pm (repeated on Saturday 3pm)

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Secure your entry, purchase your season tickets and make the most of the sponsorship and hospitality packages for all of our games at Badgers Hill this season via the link below!

https://www.intix.co.uk/org/frome-town-fc