Welcome to the Tavistock Specials Website

The Tavi Specials Football Squad History

Our Patron, Geoffrey Cox QC/MP

In February 2009 TYCP Utd was formed. Stewart O’Loughlin (then Chairman of Tavistock Town FC)and Allen Lewis Secretary of Tavistock Youth Cafe Plus for Special Needs Children finally began this wonderful football group. Months of paperwork and filling in forms got the disability football team formed.

The first member of the squad was Jake Riddolls , a passionate young man with Special Needs , who loved playing football and who was refused to be a part of a local under 12′s side so it was from there the group was started to prove that people like Jake deserve the best!

 Members joined from all over the place and we soon realized we needed more coaches and helpers to cope with running this amazing group of people. We entered the Local Son-Rise Cup Event and our 3 squads won the Karen Bell Memorial Son-Rise Cup for Autism Trophy.

We were soon fully sponsored by  Tavistock Tyres part of the Protyre Group and  all their lads have been incredible in supporting , helping , funding equipment , kit and helping with transport.

Training nights were changed 2 years ago to Friday nights 6-7pm at Tavistock College All Weather Pitches and so Stewart stepped down as Coach and handed the batton over to Will Reed , a hugely popular character who is fully trained at Football and Rugby Coaching it was then we changed the name to the ‘Tavi Specials’.

Will Reed was then joined by his son Tom and along with Rachel ,Robyn ,Sue , Wayne , Karl , Bobby ,Dan and Mathew we now have a full and strong team of trainers. Allen continues to be Secretary and became a Referee for Ability Counts football , his wife Sheena acts as Treasurer. Another new member to the helpers is Billy Venning who will do just about anything including driving and generally supervising the members.

Our group isn’t just about football but friendship , fun and company. We have seen all these people’s lives change for the better and all involved have been inspired along the way.Parents ,carers and supporters come along to training and matches its a good feeling to see so many people laughing and cheering.

So many characters are involved in the Tavi Specials so please contact us if you know of someone who would benefit or enjoy the experiences we have at football training and matches.

We now have 2 Adult sides in the Devon Ability Counts Leagues and an Under 16′s side , Ladies too but we want to see more younger children join.

For more information please contact Allen Lewis Sec. 01822 614335 /email redrum347@hotmail.com