OVERVIEW
The Tinners were founder members of the South Western League in 1951 and began a steady rise, winning the division five times up until 2006 when they then reached the Western League Division One. A year later, they appeared at Wembley, winning the FA Vase trophy against AFC Totton after going a goal down to win 3-1 and became the first side to win a final at the newly-rebuilt national stadium. In 2011, Truro made it to the Conference South after gaining five promotions in six seasons. Their rapid rise came to a crushing halt as the club went into administration in 2012 and were saved hours from being expelled. Six seasons in the Southern Premier followed and five in the National League South led them to the 23/24 season where they came 16th before a stellar year as they became the first team in Cornwall to make the fifth tier clutching the title on goal difference.
2024/25 SEASON
After guiding them to that mid-table finish last term, manager Paul Wotton left for Devon to take charge at Torquay United as they battled for silverware. In stepped experienced gaffer John Askey as the club looked to build in their second straight season in the South Division. The campaign began with headlines but for the wrong reasons as Dorking Wanderers’ visit was overshadowed by a kit clash which resulted in Marc White’s side turning their shirts inside out so that the opening game could be played, Dorking won 2-1. An impressive 5-0 win over hopefuls Worthing was one of nine wins from their opening 16 before a real turn of form in February. Truro went ten games unbeaten before defeat to Enfield opened the title face wide open with six teams fighting for glory. There did appear to be a potentially damaging defeat when Torquay edged a 1-0 win at the Truro City Stadium but two further wins meant both sides finished on 89 points with a superior goal-difference going Askey’s men’s way by just two.
Last Match – Sat 26th April – Truro 5-2 St.Albans (5′ L.Jephcott, 7′ D.Johnson-Fisher, 10′ T.Harvey, 30′ C.Riley-Lowe, 83′ A.Neal).
Truro XI – D.Lavercombe, C.Oxlade-Chamberlain, W.Dean, R.Law, Z.Bell, D.Rooney, Y.En-Neyah, C.Riley-Lowe, L.Jephcott, D.Johnson-Fisher (77′ A.Neal), T.Harvey.
Unused subs – B.Adelsbury, S.Sanders, L.Holmes, B.Palfrey.
MANAGER
Another manager who enjoyed major success in a fight towards the National League in his first season is John Askey. Appointed in June, the former Macclesfield Town, Port Vale and York City boss entered the doors with the club knowing retaining a place in the division was the main priority. His multi-year contract was extended in December with the Tinners in fourth place and he ended the season by creating history with his new side.
The 60-year-old spent all but two years of his senior playing career at Macclesfield and he made the last of his 206 appearances for the Silkmen against Dale in May 2003. He came on as a sub and scored two minutes from time to make the score 2-2 before Macc went on to win in injury time.
NEW SIGNINGS (TO BE UPDATED)
27th June – Harry Kite (Yeovil Town) & Lirak Hasani (Torquay United).
6th July – Christian Oxlade-Chamberlain (Kidderminster Harriers).
15th July – Luke Jephcott (Newport County).
PLAYED FOR BOTH
Joining in the early 1950’s, our second-highest top goalscorer Reg Jenkins linked up with Truro City in his academy days before senior moves to Plymouth Argyle, Exeter City and Torquay United. At the age of 26, the forward signed for Dale and went on to score 119 goals in his nine-year spell with over 300 appearances and was a member of Rochdale’s first ever promotion winning side in 1969. He was voted the club’s greatest ever player during a poll in 2004. No other player was a permanent member at the Cornwall side with Blair Sturrock appearing on trial five years after leaving Dale.
WE HAVEN’T MET BEFORE
The 2025/26 season will bring these two clubs together for the first time.
TRURO CITY STADIUM
After four years away and having to play the remainder of 2023/24 season at various venues including a 390-mile round trip to Gloucester City just to host their matches, City returned home at the Truro Sports Hub in 2024. Until that point they had been groundsharing with Taunton Town, 120 miles away, and before that across the Devon border at Plymouth Parkway, 55 miles away. Treyew Road was their former home from the mid-1900s up until 2020 when it was sold to developers who built a Lidl on site.
The new ground holds 3,600 with 2,676 entering for the first time for that game back in August against Dorking. The record crowd would turn out instead for the crunch top of the table clash with Torquay with 3,306 in attendance.
