Trowbridge Town's battle with the blizzard which lasted for 90 minutes on the snow-swept Barnstaple ground was resumed with a vengeance on the homeward journey. The journey was uneventful until the party suddenly ran into an "Arctic world" a few miles on the Frome side of Shepton Mallet. Here the coach, driven by Mr. Reg Keates, of Bradford-on-Avon, passed the one and only Supporters' Club coach stranded in a deep drift on the roadside. The players' coach stopped and sportingly picked up half a dozen lady supporters and proceeded on the homeward way, but a short distance farther on the roadway was blocked with stranded vehicles and the journey came to an unfortunate halt. It soon became apparent that home would not be reached that night, and all were forced to spend a freezing night in the coach - though some of the players found it warmer to have an occasional "stretch" in the snow, wet though it was!
THE GREAT TREK!
At dawn Ron Webb, the team's outside left, suggested a trek across country to Frome. With this his teammates agreed, and at 5 a.m.. led by Tuck and Webb, the party left marooned coach, and made their difficult way through snow, often waist-high. They accomplished the journey of several miles, however, and managed to hire a coach at Frome which enabled the party to reach Trowbridge - and a hot breakfast - by about 7,45. "Skipper" Lovesey, Tuck and Webb missed their first Swindon-bound train, and it was early afternoon before they reached the comfort of their own homes, The remainder of the party, including Messrs. P. Stafford and P. Coleman, who were in charge of the team, were brought home some hours later in a relief coach after they had "ploughed" their way across a snowbound meadow. The snowbound supporters will always be grateful to Mr. and Mrs. Parfitt, who live in a farmhouse close by, for providing them with hot drinks and sandwiches. Player- Manager Harry Haddon said: "Mrs. Murphy. despite her age, was wonderful. and she told me that the experience would certainly not slop her football outings." It was too cold to snatch much sleep, and during the night Ernie Marshall and some of the others kept the spirit of the party up with light-hearted quips. The two coaches were driven back late on Sunday. Driver of the supporters' coach was Mr. E. P. Noel, of Trowbridge. Mr. Ken Lucas and three friends, who also went to the match in his car, decided not to venture beyond Shepton Mallet, and spent the night in comfortable hotel beds. They drove home on Sunday morning via Radstock! Sequel to the adventure: Player-Manager Haddon and many of the party developed violent colds, but hope to be fit for this Saturday's "friendly" with Bristol City's Combination side.
BARNSTAPLE'S WIN
As for Trowbridge's match, it was a case of holding your head firm against the wind and hoping for the best! Barnstaple, with the hurricane and snow their backs in the first half, did practically all the attacking, and their goalkeeper actually wore a raincoat! They scored two quick goals, and a third just before the half-time whistle blew. the early part of the second half the wing dropped slightly, and this again favoured Barnstaple. The Trowbridge forwards could not strike their genuine form, but the last ten minutes the visitors' luck changed. Grimason and Haddon each got a goal, and with a little more luck the equaliser might have come, but it was far too wretched a day to criticise any of the players. Under normal conditions the result might have been different. Jones (2) and Pickard scored for Barnstaple, for whom Ridler made some good saves in goal.
Trowbridge's team was: Vince; Hulbert, Sutherland; Lovesey. Tuck, Marshall; Haddon. Skinner, Grimason. Hancock, Webb.
Report from The Wiltshire Times
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