Bideford vs Barnstaple Town
FA Cup Preliminary Round
Saturday 21st August 2021
3:00pm kick off
The Sports Ground, Bideford

It’s been a long 10 months since Bideford’s last competitive home fixture so there could be no better way to return to action at the Sports Ground than with a big derby against Barnstaple Town, in the FA Cup no less. It will be the first time the North Devon rivals have met in the competition for 23 years, a tie that was won by Barnstaple back in 1998. At that time Dean Edwards had just resigned as Bideford manager, a role that would soon be taken by Sean Joyce who would go on to transform the struggling Robins.

Fast forward to 2021 and former team mates Joyce and Edwards will be in opposite dug outs in the first of what will be a derby double header with the Southern League fixture set to take place just nine days after the FA Cup clash, also at the Sports Ground. Both Bideford and Barnstaple have a seen several changes in personnel since last season’s abandoned campaign with both managers having to overcome great challenges in terms of player recruitment and retention. Bideford came through pre-season unbeaten and began their Southern League season with a draw at Winchester City last Saturday. Barnstaple have already played two league fixtures against Lymington Town and Bristol Manor Farm, both games ending in 3-1 defeats but with some positive signs for Edwards’ new look team.

Local bragging rights are always on the line in a derby but the potential financial reward of a good FA Cup run is something both clubs will be eyeing coming out of the Covid pandemic. Recent history is on Bideford’s side with five wins in the last six games against their rivals but Barnstaple always give a good account of themselves in the derby and will hope their new signings can help them to a first win over Bideford since 2016.

Bideford’s last six (WDWWDD)
14/08/21 Winchester City 2 Bideford 2 (League)
06/08/21 Tiverton Town 0 Bideford 0 (Friendly)
03/08/21 Bideford 3 Bodmin Town 1 (Friendly)
26/07/21 Bideford 2 Ilfracombe Town 0 (Friendly)
21/07/21 Exmouth Town 1 Bideford 1 (Friendly)
16/07/21 Elmore 2 Bideford 5 (Friendly)

Barnstaple Town’s last six (LLWDLL)
17/08/21 Bristol Manor Farm 3 Barnstaple Town 1 (League)
14/08/21 Barnstaple Town 1 Lymington Town 3 (League)
03/08/21 Elmore 1 Barnstaple Town 1 (Friendly)
31/07/21 Dartmouth 2 Barnstaple Town 5 (Friendly)
24/07/21 Barnstaple Town 1 Bilston Town 2 (Friendly)
20/07/21 Bridgwater United 2 Barnstaple Town 1 (Friendly)

A Brief History of Barnstaple Town FC
North Devon League founder members Pilton Yeo Vale were founded in 1904 and became Barnstaple Town in 1905. Barnstaple spent the first half of the century playing local league football in the North Devon League and the Devon & Exeter League until joining Western League Division Two for the 1948/49 season. In 1949/50 Barnstaple were Division Two champions and were promoted to Division One. Barum became Western League champions in 1952/53 and once again in 1979/80 (now the Premier Division). They were relegated back to the second tier (Division One) in 1990/91 but bounced back as Division One champions in 1993/94. Barnstaple were relegated back to Division One in 2012/13 but once again returned to the Premier after winning their third Division One title in 2014/15. Barum carried that momentum in to 2015/16 finishing as runners-up in the Premier Division and accepting promotion to the Southern League for the first time after champions Odd Down turned down the opportunity. In their first season in Division One South & West, Barum finished 17th. In 2017/18 they finished in 21st position and avoided relegation due to a league restructure while in 2018/19 they finished 19th and were reprieved from relegation as Street resigned from the Southern League. In 2019/20 Barum were bottom of the division after 27 games when the season was abandoned due to the coronavirus and were 19th in 2020/21 when the season was again cancelled. Barnstaple Town are two time Western League champions, three time Western Division One champions and also Western Division Two title winners. They have won the Devon St Luke's Bowl on one occasion and have also reached the first round proper of the FA Cup four times.

Barnstaple Town FC
Mill Road
Barnstaple
Devon
EX31 1JQ
Tel: 01271 343469
Web: http://www.barnstapletownfc.com
Twitter: @Official_BTFC

Most recent meetings:
26/12/19 Bideford 3 Barnstaple Town 2 (Southern Div One South)
26/12/18 Barnstaple Town 1 Bideford 4 (Southern Div One South)
27/08/18 Bideford 1 Barnstaple Town 0 (Southern Div One South)
26/12/17 Bideford 1 Barnstaple Town 1 (Southern Div One West)
28/08/17 Barnstaple Town 1 Bideford 2 (Southern Div One West)
26/12/16 Barnstaple Town 0 Bideford 1 (Southern Div One S&W)
08/11/16 Bideford 1 Barnstaple Town 4 (Southern League Cup R2)
29/08/16 Bideford 2 Barnstaple Town 1 (Southern Div One S&W)
18/11/14 Barnstaple Town 0 Bideford 1 (Devon St Luke's Bowl QF)
02/04/10 Barnstaple Town 3 Bideford 2 (Western League Premier)
26/12/09 Bideford 4 Barnstaple Town 3 (Western League Premier)
10/04/09 Bideford 1 Barnstaple Town 1 (Western League Premier)
26/12/08 Barnstaple Town 1 Bideford 3 (Western League Premier)