Promotion straight through Division 3 saw the first team in Division 2 in 1982 and we spent six years at that level - missing out on promotion to Division 1 (no Premier Division in those days!) by the narrowest of margins in 1986 - before being relegated to Division 3 in 1988. A season of consolidation was followed by promotion back to the second division in 1990.

With Tavs stalwart from the early 70s - Clive Bloom - taking over as reserve team manager, a positive change of emphasis towards a youth policy for the second team took place in 1984 and, after a disastrous first half of the 1984/85 season, a dramatic recovery saw the reserve team rise from rock-bottom at Christmas to achieve promotion to Division 7.

A climb to Division 4 status proved short-lived as relegation followed but, throughout the eighties, the reserves were fulfilling a vital role of producing players who went on to play regularly for the first team while, at the same time enjoying their football.

The decade began with the first team using Bourne Park ‘B’ as their home with the reserves at Nacton Stadium. Both venues had Spartan facilities but memories are full of happy days - and classic games on both pitches. An improvement was achieved when the first team moved to Gainsborough Sports Centre and then to Cranes Sports Ground while the reserves followed to Gainsborough after a spell using the somewhat cramped pitch - but, rumour has it, the best showers in town - at the now-demolished Nacton High School (on Landseer Road).

The playing highlights were many…..for the first team that promotion near-miss in 1986 after a fine promotion season four years earlier, two excellent cup runs in 1984/85, a 2-1 extra time over Stow Vandals in a 1985 cup-tie, wins over Loadwell Transport (eventually to move into Saturday football as Ipswich Wanderers) and Belstead Arms in 1986/87 and a record run of five wins in our opening matches in the 1989/90 campaign which led to a return up to Division 2.

And the reserves had their moments too……a massive fight-back to beat Sproughton Wild Man 6-4 in 1981, a dramatic 5-2 win over promotion seeking Kirton United which staved off relegation in the final match of the 1982/83 season, that magnificent second half of the ‘84/85 season which included nine unbeaten outings and was the first of four successive promotion years.

Personal achievements were many…..season 1979/80 saw Louis Newman score 6 goals in a reserve team game against Railway Tavern, while Glen Parker netted his 100th goal for the Club. The following term three more players registered centuries of goals for Taverners, Pat Elvin and Steve Baker - while Steve became the third Tavs player to score a ‘six’ in a reserve game against Bucklesham Wanderers.

1981/82 saw Mick Flude play his 200th game for the Club and in 1983/84 Clive Bloom hit the 250 match mark. A season later, Glen Parker notched up his 250th appearance while only injury interrupted Pat Elvin’s wonderful run of 175 consecutive appearances.

Season 1986/87 gave Trevor Hedges and Colin Dawson the chance to play their 250th games for the Tavs and a year later Pat Elvin made a record 400th appearance which was followed by a celebratory lunch and presentation to mark his achievement.

Martyn O’Leary and Chris Lushington made their 200th appearances for Taverners during 1988/89 and a year later Terry Pilbro made his 250th.

1985 saw the introduction of a ‘250 Club’ lottery which has since been built upon so that it remains a vital source of finance for the Club. Sponsorship was first obtained from ‘Adam & Eve Hairdressers’ and later in the decade from Collier and Catchpole Limited (first team sponsors from 1987 to 1991) and Dales Roofing Supplies, who added their support for the reserves in 1989.

Seasons 1986/87 and 1987/88 saw Taverners enter the national FA Sunday Cup and, on both occasions, we were the only entrants from Suffolk. Although success eluded us, we enjoyed the experience and carried off the staging of two home ties very smoothly.

Taverners entered the eighties wearing green and yellow and from 1982 we turned out in tangerine and black. We then changed to amber and black. We then changed to amber and black and after two seasons the Club’s colours were switched to all blue (with yellow trim). In 1989 yellow shirts (with red hoops) and black shorts were adopted.