The TQs – What is the secret behind the side with five promotions in six seasons?
In 2020 Andy Trout and a number of the elder players at Longlevens came out of retirement to launch a side who continue to take the Stroud League by storm.
Dubbed The TQs (Tequila Quntos) by those at the club, Lonnglevens 5ths secured the Stroud League Division Three South title to go alongside four more league titles and three cups they have lifted in their six seasons as a side, including winning both their respective League and County cups for their level.
Trout has been there as Player Manager along the way and praised his side for proving that age is just a number in another tough season – especially after suffering an opening day defeat.
“Well what can I say mate, The TQ’s have pulled it off again!” Laughed Trout. “I must say going in to this season I maybe tempered expectations slightly going in to what appeared to be a very competitive Stroud Three South, with the likes of Rodborough now only having the one side and Frampton always with a healthy squad.
Losing the first game of the season at home to Frampton 3-0 was a bit of a reality check – until we checked team sheets! Tough for old boys like us to take on County League level players, so a bit of perspective was gained.
From then on we found our stride and the wins began to flow, going 14 unbeaten in the league.
Every game was tough, it always is when you have lads in their late 40s – oh, by the way, Adidas need to make suitable adjustments for shirts sizes!
But the experience inevitably seems to get us over the line in the end and credit to all the lads as it went to the wire in the league with Rodborough and Uley pushing us all the way up until the last game of the season – which shows how tough a division it was in the end,” Trout added.
Longlevens 5ths continue to surpass all expectations and after climbing the ranks of the Stroud League, they played this season at the same level as the club’s 4ths team – who played in Division 4 North this campaign.
The TQs look set to potentially make the leap into Division Two due to the likely reshuffle being caused by movement above, in particular for the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League.
But knowing that his side may go up against younger teams, Trout admits he doesn’t know how his players will handle the higher level, but is hoping that they will all stay together, even if a couple of players have dropped retirement hints – although Trout is eyeing up new and young recruits…
“We are under no illusions that with the inevitable league restructure, we may be entering the dizzy heights of Stroud Two, and will this be a bridge too far if it comes to fruition? I really don’t know in all honesty.
The average age of the squad is now 41, so I’m looking to bring through the youth with rumours afloat the likes of Gary Ash (39) and Adam Hughes (37) are keen to return to the fold after significant hiatuses.
Surprisingly, only two have indicated retirement but with ‘Old safe hands’ Gary Pocock already reversing his decision all that remains is for Philip Webb to see the error of his ways and realise Saturdays are for football, not clay pigeon shooting,” said Trout.
Off the back of last season’s league win in Stroud Four all of the talk after was “just one more” with two or three claiming they were done, but they magically made U-turns in pre-season and come August they realised they’ve had enough of their kids and shopping at Cribbs Causeway with the other half on a Saturday afternoon.
We are very lucky that the lads are still so enthusiastic and I’ve never worried about getting numbers for the season ahead, we added one or two, who had typically came back from five or six years of being retired and Rich Workman continued as skipper into his 65th senior season in local football,” Trout added.
During their first six seasons, The TQs have been locked in title and promotion battles with the likes of Boss FC and Rising Stars, as well as beating sides like Gloster Rovers in cup finals and continue to defy the hands of time and claiming silverware consistently.
So what is the secret? Whilst Trout admits he doesn’t know what it is, but by giving older players the chance to play competitively and enjoy being on the football pitch seems to be a working formula for his side.
“I guess there is no secret to our success over the past six seasons,” Trout admitted. “What started as a chance for lads that have retired to still lace up now and again and enjoy a competitive kick around with their mates (I use that term loosely), quickly turned in to five league titles, three cups and five promotions, something I don’t think any of us expected when we came out of retirement!
What I will say is that I have had the pleasure of managing a bunch of old boys that still love the game, still moan at each other, still go in the clubhouse after every game or in the local pub on those Stroud away days and still turn up week in week out.
The game has changed considerably in recent years, particularly locally and we are seeing less and less of the youngsters wanting to play week in week out and choosing work and holidays over football.
Having a beer in the club and being around teammates seems seldom when we visit many away grounds, but on a Saturday, it hasn’t changed for our lot and maybe it’s a generational thing, but consistency and turning up week in week out and committing to a side shows that it pays off,” Trout said.
Now with Trout and his side enjoying the close season, they wait to seen which division they will end up in and whilst it remains to be see how far Trout and his TQs can go, he simply said:
“We’ll give it another go next season and as long as the lads keep enjoying it, I’ll keep turning up. “Play as long as you can” as my old Dad used to say.” Hear, Hear.
Cover photo courtesy of Longlevens AFC
