Tivvy bid fond farewell to ‘legend’ Rogers

By Jon Couch

LEGEND: Martyn Rogers

TIVERTON Town have paid tribute to “living legend” Martyn Rogers after parting company with their long-standing boss.

The Southern League Premier South club opted to dispense with the 68-year-old following a disappointing start to the season with the club one place off the league’s relegation places and having been knocked out of the FA Trophy last Saturday.

In doing so, the Yellows ended one of Non-League’s longest manager associations with Rogers in his third spell in charge of the Devon club, spanning 31 years.

After a playing career that included more than 150 games, mainly for Weymouth and Exeter City, Rogers was appointed player-manager Tiverton in 1992 and he remained as manager until May 2010, taking charge of more than 1,000 games on the touchline.

In that time, he guided the club to three Wembley finals and two FA Vase wins, as well as promotion to the Southern League.

Coaching spells at Weymouth and Taunton Town, plus a stint at Devon FA as commercial manager, split his three separate spells at Tivvy, the second of which he shared briefly with nephew Scott before he moved to Westonsuper- Mare.

“Martyn is a living Ladysmead legend, and rightly so,” Yellows chairman Michael Dunford said.

“What he has achieved for Tiverton Town, on the pitch and off it, is immeasurable and the executive committee heads generations of Yellows who are beyond grateful for his management of the club.

“After meeting with the Executive Committee, we agreed that the best interests of the club would be served by a change to the management structure.

“Whoever takes over as our new first-team manager can build on the foundations that Martyn has laid, bringing their own fresh ideas and a new vision to supplement what is already in place.”

Rogers’ former assistant Richard Pears took over team affairs for yesterday’s league visit of Walton & Hersham.