Assistant manager Stewart Yetton says Truro City FC have achieved ‘something special’ despite everything thrown at them this season, writes Tom Howe.
The White Tigers secured safety in National League South in the midst of a gruelling run of ten games in 20 days, with none of them played in Cornwall.
That is because, following the sale of their ground at Treyew Road, Truro entered groundshare agreements with Plymouth Parkway, Taunton Town and Gloucester City.
Their nomadic status, coupled with the worst winter on record weather wise and even unforeseen abandonments, resulted in a mammoth fixture backlog that included games against Eastbourne Borough and Yeovil Town on consecutive days.
“It has been a really, really, really challenging season,” Yetton told CHAOS Radio. “Paul [Wotton – manager] and I said to the boys that promotions, championships and things like that are fantastic and you can really enjoy them but what we have had to deal with this season, our first season in the league above, with no home, moving like we have and our schedule at the end.
“You actually find a lot more out about yourselves in times of adversity than you do in terms of success. Huge credit to the lads and to Paul as well. He has been magnificent. It’s been a really pleasing end to the season for us. It’s a very strange situation to play away from home for three years.
“The players again were magnificent and the staff as well. It has been really challenging for us as a management team to manage and keep the boys going and stay on top but I think, as a group, we have really achieved something special this season considering the circumstances.
“I want to reiterate my thanks to the fans. A lot of fans have travelled to a lot of the games home and away and we really appreciate the support. It’s certainly not been easy for them as fans, especially the ones from Truro.”
Against all the odds and with all but the proverbial kitchen sink thrown at them, Truro managed to keep their heads above water and secured step two survival with a 1-0 ‘home’ win over Dover Athletic on April 16.
That result came on the back of a 3-1 victory against George Elokobi’s promotion chasing Maidstone United, a galvanised performance that epitomised the Cornish club’s indomitable spirit.
Truro City FC marksman Tyler Harvey added the winner against Dover to a cool brace against The Stones to once again claim the club’s golden boot prize.
The final of his 14 strikes for the 2023-24 campaign came in the dying embers of Saturday’s 2-1 reverse at already relegated Dartford, who were indebted to an inspired performance from loanee goalkeeper Rhys Byrne.
“The ‘keeper has made a few good saves but we weren’t as clinical as we could have been,” reflected Yetton post-match. “He has made a fair few good saves but we had a few good opportunities as well where we have not hit the target.
“On another day, I think the result could have been very different. That is the sort of area where, next year, we need to be that little bit better and that’s what we’ll strive to do next season.
“Tyler is obviously a very good finisher. He’s been magnificent for us this season and hopefully next season we can provide him with a few more chances. A lot of times this season he has had to create his own chances. He has been magnificent but so has everybody else.
“It is not just about one player. Tyler is an important part of a very important team. He has scored another great goal but let’s not take away from those 20 lads that have been here throughout the whole of the season and who have been magnificent for us.”
With safety secured, all eyes turn to the club’s fabled return to Truro and the new sports hub at Langarth Garden Village.
“We have got a long trip home now. We have had a lot of games at Gloucester to which all the boys have driven and it’s been a long stint. This is the first time in four, five or six weeks that we have actually all been on the coach together so it is a chance to have a good time before we all depart for our break over the summer.
“We can’t wait to get back. We have really missed being at home and missed seeing all of our fans, some who have unfortunately struggled and find it very difficult to make the commute to the different home grounds we have had. We are Truro City FC and we don’t want to be anywhere else but at home.”
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