Taunton Town Football Club have recently made the headlines as both them and Truro City have had issues with the Wordsworth Drive pitch.
This follows an announcement on 7 February 2024 confirming that Taunton Town entered into a ground sharing agreement with City, a fellow National League South club.
The arrangement meant that the Cornish side were going to play their last 12 remaining 2023-24 fixtures at Wordsworth Drive and Bolitho Park following a run of existing pitch problems.
However, due to further issues with the Wordsworth Drive pitch, Truro did not play any home matches at the ground, instead playing their remaining home matches at Gloucester City.
This was an obvious burden for both clubs and their players, the increased travel to home games as well as the away games, no doubt having a negative impact on player performance.
On November 3rd 2023, Chairman of the club, Kevin Sturmey, announced a joint sponsorship deal with a local business for Wordsworth Drive to be known as the Somerset Campervan Co Stadium.
The contract would run through to the end of 2023/24 along with an option to extend, sponsorship also including the home side Town End.
Dan Abbott, Managing Director at the Somerset Campervan Company told the club: “We are delighted to partner with Taunton Town FC. Our support will provide a valuable boost to the club and hopefully enable many successful seasons to come. Being associated with Taunton Town FC is a proud moment for myself and the team at The Somerset Campervan Co.”
Chairman Kevin Sturmey said in response: “I am delighted that we have reached an agreement with Dan at The Somerset Campervan Company for the new stadium naming rights.
“Dan has come to several games recently which has helped cement the deals as he has seen first-hand what a great atmosphere and match day experience we continue to provide at The Somerset Campervan Co Stadium.
“We can’t achieve anything without the backing of major sponsors and partners, and this is what I hope will be another long and rewarding partnership for both parties.”
Previous naming rights deals were reached in 2014 with Viridor, a waste management company, and Cygnet Health Care in 2019.
In a statement from the club they said that fans will notice some further improvements to the ground since their last visit as the club continues to develop both on and off the pitch.
Kevin Sturmey continued with: “Over the last 12 months, while very challenging for everyone, has allowed us time to look at improvements to the matchday experience and Stadium Infrastructure.
“Once we are promoted (to Step 2) this will mean a new turnstile block can be positioned in place on a concrete base.”
“We also have planning permission in place to extend the covered terracing on both sides and at both ends, and also to extend the terracing in the bottom corners at the Hamilton Park End (currently Invest South West End), this End is available to sponsor by the way!”
“The pitch at the Stadium is looking mightily impressive but to keep it in tiptop condition an obvious essential ingredient is water which is where the next initiative comes in.
“Another infrastructure investment we are currently embarking on is the installation of a “Borehole”. Initial work will begin on 25th May and if this goes to plan a system will be installed including pumps.”
“With climate change with us forever, the dry spells seem to happen in the spring and wet spells can happen at any time so investment in watering equipment is vital to produce the pitch we want at any time of the year.
“If successful, we will be able to extract up to 20,000 litres per day free of charge. That may sound a lot but would only last about 3-4 hours to supply our irrigator and portable sprinklers. The beauty of it is we would be able to water every day when we need to,” he added.
As of January 2024, the stadium has a capacity of 3,000 with 422 seats. The record attendance was set at 3,284 against Tiverton Town in the 1998/1999 FA Vase Semi-Final.
The club will hope that next season brings more home games to the Wordsworth Drive pitch and strong runs of form make it a fortress for ‘The Peacocks’.