FTFC | Club History | Rebirth & Rebuilding

frometownfc.co.uk Official Website of ‘The Robins’

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Rebirth & Rebuilding The summer of 2000 saw Frome appoint former player and talented manager Simon White as the Club looked to improve in all areas of the Club. Within weeks of being appointed he had already signalled his intent with the capture of two high profile signings in Paul Thorpe and former Bristol Rovers winger Tony Pounder. After a disappointing start the Robins improved rapidly and finished the season third in the table while the following season the momentum continued as promotion back to the Western League Premier Division was won after claiming the league title while they also reached the final of the league cup but lost 1-0 to Premier Division champions Bideford at Twerton Park, Bath. Off the field the Club also launched its official club website. That summer the Club shocked the local football scene after parting company with White and appointing Thorpe as player-manager. The first season back was always going to be one of consolidation and it ended with an 11th placed finish. The following season things didn’t improve and after a disappointing defeat at BAT Sport in the FA Vase Thorpe was replaced and in came the vastly experienced Andy Black. With Frome struggling to win at home the Club turned to the help of a local "White Witch", Titania Hardie. This move brought huge media interest from all over the World. It seemed to work and with the new manager at the helm Frome went on a magnificent run that saw them go on to finish 3rd in the league. Off the field Club Secretary Morton-Norris resigned due to work commitments and life long supporter and programme editor Ian Pearce took on the role. The 2004-05 season saw the Club celebrate its centenary & events on the field saw the Robins reach the Quarter-Finals of the FA Vase before eventually losing 3-0 at Jarrow Roofing while once again finishing third in the league. Season 2005-06 started full of optimism with Gavin Hares installed as the new chairman and on the field things looking promising however within weeks of the start of the season the Club hit a real low. Black failed to raise a side for a midweek FA Cup replay at St Blazey which meant pulling out of the competition and ultimately it cost him his job. Reserve Team manager Andy Crabtree was appointed as manager and within weeks of taking the job he was faced with the task of severe budget cuts. He set about rejuvenating the side and finished in seventh place. Frome were starting to improve again and Crabtree led the Robins to a third place finish in 2006/07 after missing out on the league title by just five points having wracked up an amazing 91 points and then a fourth place finish the following year. A lucrative main sponsorship deal with local businessmen Roger Smith and Jeremy Alderman was struck which also gave them the stadium naming rights with both also joining the Clubs committee. 2008/09 was a vintage season for the Robins as Crabtree steered Frome to runners-up spot in the Premier Division (eight points behind champions Bitton who were managed by former manager Black) which earned Frome promotion into the Southern Football League. The same season also saw the Club reach the final of the Somerset Premier Cup where they beat local rivals and new Southern League opponents Paulton Rovers 3-1 to claim the title for the first time since 1983. November 2008 also saw a huge change off the field as the club house come back into the committee’s control after McGuinness was declared bankrupt. The winnings that had been brought in from a successful FA Cup run helped pay the Official Receiver and once again the future of the Club appeared to be on the up. Gary Collinson, the Clubs Community Officer and Alderman were handed the task of taking on the running of the Club on behalf of the Committee. A new era was certainly dawning over Frome Town Footballl Club.....