Match Information
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Brixham 3-2 Downton
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When: Saturday 2nd December 2023
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Kick-off: 3pm
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Where: Wall Park, Wall Park Road, Brixham, Devon TQ5 9UE
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Competition: The Isuzu FA Vase Third Round Proper
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Attendance: 157
I carefully scrutinised the Isuzu FA Vase Third Round fixtures in a bid to find a match to film in my roving reporter role for competition sponsors Isuzu.
However, the coldest weekend of the year was unfolding and many scheduled Vase ties were being postponed due to frozen pitches - sports betting odds would've been in favour of an abandonment for sure!
Even so, Brixham seemed entirely confident their home game would definitely go ahead so I set off on my 500 mile round trip early on Saturday morning.
The club duly kept me informed en route including details that the playing surface had passed a precautionary 9am referee’s inspection after an overnight covering of frost.
Then driving down the M4 and M5 Motorways in freezing fog, my car’s dashboard showed the temperature at minus three degrees. And I spotted some snow settled on the edge of the roads once I arrived in Devon.
Yet on progressing further towards the coast through Paignton and into Brixham, it was almost as if the English Riviera had a unique microclimate since the temperature was much higher at six degrees with watery sunshine. So the Isuzu FA Vase contest was perfectly playable.
Incidentally, I had been to Brixham once before – although not for football. It was five years ago when I holidayed in Torquay accompanying my heavily pregnant wife.
We went on a pleasant boat trip across Torbay to Brixham and marvelled at the truly picturesque harbour alongside olde worlde souvenir shops.
I subsequently promised myself I would return to the area to watch Brixham AFC in action one day. By the way, this fishing town houses 17,000 residents.
Ground Description
Located just half a mile uphill from the aforementioned harbour, access to Wall Park is via a tight lane off Wall Park Road.
For supporters, there are two covered areas of homemade wooden bench style seating either side of the clubhouse.
Indeed, many fans stayed in the bar all afternoon to keep warm enjoying decent views of the pitch through the large overlooking windows. A great display of club flags behind one goal added to the overall homely feeling.
Brixham have worked hard to develop their facilities since the club’s formation in June 2012 whereby South Devon League sides Brixham United and Brixham Villa merged to bring together more than 100 years of combined history.
Floodlights were installed at Wall Park in September 2019.
Programme Details
Entitled ‘Fishermen’s Tales’ to reflect the host team’s nickname. A lavish 28 page full colour production on sale at the main admission gate for £1. Packed full of interesting club information, news and statistics.
What I particularly liked was that Brixham’s programme editor Ian Whiscombe stood by the main entrance resplendent in a distinctive pirate’s costume to give every spectator attending the match a very warm welcome.
"I only dress up for the big cup games," he told me. Ian’s noble efforts really set the tone because everyone else I met at Brixham AFC was extremely friendly.
The Match
I felt Brixham would've started as football betting favourites by virtue of occupying fifth position in the Western League Premier Division at Step 5 of the national Non-League Pyramid. They had gained promotion last season winning the South West Peninsula League Premier East Division.
But their Step 6 opponents Downton – based 125 miles away near Salisbury – are also experiencing a good campaign sitting second in the Wessex League Division One.
It turned out to be an absorbing encounter which ebbed one way and flowed the other. Brixham raced into a 3-0 lead through Danny Gaze (penalty, 39 minutes), Jake Chisholm (42 mins) and Cole Harford (66 mins).
Nevertheless visitors Downton rallied late on to generate an exciting denouement and pulled two goals back courtesy of Ryan Osman (penalty, 68 mins) and Tom Rafferty (90+4 mins).
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
