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Gary Lobb - G
Chairman of Dartmouth Football Club
ARY Lobb has been a member of Dartmouth Football Club for 48 years, rising from a junior player to the man in charge and the
first team manager. He joined by chance at the age of 13 and has never looked back. “I’ve been playing for the club since 1973,” Gary said. “Every Sunday morning, mum used to send myself
and my cousin down to White’s Farm to pick up some clotted cream for our tea. “We were both walking past the club one day and a guy called Mike Prettyjohns said “You two play football don’t you? Take the cream home and get back up the field and join the team.” “We ran as fast as we could, threw the clotted cream in
the fridge, got our boots and ran all the way back up again. “And I’m still here now at the age of 61. “I played up until I was about 32, and then in 1993 I actually took over the management from Mike Prettyjohns who stood down that year.” The club has its own grounds at Longcross complete with a club house, spectator stand and changing rooms. It runs two successful Mens teams – the first team
Brixham, while the eldest is Ian Down, an “extremely fit” 52-year-old who used to play for Exeter City. “Ian has played a number of times this year. We were
short in the first team one day and he volunteered to sit on the bench. “He played and didn’t let himself down – he did well
for the team. He played a good level of football in his prime and still knows his way round the football pitch.” Half of the first team players are from other towns
said Gary. “We have players from Brixham, Torquay and
Paignton. “Our main goalkeeper comes from Plymouth. He has
By Ginny Farrell
family up here so he comes up, drops the baby with grandma and comes and plays football; it works quite well.” The teams now train at King Edward VI Community
College in Totnes as the pitches there are easier for the players from across the river to access. “In years gone by we’ve used the great facilities at
the naval college but it’s difficult sometimes trying to get the lads across - the ferry’s not cheap. More people attend the training in Totnes.” Sadly the club no longer runs any youth teams. “We have run junior sides over the years and you can see the fruits of that coming through in the guys who are playing for me now. “But over the last eight years or so we haven’t had a junior side.
“There’s a lack of interest, kids would
“We have players from Brixham, Torquay and Paignton”
rather sit in their bedroom and play computer games than run around a football pitch. “You also have to go on courses to
coach children nowadays and people just haven’t got the time or the money to do it.
competes in the South West Peninsular League and the second team plays in the South Devon League. The club’s youngest team players are both 17 and from
It’s a shame. “In the past you’d often find the junior sections of clubs being run by one of the player’s fathers who played football himself, knew the rules of the game and stepped in to take on the role of junior coach. “I guess if you are being told you can’t do that without a police check and going away for a week’s course somewhere, it’s not so easy.” Gary would be “very interested” if someone stepped
forward to run a colts team. “It’s good for the club to have junior teams alongside the first and second teams, it’s nice to have all ages playing and it’s good for the club’s future,” he said. The club is run by a committee consisting of Gary as
chairman, treasurer Roger Causley, and secretary Kath Greeno. President Alan Wadeson is “always supportive of the
club,” said Gary, even taking on the role of linesman for some of the second team matches.
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