🏁 FULL TIME – WE DID IT!

Football Lodge South West No. 10063 has officially kicked off!

The final whistle’s blown. The collars are off. The gavels have had their debut. And the celebrations are still echoing around Plainmoor Stadium.

Today wasn’t just a meeting—it was a matchday we’ll never forget. With passion in our hearts, pride in our team, and a fair few pre-ritual butterflies, Football Lodge South West stepped into the world of Freemasonry in style.

⚽ A Class Act from the First Whistle

The squad lined up. The supporters took their seats. And under the confident leadership of W.Bro. Craig “Coxy” Cox, the first Worshipful Master, this Lodge came to life.

Coxy got the formation spot-on. From Bowes-Cavanagh and Southcott providing strength in midfield, to Hipwell and Liddle pulling strings in the background, and the creative influence of “Loco” Hodson-Whittle setting the tempo—it was total Lodge football from the first whistle.

And what a debut:

• A packed ceremony delivered with energy, grace, and just the right amount of added time

• A squad of 31 proud Founders

• 20 joining members already registered

• 3 Initiates signed and ready for September

• And a team spirit that would make Sir Alf himself nod with pride

📘 The Programme You’ll Want to Keep

Today’s Consecration Brochure was no ordinary piece of paper. Its “striking’ design by W.Bro. ‘Loco’ brought the passion of Football and the Craft together within the first minutes of the game and was brought to life, taking us through the match play with the layout Inside – A blend of Masonic precision, football heritage, humour, history and heartfelt thanks. All under the creative eye of his wife, Eusella

A true keepsake from the day the dream kicked off.

📖 Tales Worth Telling

Some moments deserve their own match highlights, and today, there were many:

• ⚒️ The hand-turned Adidas Predator-style gavels, crafted and gifted by W.Bro. Keith Vallance, are one of the most distinctive pieces of Lodge furniture we’ve ever seen. A boot striking a ball every time a gavel is used? Yes please.

• 🥾 The Adam Lallana England boots, donated by our good friend and mentor W.Bro. David Lallana. Worn in 34 internationals and now proudly part of our Lodge legacy.

• 🧵 The stunning Lodge tie, featuring subtle squares, a bold crest, and symbolism woven into every stitch, with the squad allowed to wear it with pride at their next fixture in September. 

• 🎯 20 joining members already lining up for a place in the team, and 3 initiates signed and ready to make their debuts in September. The first fixture in Teignmouth? Already shaping up to be another all-ticket match.

• 🏟️ And the ever-infectious spirit of our Mother Lodge, Football Lodge No. 9921, consecrated on this very date back in 2014, whose support, guidance and energy have helped us get over the line and into the league.

🙌 Applause All Round

We owe thanks to so many—each one part of this remarkable day:

• To R.W.Bro. Nicholas Ball, our PGM and inspirational Chairman

• To the Devonshire Provincial team for delivering a faultless ceremony

• To W.Bro. Keith Williams for calling the plays with precision

• To Torquay United FC for giving us the perfect stage

• To every Founder, visitor and supporter—you made this happen

🎟️ The Draw Is Live – Let’s Keep Playing

Our work off the pitch starts now too. The Balls for Schools charity draw is LIVE!

🎯 Win signed, framed Torquay United home and away shirts
🎯 Help us get footballs into 888+ primary schools across the South West
🎯 Support grassroots joy, play and teamwork

👉 Get your ticket now: footballlodgesw.org.uk

So there it is. The first match is played. The Lodge is open. The dream is real.
This team is just getting started—and there’s room in the squad for you too.

Football Lodge South West No. 10063
💛🖤 Brotherhood. Banter. The Beautiful Game.

Let’s play on.

⚽ Consecration Day Has Arrived

🏟️ IT’S MATCHDAY!

📅 Date: Wednesday 4th June 2025
⏰ Kick-Off: 14:00
📍 Venue: Plainmoor Stadium, Torquay United FC

The dressing room is buzzing. The ties are straight. The ritual books are warm. And the dream… is real.

Today, the flag goes up. The whistle blows. And the first ball is kicked as Football Lodge South West No. 10063 takes to the field for the very first time.

After months of formation chats, team huddles, rehearsal drills, badge designs, tie tweaks, and ceremonial match fitness, we are ready. The boots may be metaphorical—but the pride is absolutely real.

⚽ The Line-Up

W.Bro Craig “Manager” Cox leads us out as Worshipful Master—visionary, motivator, and the man who’s worn out more phone batteries than a transfer deadline day agent.

And behind the scenes?
A superb bench of founders on the Steering Committee, and a Provincial DC who’s rewritten the ceremonial running order more times than a VAR official on double time.

🧤 Province – The Twelfth Man

To our own Devonshire Provincial team—you’ve been our scouts, our coaches, our cheerleaders and our compass. Without your support, encouragement, and perfectly timed nudges, today would still be nothing more than a scribble on a fixture planner.

🫱 Must Thank Our Mother

As corny as it may sound, a huge thank you goes to our Mother Lodge, Football Lodge No. 9921, consecrated on this very date back in 2016. Your legacy made today possible. And now, eleven years to the day, the next generation kicks off—boots laced, heads high.

🎉 Festive Board – Full-Time Celebrations

Post-match analysis will take place at Torquay United FC’s hospitality suite, complete with full catering, plenty of cheer, questionable jokes, and quite possibly one Brother trying to organise a penalty shoot-out with the coffee cups.

This is it.
History in the making.
A new Lodge, founded on Brotherhood, Banter, and the Beautiful Game.

Football Lodge South West No. 10063 walks onto the pitch today with pride, passion—and no small amount of tactical rehearsal.

So lace up. Straighten that tie. And walk tall.

It’s time to play.
💛⚫

🎟️ The Balls for Schools Prize Draw Is LIVE!

As the Lodge kicks off, so does our biggest team effort off the pitch…

The Balls for Schools 12-Month Prize Draw is now OPEN!
You can now purchase your entry tickets online at footballlodgesw.org.uk and be in with a chance to win a pair of signed, framed Torquay United home and away shirts! ⚽⚽

But this isn’t just about prizes—it’s about putting real footballs into real schools across the South West. Every ticket helps us give young players the kit they need to play, train and dream.

🎯 How to Get Involved:

• Head to footballlodgesw.org.uk

• Buy your entry ticket (or go for a 12-month season pass!)

• Share the link and rally your teammates

Whether you’re a Brother, a football fan, or just someone who wants to back a brilliant grassroots cause, now’s the time to get on the scoresheet.

Let’s get the ball rolling—literally.

👉 Buy now. Share it wide. Let’s make an impact together.

⚽ 5 Weeks to Go – The Squad’s Warming Up and Kick-Off Time Is Confirmed! 

With just 5 weeks to go until the Consecration of Football Lodge South West No. 10063, the energy is rising, the fixtures are firming up, and the excitement in the dressing room (and WhatsApp groups) is undeniable.

First up — a quick fixture update:
📅 Consecration now kicks off at 14:00, not 14:30. A slight tweak to the clock, but every minute counts when the eyes of the Province are on you!

Behind the scenes, we owe a huge thank you to the Devonshire Provincial Executive team, who’ve been working closely with our Steering Committee to make sure this match-day is flawlessly delivered. From ritual rehearsals to regalia logistics, their support has been top-tier — a proper dream team in the dugout.

And while we’re talking teamwork, we must also thank the Commercial Team at Torquay United. Their support has gone well beyond the terraces — and thanks to them, we’re proud to announce…

🎁 Our Signed Shirt Prize Draw! 

We’re giving you the chance to win not one, but TWO shirts in this incredible prize:
🟡 A signed & framed Torquay United Home Shirt
⚪ A signed & framed Torquay United Away Shirt

Both have been generously donated to help us raise funds for our Lodge’s first major charitable initiative, see below.. The draw will run for a full year and be drawn online at our first Installation Night – June 2026.
📲 Masons can enter the draw  via our website from the 14th May 2025

It’s a chance to support something special – and possibly walk away with a piece of footballing history!

⚽ A Quick Nod to the Cause…

We’ll share more soon, but here’s a little teaser:
Balls for Schools – our ambitious plan to supply footballs to every primary school across Devon, Cornwall, and Somerset – is picking up pace.
With 888 schools in our sights, we’re laying the groundwork for something that could make a real difference to children across the region.

Stay tuned – and stay ready.

Five weeks out… kits are prepped, the pitch is marked, and the Lodge is nearly ready to take to the field.

Fraternally (and footballishly) yours,
Football Lodge South West No. 10063

6 Weeks to Go – Final Preparations Before Kick-Off!

The tunnel’s in sight, the kits are ironed, and the team talk is nearly over — because in just 6 weeks, Football Lodge South West No. 10063 will walk out for its biggest match yet: Consecration Day.

This Lodge was never going to be one built on slow passing and safe decisions. No, this has been total football from day one with bold ideas, high energy, and the occasional tactical switch, Zoom to Microsoft Teams, a move akin to getting promoted from League One to the Championship. Crisper audio, smoother transitions, and far fewer accidental mute mishaps. A VAR-level improvement when he got his speakers plugged in!.  But none of it would have happened without the original playmaker himself: W.Bro Craig Cox.

Craig didn’t just have a vision he had the guts to lace up and drive it forward from the halfway line. His passion, perseverance, and commitment to both Freemasonry and the beautiful game have been the backbone of this project. If this were a testimonial match, he’d already have his name chanted from the stands.

Behind the scenes, the steering committee have been nothing short of heroic. They’ve marshalled the defence, bossed the midfield, and kept everything ticking behind the scenes like seasoned pros. The whole squad of Founders deserve a standing ovation – working tirelessly to make sure we’re not just ready for the big day, but worthy of it.

And let’s talk about our secret weapons: the custom-made football boot gavels. Yes, you read that right. Beautifully hand-crafted by W.Bro Keith Vallance and completely unique, they’re a tribute to the spirit of this Lodge — classic craftsmanship with a touch of flair. Think of them as the golden boots of the Worshipful Master.

So, with 7 weeks left on the clock, the atmosphere’s building. The pitch is nearly ready, the banners are going up, but even with all our prep, we’d be nowhere without the tactical nous of our Provincial DC, W.Bro Keith Williams, and his elite coaching staff.

If Consecration Day is the Cup Final, then Keith is our Pep, Klopp, and Sir Alex all rolled into one — calm under pressure and cool under the collar. Working tirelessly behind the scenes diagramming plays, rehearsing set-pieces, and making sure every brother is in the right place at the right time (and facing the right way).

Choreographing a Masonic Consecration is no Sunday League warm-up. It’s a high-stakes, high-precision affair. A Champions League final and a West End musical, part theatre, part ritual, part magic with aprons instead of arias. Yet under the steady hand of our Provincial DC, everything is coming together beautifully. He’s part tactician, part diplomat, and part magician. If anything goes wrong on the day, we’ll know it definitely wasn’t in his game plan.

His calm leadership, attention to detail, and uncanny ability to make the complex (Masonic cats and football fans rolled into one) look effortless. We’re incredibly lucky to have someone at the helm who handles the pressure like a true gaffer, clipboard in hand, eyes on the field, and probably a set of cards and a whistle somewhere in his pocket just in case.

And while we’re on the subject of match day line-ups, allow us to introduce our Primus Team Sheet the Founding Officers of Football Lodge South West No. 10063, taking to the field in full regalia:

• Team Manager – WM: W.Bro Craig Cox
• Forwards – SW & JW: W.Bro M Bowes-Cavanagh & W.Bro I Southcott
• HQ Liaison Officer – Chaplain: W.Bro B Page
• CFO – Treasurer: W.Bro W Liddle
• CEO – Secretary: W.Bro J Hipwell
• Match Referee – DC: W.Bro L Taylor
• Assistant Ref’ – ADC: W.Bro R Govier
• Medical – Almoner: W.Bro D Bennett
• Community Liaison Officer – Charity Steward: W.Bro G Richards
• Chief Scout – Membership Officer: W.Bro J Turner
• Welfare Officer – Mentor: W.Bro N Ware
• Midfield – SD & JD: Bro J Chalk & Bro M Haworth
• Central Defender – IG : Bro C Jones
• Goal Keeper – Tyler:  W.Bro A Bolton
• Deputy CEO & Programme Editor – Asst. Sec.: W.Bro D Hodson-Whittle
• Stadium Manager & Safety Officer – Senior Steward: W.Bro C Sidwell 
• Stadium Security – Steward Bro R Sadiq
• VAR – IPM: W.Bro Charlie Yelland

With a squad like that, led by a man with a game plan and a gleam in his eye, we know we’re set for something unforgettable and because every great team needs someone keeping an eye on the bigger picture, preferably with access to slow-motion replays and a healthy sense of humour. With Charlie as our VAR, we know any close calls will be reviewed with the wisdom of experience, a slight eye roll but no tut will ever be heard.

Six weeks and counting, get your boots polished, let’s bring it home. – Lodge 10063 is about to kick off in style.

Fraternally and footballishly yours,
Football Lodge South West No. 10063

What has happened so far?

A small and dedicated team has been working in the background, setting up the proposal and building a group of Founding Members to petition the United Grand Lodge of England for the consecration of Football Lodge South West.

A small contingent headed to Football Lodge 9921 on May 22, 2024, in Botley and proposed that the new lodge be formed with their blessing as a Daughter Lodge to 9921.

The proposal was enthusiastically met and notably backed by the Worshipful Master and the present APGM of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

4th June 2024

Founding Member registration has now closed. But if you’re interested in the unique blend of Masonry and Football, we’d like to invite you to consider becoming a joining member or Candidate for Initiation within the new lodge.

The core team in place will continue to work on the Petition and will be heading to Football Lodge 9921 on July 17, where the proposal will be voted on, and it is hoped the first signatures will be added to the petition.

Rest assured, the team will continue to drive this project forward and will contact registered parties directly when necessary.  We will maintain and update details on this page as and when needed, so please use this as your first reference point.

9th October 2024

It is now official that the MW Grand Master has approved our request for a warrant as Football Lodge South West. Our Lodge Number is 10063.

The Logo has been updated and sent to UGLE for approval for use within the Lodge. 

15th October 2024

Now, the planning starts for the consecration. We are looking for genuine interest from those who wish to attend. 

Nothing specific is agreed for a start time, but it will be the afternoon of June 4th, 2025. A Festive Board at Torquay United will follow the consecration.