Josh Ford Commits to Rovers ✍️

Posted on 18 May 202618 May 2026 by Max Fournier

Willand Rovers are pleased to announce that the 2025/26 Supporters Player of the Season, Josh Ford, has commited to the Rovers ahead of the 26/27 Season.

Josh Ford returns to Silver Street for the 2026/27 season after an outstanding second spell with Willand Rovers Football Club.

Ford rejoined the club in December and quickly re-established himself as a commanding presence at the heart of the defence. His dominant performances, leadership, and consistency at the back played a key role during the second half of the campaign, earning him the club’s Supporters’ Player of the Season award.

| “He is a man mountain, an exceptional defender, and a brilliant person.” – Ben Watson |

Club media caught up with Ben Watson, as we welcomed the second member of the 26/27 squad back to Silver Street, and this is what he had to say: “Delighted Fordy is staying. He is a man mountain, an exceptional defender, and a brilliant person. His experience and winning mentality breeds throughout the team, and he will get the best out of everyone around him. He understands and appreciates our club ethos and will give everything for the badge, which was recognised by winning Supporters’ Player of the Season.”

Having begun his career with Queens Park Rangers Football Club, Ford has built an impressive non-league résumé. He has featured for Melksham Town Football Club, Bristol Manor Farm Football Club, Paulton Rovers Football Club, Frome Town Football Club, Larkhall Athletic Football Club, and Yate Town Football Club, where he captained the side to promotion to the Southern Football League Premier Division South in 2019.

Ford’s commitment is another major boost as preparations continue for the 2026/27 campaign, with one of Silver Street’s most influential performers set to play a key role once again.

Back the return of Josh Ford to Silver Street by becoming his official player sponsor for the 2026/27 season. Player sponsorship is a fantastic opportunity for businesses and supporters alike to associate themselves with Ford throughout the campaign and play a direct role in supporting the club. To sponsor Josh Ford, or to find out more about the benefits of player sponsorship, please contact our Commercial Team at willandroversfc@outlook.com

Welcome back Fordy 👏

Lewis Morgan Commits to Rovers ✍️

Posted on 17 May 2026 by Max Fournier

Willand Rovers are pleased to announce that midfielder Lewis Morgan, is the first player to commit to the Rovers ahead of the 26/27 Season.

Ben Watson has been quick to get his planning for the 26/27 season underway as fans favourite Lewis Morgan will return to Silver Street!

Morgan signed following Ben Watson’s appointment as manager of Willand Rovers and made an immediate impact at Silver Street. Morgan’s impact within the squad was rich with his desire to continue his development for the upcoming Southern League campaign imperative.

| “He’s a born Leader and Winner.” – Ben Watson |

Club media caught up with Ben Watson, as we welcomed the first member of the 26/27 squad back to Silver Street, and this is what he had to say: “Lewis is integral to what we are building at Willand Rovers FC. All rovers fans saw in a short space of time the Outstanding player he is and there’s so much more to come. Most importantly it’s the person he is, Ambitious, Professional and is a born Leader and Winner.”

Lewis Morgan brings significant experience at Step 3 and Step 4, and has so far enjoyed an impressive career in non-league football, featuring in both the National League South and the Southern Premier League. Following a standout introduction to life at Silver Street, Morgan’s return is a major boost for the squad as preparations continue for the 2026/27 Southern Football League campaign.

Back the return of Lewis Morgan to Silver Street by becoming his official player sponsor for the 2026/27 season. Player sponsorship is a fantastic opportunity for businesses and supporters alike to associate themselves with Lewis throughout the campaign and play a direct role in supporting the club. To sponsor Lewis Morgan, or to find out more about the benefits of player sponsorship, please contact our Commercial Team at willandroversfc@outlook.com

Welcome back Lewis 👏

Download or View – Willand Rovers F.C v Tavistock – Matchday Programme

Posted on 24 April 2026 by anthonyryder

Click here to view or download the programme

A call to arms by Dave Baylis

Posted on 22 April 2026 by Fin Keens

A call to arms

You’ve heard of Leonidas and Odysseus, even if you don’t remember them. As the names indicate, both are heroes from Greek mythology, belonging to a world older than we can comprehend, but not so distant that their stories have faded.

You’ll most likely know Leonidas I as Gerard Butler in the 2006 film 300, where he leads an army of Spartans to the Battle of Thermopylae to confront the Persian ruler Xerxes, and his army of 300,000. The Spartans didn’t march with false illusions. They knew the scale of what was coming—vastly superior numbers, overwhelming force, certain defeat. And yet they stood. Not because the odds were good, but because some lines, once drawn, have to be held. And so even in defeat, Leonidas and his men became something greater than the outcome. They became a symbol of resistance, of what it means to refuse to step aside.

Then there’s Odysseus in The Odyssey, Homer’s epic poem. No grand last stand, but a long, punishing journey. Years of setbacks, wrong turns, storms, losses. Every time he got close, something dragged him back again. But he kept going. That’s his story. Not a single moment of triumph, but a refusal to stop moving forward. However far he was pushed off course, he never gave up on getting home.

But it’s not the heroes that have allowed the fables to endure, it’s what those stories stand for. Perseverance when the road stretches far longer than expected. Defiance when the numbers are against you. And turning up when it would be easier not to.

Because when people show up, things change.

In football, we call it the ‘12th man.’

It’s a misnomer, but we forgive it, because it still says what it needs to, and it sounds right. The 12th man isn’t an individual; it can be a handful of fans behind the goal on a cold November night, or 50,000 inside Anfield for the UEFA Champions League semi-final against Barcelona in 2019. Three goals down. Written off. Finished before it even began. But not to the Liverpool fans in the stands. Not because it felt good to cheer, but because it was real. A true crowd doesn’t just watch, it shapes what happens. Noise becomes pressure. Pressure becomes mistakes. Belief becomes momentum. The victory didn’t start on the pitch. It started in the stands.

And beyond sport, the same truth holds.

The Fall of the Berlin Wall didn’t happen because one person decided it should. It happened because thousands showed up, then tens of thousands, then more. Pressure building, presence growing, until something that seemed permanent suddenly wasn’t.

That’s the truth running through all of this. From ancient battlefields to modern stadiums to divided cities.

Showing up matters.

On Saturday, Willand face an uphill battle. Even if we exalt in victory we might still feel the depths of defeat. Our fate is not only in our own favour, but with the gods, should you choose to belive.

We might face 300,000 like Xerxes’ army, and we’re not standing at Thermopylae. It won’t be myth, and it won’t be marble statues on a battlefield. It’ll be grass, mud and a scoreboard that doesn’t care for stories.

And when it starts, we don’t watch. We don’t wait. We don’t hope from a distance.

We show up. We bring friends. We believe.

And if we do that—properly, together—then whatever the odds say before kickoff won’t matter when the final whistle goes.