The 2003-2004 season may go down as one of the greatest for the club since reforming.
Both the 1st team and the Reserves showed themselves to be the class of their respective leagues, winning the Wiltshire Senior League and Wiltshire Junior League respectively, whilst Trowbridge United finished a close 2nd in the TDFL Division 2 to local neighbours North Bradley.
The 1st team also reached the final of the Senior KO Cup, losing 2-1 to Bradford Town, before going on to win the Wiltshire Senior Cup on penalties after a 2-2 draw against Corsham Town – Trowbridge Town legend Adam Sheppard saving one penalty before scoring another to win the cup at Hardenhuish Park.
The Bees would finish the season on 76 points ahead of AFC Stratton on 74, losing twice all season in the league.
Their biggest win was an 8-0 romp of Pewsey Vale Reserves, and the top scorers were Dave Percival (pictured above) on 26, followed by once Trowbridge Town player turned current Premier League Referee Adam Nunn on 13, and the ever faithful Waleed Bakali on 12. The biggest loss was a 2-0 defeat to Biddestone FC.
The Reserves would go on to win their league by a more comfortable margin, finishing 11 points ahead of 2nd placed Bromham and 23 points ahead of 3rd placed Ferndale Rodbourne. They would also reach the 2nd Round of the Wiltshire Junior Cup, beating Wroughton 3-0 before the game was awarded to Wroughton (possibly due to an ineligible player – requires confirmation).
The Reserves top scorer was Matty Minnis (pictured below) on 21 goals, followed by Booker Woodford and Dean Murden on 6. Their biggest win was a 5-0 hammering of Aldbourne Reservee, whilst their heaviest defeat was a 3-0 loss to AFC Stratton Reserves.
For Trowbridge United, they would battle with near neighbours North Bradley and Bradford United for most of the season, ending up in 2nd on goal difference, having tied on points with Bradford United. North Bradley Saints were the class of the TDFL Division 2 that season, winning the league unbeaten, scoring 108 goals and conceding just 20.
Trowbridge United would end the season with 123 goals scored in all competitions, and 59 conceded. Matty Minnis also took the top goal scoring honours, meaning he had an impressive 36 goals in Trowbridge colours for this season – no wonder he went on to play successfully for the 1st team in years to come!
Lee Hayward and Matt Cooper ended the season for United on 11 and 10 goals respectively, whilst Booker Woodford added a further 10 to his tally in Trowbridge colours, taking his tally between the two teams to 16.
The season would end in a return to Step 6 football for the 1st team, plying their trade in the Hellenic League for the first time for 04-05 season, whilst Trowbridge United would also win promotion to the TDFL Division 1 and Trowbridge Town Reserves were also promoted to the Hellenic League Division 2 West.
It was probably the most successful season for Trowbridge Town adult teams and, with The Bees now prioritising a two-team approach to Saturday adults football, plus a Veteran’s team and plans in motion for an U18 Floodlit League Team, and with the main pitch also hosting U15/U16 football when weather conditions allow, it’s unlikely the pitch at Woodmarsh would take a 3rd adults Saturday team without significant investment or a switch to 4G, and so this will likely go down as the most successful season collectively in TTFC history.
