The new decade began with a particularly difficult season (2010/11) which saw the first team relegated from the ISFL Premier Divisions and the reserves slip out of Division RM2.

In addition, our visit to Holbrook near the end of the season saw Gary Pilkington fall ill during the match; a serious problem which put football into proper perspective but from which, we are delighted to say, ‘Pilky’ fully recovered.

There were bright spots: Tom Brooks played his 200th game for the Club and James Bullamore his 400th while Trevor Hollinsworth scored his 200th Taverners goal.

We began the 2011/12 season in a superb all-yellow kit but were rarely able to make much impact on the field as the ‘numbers problem’ began to present real difficulties and this was to be a feature from then on.

In 1012/13 our playing strengths were such that just a few of our better players being injured or unavailable meant that the teams we were fielding were just unable to compete properly and both our sides suffered some heavy defeats; scores which only a few years ago would have seemed unthinkable.

The first team finished lower middle in the MB1 Division while the reserves were second bottom of RM4.

Of course, there were highlights: Paul Ryan made a playing comeback, after several years, and immediately collected a trophy for his 200th appearance; he had sat on 199 for several years!

Matt Davis and Julien Holmes also each played their 200th games for the club while Duncan Southgate and Trevor Hollinsworth made it to 400 and Daren Stevens to 600.

In addition, Trevor overtook Gary Cunningham as leading goalscorer for the Tavs.

On the pitch, two 5-2 victories stood out – one against Bucklesham Wanderers, the other against Chelmondiston.

The first team won the MB1 Divisional Fairplay Trophy.

Player-shortages continued to plague us into 2013/14 as the first team struggled through on their worst-ever seasons.

We didn’t register a win until the second-last match – a 3-1 win over Ipswich Postals although two draws with Real Orford had produced decent performances.

The reserves also struggled but then ironically came within a whisker of winning the Minor Cup!

A dreadful incident in the semi-final saw Suffolk Punch ejected from the competition and the Tavs reserves faced Briarbank in the final. A goal from Trevor Hollinsworth looked as if it would win the trophy until Briarbank equalised in the last minutes and went on to win in extra time.

Daren Stevens played his 600th game for the club.

The 2014/15 season saw the introduction of winter and spring leagues and this had the result of Taverners 1st team playing Bucklesham Wanderers no less than five times (including one cup game)!

We managed to beat Bucklesham – a strong side – once, in what was probably our best display.

Before one of the Bucklesham games, both teams featured in a World War 1 commemorative photo to mark the 100th anniversary of the start of the conflict.

The season saw Gary Pilkington play his 400th game for the club.

The first team had an up and down season in 2015/16. We began with four defeats but then a draw against The Feathers – fighting back from 2-0 down – and a win over EE Old Boys saw the team enjoy a good mid-season.

The lift in our fortunes came as a result of a welcome influx of new young players who brought with them great enthusiasm and, for a while, we looked as if we would turn the season right round. This was not to be as we rather tailed off with some indifferent performances and results.

The reserve team continued to find things tough and it was to Trevor Hollinsworth’s credit that his resilience rubbed off on the rest of the team. A highlight was Paul Strutt playing his 200th game for the Club.

And all of a sudden, Taverners Football Club’s 50th season was upon us!

We had the boost of Clive Bloom and Glen Parker – stalwart Tavs over many years – committing themselves to arranging a Celebration Evening at the end of the season; no easy task!

Trev organised anniversary polos, sweatshirts and hoodies which were well received:

All bore the motto: Ex Familia Victoria – Through family comes victory......which we hope symbolises the ‘Tavs spirit.’

A new kit also had the badge and both teams were resplendent in a combination of maroon – worn many times over the years – and gold which was the Club’s colours when we joined the Gippeswyk Sunday League in 1967.

On the field, the first team began well – a win over AFC Wellington in the Sunday Shield and a draw against high-flyers Raydon Ravens representing outstanding performances. However, the old ‘numbers problem’ hit us again and our results suffered badly. We recovered ourselves to sneak into the upper part of the MB2 ‘Spring League’ but, just when we looked poised to produce something special, our form dipped.

We had a good run in the Junior Cup, bowing out to Raydon Ravens in the quarter final; we played this outstanding side five times during the season!

Our reserve team certainly had a better season, managing three victories and showing great spirit throughout. Wins over AFC Claydon by 4-3 and The Feathers 3-1 were the highlights.

Two big milestones were reached during the season: Trevor Hollinsworth playing his 500th game for the Club and Bevan Burgess his 700th. Bev is now hard-on-the-heels of record holder Pat Elvin.