AT A Christmas meeting in 2008, Holsworthy AFC decided to create a memorial garden at the left hand entrance to Upcott Field.

After meetings with Holsworthy Town Council, it was agreed that Holsworthy AFC would provide the labour and the town council would pay for the materials, so an army of volunteers was gathered. Work started on March 28, 2009 to clear the site, and on completion, three families started the ball rolling by the planting of three trees.

The tree on the left is in memory of Desmond Shadrick, who was a lifelong supporter of the Magpies, and he took over sending in match reports for the local press.

The middle tree was donated by the Harris family, in memory of ‘Taffy’, as he was known to everyone. He created the best footballing family Holsworthy has known. All four sons played for the first team, and the eldest, Michael, signed professional for Bideford in the 1950s. Even the two girls played for Holsworthy Ladies’ team.

The tree on the right was donated by Herb Stanlake’s family. Stan, as he was known, always made sure Holsworthy was known throughout Devon and Cornwall. His connections were legendary — it even reached as high as Sir Stanley Rouse, chairman of the English FA. How the club could do with a man like Herbert Stanlake today!

Finally, all the heathers have been donated and the garden is cared for by Angela and Barry Parrish.

In September, Holsworthy celebrated a charity football match to mark their 125 years.