Truro City

Early years

In 1889 Truro City became one of the founding members of the Cornwall County Football Association (CCFA). Later in 1889, they played their first game at Truro School against Penzance, winning 7–1. They then switched to Tolgarrick for their future games. Six years later in 1895, they won their first silverware, the Cornwall Senior Cup, beating Launceston 5–0.

In the 1930s Truro left Cornish football for a time, joining the Plymouth and District League, which they went on to win in 1936–37. However, as a result of this switch, they were barred from competing the Cornwall Senior Cup, although were later re-admitted in 1938.

Truro were founding members of the South Western League in 1951, but stumbled in the initial years, requiring re-election in both of their first two seasons to remain in the league and were also forced to drop down to the Cornwall Combination league between 1975 and 1978 after losing their home ground due to road widening. After returning to the South Western League in 1978, the club required a further two re-elections in 1982 and 1983 to remain in the league. However they did enjoy some success during their time in the South Western League, going on to win five championships, including a notable successful period throughout the 1990s, winning titles in 1992–93, 1995–96 and most recently in 1997–98.

The 2000s

At the start of the new millennium, the club entered a period of decline, both on and off the pitch, with mounting financial issues and stagnating performances which saw them finish amongst the bottom clubs of the South Western League for several consecutive seasons. City's fortunes changed in 2004 when the club was purchased by a local property developer, Kevin Heaney. The new ownership immediately cleared all debts and set their sights on propelling Truro up the non-league pyramid and establishing them as the first professional Cornish-based football team in the National Football Conference.

In the 2005–06 season, they finished runners-up in the South Western League and were promoted to the Western League Division One for the first time in their history, and went on to become champions at the first attempt with an impressive season record of 37 wins, 4 draws and only 1 loss. City also enjoyed a successful run in the 2006–07 FA Vase competition, beating AFC Totton 3–1 in the final and becoming the first Cornish football club to win a national trophy. The final was notable as only the second match to be held at the newly constructed Wembley Stadium and took place in front of an FA Vase record crowd of 36,232 fans.

In their first season in the Western League Premier Division, Truro gained promotion to the Southern League at the first attempt, and became the first Cornish side ever to play in the Southern League, only three promotions from the Football League. They were faced with the longest travelling mileage of any club at their level due to the prevalence of Wiltshire-based clubs in the Western League.

Towards the end of the 2007–08 season, chairman Kevin Heaney issued a statement reversing an earlier decision to turn the club fully professional for the following season, which led to the resignation of boss Dave Leonard. For the remainder of the season, Director of Football Chris Webb took charge, assisted by former boss Dave Newton.

Heaney owned a housing company and despite a slump in the housing market, the club were able to attract many players on higher wages from higher leagues. Heaney had stated he believed that long term, due to the large population catchment area, that Truro City could support a Football League Two club, but he also stated that he was looking to sell the club before they achieve this level. Despite his housing company having gone into liquidation owing £4.5m, he categorically denied claims that his money was drying up and said that he would continue to fund the club's success.

In May 2008 former Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City striker Sean McCarthy was appointed the new Truro manager and the club appointed Dave Newton as his assistant. On 7 December 2009, McCarthy left the club by mutual consent following a 7–2 away defeat to Stourbridge. On 22 December 2009 Truro signed Mangotsfield United midfielder Kyle Tooze, for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of £5,000. On 29 December 2009 Steven Thompson was announced as the new manager with immediate effect, but on 29 March 2010 he left the club by mutual consent after only winning five out of his 18 games in charge, with the chance of reaching the play-offs unrealistic.

Promotion to the sixth tier

Lee Hodges was appointed as Thompson's replacement, and had a successful first season in charge as on 23 April 2011, Truro were promoted as champions of the Southern League to the Conference South for the 2011–12 season with one league game remaining after a 3–0 win at Banbury United.

In 2011–12, Truro finished in a respectable 14th place in their first ever season in the Conference South, but financial troubles were to follow.