Willand Rovers can confirm that, following the relegation of Portishead Town due to Ground Grading issues and the voluntary demotion requested by Mousehole FC, the club has been granted a reprieve by the FA and will compete once again in the Southern League Division One South in the 2026/27 season.

The 2025/26 campaign presented the club with a number of major challenges both on and off the pitch. While it was a difficult conclusion to the season, with relegation confirmed on the final day, we are pleased to now have another opportunity to compete at Step 4 level.

WRFC would like to extend our best wishes to everyone at Portishead Town and Mousehole FC, and we wish them all the very best in their new divisions for the 2026/27 season.

I would personally like to thank everyone that gave so generously of their time to help pull the club through the challenges of 25/26, and particularly to Ben Watson who has put in place the foundations for, what I think will be, a very good and competitive team to start the new season.

Further details regarding Season Tickets will be announced in the coming weeks as we begin preparations for another campaign in the Southern League.

Mike Hawkins, Chair WRFC

Match Preview

Brixham AFC V Willand Rovers

They do not get much bigger than this. Quite potentially one of the biggest games in Rovers’ history as we make the trip over the Riviera to take on Brixham AFC in the Southern Football League Division One South with a 3 pm KO!

Last time out for Rovers, we welcomed Winchester City to Silver Street where only one goal could split both sides for the 3rd time running on home soil as Olly Balmer’s second-half strike gave the visitors all three points in a crucial crunch match for their own promotion endeavours.

This time though we focus on Brixham who are in their first Southern League campaign but don’t want to lose their status at the end of the month. Tim Porter & Jason Couch’s men have in recent weeks looked to tunnel a way out of the great escape from their nailed-on relegation towards the very top of the drop.

Their last outing was a trip over to Oxfordshire as Didcot could only put one past the Fishermen as they caught a late kipper in Owen James who denied today’s hosts with a potential season-defining point. In the reverse fixture, Rovers got a crucial three points past Brixham with Charlie Bateson getting his tally underway for the season.

One to watch for today’s hosts would have to be dangerous striker Jordan Ewing, who recently transferred from Bideford to Brixham and has since looked to make a name for himself on the other side of the Devon coast.

This is it. Cup finals every weekend, every second counts on the board. It’s tight at the bottom, the table will be watched religiously over the next few weeks and you can play your part in the great escape by getting behind the lads every step of the way starting at Brixham this afternoon. No turning back.

#WeAreRovers #COYR

Match Preview

Bideford AFC V Willand Rovers

There’s a massive Devon Derby to be contested on Saturday as the battle to survive the drop continues as we travel to North Devon to take on Bideford AFC in the Southern Football League Division One South with a 3 pm KO!

Last time out for Rovers, Malvern Town were the visitors to Silver Street for another important night under the lights. For 90 minutes, it looked like it would be a point a piece but the visitors snatched it at the death as Piers Walton’s scrappy goal led to a difficult evening for Willand.

The focus shifts to Saturday as we head to Bideford. Sean Joyce’s men have a huge battle of their own alongside Ben Watson’s boys in surviving the drop this season and in a potential turning point for either side, this could be the most important game of each side’s season.

Bideford’s last league game was a trip over to Bashley where the Robins got themselves a vital three points over a relegation rival as goals from Ryan Turner, Javan Wright and Farren Simons made sure that the stags were stopped from clawing a point. However, in the week, Bideford bowed out of the St. Luke’s Bowl to Holsworthy on penalties and will be fired up to get themselves back on track.

One to watch for this weekend’s hosts would have to be young attacker Farren Simons who came through the ranks at North Devon rivals Barnstaple before earning a scholarship with Derby County. Spells at other local non-league clubs followed but he now plies his trade with the Robins where he’s ruffling a few feathers in the division with his quality.

Our last meeting with Bide takes us back to November, when Joycey’s men came to the street with a game plan in a Devon Derby to forget for Rovers. Bideford managed a 3-2 win with goals from Scott Robinson & Jamie Hearsay giving the visitors all three on the afternoon as Rovers yearned to win that match up.

For all making the journey to the little white town, get behind the lads as much as you can. The fun bus is in operation for this fixture with it leaving at 12:30 from Silver Street with the fare at £15, contact Mike Hawkins to book on if you’d like to back the lads in this local clash. As always, up the Rovers.

#WeAreRovers #COYR

The fixtures continue to come our way as our rearranged clash with Malvern Town takes place tomorrow night in the Southern Football League Division One South with a 7:30 pm KO at Silver Street!

Last time out for Rovers, Swindon Supermarine were the visitors to the Street as the first glimpse of summer came through and it could be claimed it was T-shirt weather. Only one goal could split the two sides and that would come early doors as Conor McDonagh’s strike secured all three points for the visitors as they cement their spot in the division for next season.

The attention now turns to Malvern Town who are now throttling their way towards the playoffs as Frome Town seems to have wrapped up the 25/26 campaign and will be strong runners to join the Robins in the Premier Division. Lee Hooper’s men continue to excel in the league and are a force to be reckoned with.

It almost feels like Déjà vu for Rovers as it was only a fortnight ago when we made the trip up to the Malvern heights. The Hillsiders’ late goal scoring made the Rovers pay but a decent performance was still had at the Langland with only a short time after the reverse fixture which was meant to go in front being scheduled.

Their last outing saw Malvern head to Shaftesbury where once again they proved why their place in the table meant business, with a 4-2 victory at the Rockies who also chased a chance at premier football. Goals from Harry Clark & Yuri Quintas saw it out.

One to watch for this midweek’s visitors would have to be Harry Clark who in recent weeks has shot up the goalscoring table and in the reverse fixture managed to slot past Rhomey—another player who sure isn’t to be underestimated and will keep the Rovers’ backline busy.

You were there for us on Wednesday and on Saturday. You’ve been behind us all season, once again get behind the lads as we look to finish strong at the end of this campaign. The bars open from half 5, turnstiles from 6. The main event at half 7. COME. ON. YOU. ROVERS!

Ben Watson’s lads continue to plough through the back end of the season as our second out of three home games in 7 days sees Swindon Supermarine travel to Silver Street for our latest test in the Southern Football League Division One South with a 3 pm Kick Off.

Last time out for Rovers, we welcomed Mousehole up to the Street for a midweek clash under the lights. After the last two attempts to get underway against the seagulls, it was third time lucky and the luck didn’t stop there. Despite conceding early, Rovers recovered in some fashion as Bailey Kempster’s brace, Lewis Morgan and a rather helpful own goal led to a 4-1 confidence booster after a tough weekend away.

The focus now shifts onto a Supermarine side that dropped from the Premier Division last season currently sit in the middle of the pack in 13th. A year of change for the Marine has meant an adjusting period back into the eighth tier. Bobby Wilkinson’s men will be hoping to get up the table next season but are comfortable for the rest of this campaign.

Supermarine’s last outing was on Tuesday night, when they travelled to Bristol Manor Farm. The hosts started brighter, but Marine pulled it back to 2-1, only for a stinger in the 95th minute to mean only a point was salvaged from The Creek. Our last meeting with Swindon was back in August where our first awayday of the season led to a 3-0 defeat after Abubukar, Harding & Monk left Rovers empty-handed.

One to watch out for this weekend’s visitors would have to be Sid Gbla who’s currently the division’s second top goalscorer on 11 goals. Mainly playing in the Isthmian divisions, his switch to the southern leagues has paid off and is a danger at goal to any keeper caught off guard.

It can never be underestimated how much the lads need your support. The business end of the season is the most important time to get yourself down to the street and get behind Rovers. For any City or Torquay fans not making the journeys away, come join us this weekend, and when you show your season ticket you’ll gain concession entry!

Match Preview

Willand Rovers v Mousehole AFC

We go under the lights on Wednesday evening once again as the green light should be shown this time. After three attempts, we finally host Mousehole AFC in the Southern Football League Division One South with a 7:30 pm KO!

Last time out, Rovers made the journey up into the hills where Malvern produced all three points on the afternoon. Rovers started strongly as Ben MacIver-Redwood broke the deadlock. The hosts found a leveller and another to get themselves in front but with the ref pointing to the penalty spot, Bailey Kempster slotted home to square it up before half-time. However, it would be the hosts who went on to score another three, zapping a Rovers side who’d worked incredibly hard.

The focus now shifts to Mousehole where the Seagulls flock over to the Street. Jake Ash’s men find themselves in the middle of the table as it stands, not too far off being swept into the drop conversation. Their last outing was another trip to Devon to neighbours Exmouth Town where the only goal of the game was from Matt Wright to give Town another three on the board.

Our last outing with Mousehole casts us back to Valentine’s Day as the reverse fixture went in front of the original as Lewis Morgan scored on his debut, shortly before the hosts responded instantly. Rovers would get themselves 3-1 up with Harvey Dorothy & Charlie Bateson hoping to put it to bed but when you give a seagull a chip, a flock comes through and Jack Symons & Jacob Kevern made sure it was just a point back to Devon.

One to watch for Wednesday’s visitors would have to be Hayden Turner, who is the Greens’ top goalscorer this season with 9. He’ll be hoping to fire away in the business end to swerve Mousehole’s relegation fears, as the bottom half of the table is within points’ length.

The lads need your support more than ever as we look to propel ourselves up the table for one last push. There is only one place to be on Wednesday and that is Silver Street. Bring a mate, pack the gate. The bar opens from half 5 with refreshments ready for half 6. COME ON ROVERS!

#WeAreRovers #COYR