Preview by Alastair Muirden. Photo of 24/25 Premier Division winners Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves contributed by SDFL
The Torbay Clearance Services South Devon Football League returns for its 123rd season and in a healthier condition than it has been for some time. In fact, you would have to go back to 2016 to find as many teams competing as there are today.
Whilst all of the teams start as equals, there are some clear contenders, and it would not be the South Devon League without some surprises, and it has been noted that there are even a few clubs that have registered ex-professional players to guide them to end of season honours, or in the case of the Premier Division teams, a c.v. to move into the football pyramid.
The league welcomes three new teams, and all three are expected to do well in their divisions. Signal Box Oak Villa were last season’s champions in the Plymouth Saturday League and have had to take a place in Division Two where they may well be favourites but will be tested at Ashburton, Drake and East Allington United. Paignton Saints had a strong season last time out and they will be looking to go one better this year. Ivybridge Town Reserves have suffered two relegations in two seasons and with an experienced management team, they will be looking to have a better season. There are a few local derbies to look out for: Signal Box v Drake, Saints v Villa, Upton v Watcombe.
Galmpton United have reformed their adult team and created a pathway for their under-16 players into senior football. They have been placed into Division Three, and whilst they may have fitness and speed on their side, they will need the guidance of some senior heads, although I seem to remember a famous footballer who once said, “You win nothing with kids“, just before they won the Premier League. The favourites in Division Three are going to be Kingskerswell who won promotion with a 100% record, although second-placed Templer Way will continue to be a difficult team to beat. This division is looking a bit like a group of death with Newton ’66 Reserves, Kingsteignton Athletic Reserves, South Brent, Stoke Gabriel TP, Liverton United Reserves, Totnes and Dartington Reserves and Waldon Seconds all capable of winning games. Galmpton also have a lovely local derby to look forward to at Stoke Gabriel.
Bere Alston United Seconds have joined the SDFL for the first time and just scrape into the 40 mile radius rule. The club want to keep their under-16 team from last season together and offer a pathway into adult football in a safe and controlled environment. They are an unknown quantity but they are sure to be fit young lads. The club’s first team play in the Devon Football League at Step 7 and have excellent facilities to welcome the opposition. The other teams expected to do well in Division Four are Teign Village, who just missed out last term, together with Chudleigh Athletic Seconds, Broadhempston United, Waldon Thirds and their neighbours Barton Athletic Seconds who both have big squads to pick from. There are not so many local derbies in Division Four, but Teign Village v Chudleigh is always worth a drive through the Teign Valley, and Saints Thirds v Villa Thirds is a good one for the Paignton supporters, and Barton Seconds v Waldon Thirds can be interesting at times. Friday night football also returns for Paignton Saints Thirds v Broadhempston United at Coach Road on 19th December under the lights for a special occasion organised by DCFA as Fair Play Friday.
Division One is looking slightly less daunting for most of the teams compared to this time last year with Phoenix (now Lakeside Athletic), True Blues and Windmill all heading into the Premier Division, replaced by Mount Gould and a resurgent Barton Athletic coming up from Division Two, Beesands Rovers and a young Elburton Villa Reserves side who are used to winning games. These should provide the main hurdles for Bovey Tracey Reserves, Buckland Athletic Reserves, Brixham Town, Newton Spurs Thirds, Paignton Villa, Watcombe, WBB and Liverton United who unexpectedly found themselves being placed in this division having finished last season in third place having beaten Mount Gould twice. This division is once again looking very competitive with several local derbies to look forward to: Bovey v Liverton, Elburton v Mount Gould, Buckland v Newton Spurs and Brixham Town v Paignton Villa will all have that extra spice. Division One also has a Friday night game at Coach Road: Paignton Villa v Beesands Rovers on 31st October for a Fair Play Friday league game under the lights.
It has been said that this season’s Premier Division is going to be the strongest competition for many years. It’s interesting that ten of the thirteen teams are already close to having, or already have in place, the ground facilities that would be acceptable for the football pyramid. The first step is the Devon Football League if that’s the course the club wants to take; the next part of the jigsaw is achieving a place on merit which means finishing in the top five of this competition, whilst bearing in mind there are two other leagues (Exeter and North Devon) who have clubs in the same position, and there is one final rule that the Devon Football League can only take two teams from any feeder league, so finishing third may not be good enough.
As I said at the start, every team starts as an equal but as with all the divisions, there are more than a few contenders for the top prize. The current holders of the Premier Division title are Newton Abbot Spurs Seconds, and their new management team will have a job on their hands to retain the title that came their way under circumstances that were out of their control. The team that lost out as a result of those circumstances were the previous champions Ilsington Villa who will be chomping at the bit to get that trophy back to the Carpenters Arms. We then have what I call the backbone of the Premier Division: Buckfastleigh Rangers, East Allington United, Kingsteignton Athletic, Newton Abbot ’66 and Waldon Athletic. These teams have either won it in recent seasons or gone mighty close, and all have a never say die attitude which makes them very difficult to beat. Paignton Saints have gone through massive changes at their club since rejoining the SDFL from DFL, and you have to tip your hat to any club that attracts so many players which only reflects the staggering amount of work that goes on behind the scenes to run three teams. Hopefully they can enjoy next season not looking over their shoulders. Totnes and Dartington had a surprise placement into the top division and started well. They seemed to hit a brick wall with their results once winter set in but managed to steady the ship with a good cup run and some good results that saw them into mid table which the well run club would be delighted with in their first season back in the top division. As I am sure are Chudleigh Athletic who have become the Premier Division’s annual survivors, and that never say die commitment on the pitch has allowed them to retain their status in the top division. Some folk say there must be a curse on teams that have to play at Kate Brook in the latter stages of the season as that’s when Chudleigh normally pick up enough points to end on a high. Be warned.
Then we come to the three promoted teams who are sure to be there or thereabouts come next May. Plymouth Phoenix have changed their name to Lakeside Athletic and now have facilities to match their ability on the pitch. They definitely have ambition to progress so will be looking for nothing less than top two. Windmill FC managed to beat Lakeside twice last season and also have ambitions, so Glynn and his assistants will be looking to guide his pub team back into the DFL. And finally, Plymouth True Blues, who finished as runners up in Division One last term, will be looking to give their fantastic supporters something to sing about as they too could be heading towards the DFL if they can finish in the top two. Both Windmill and True Blues have reserve teams up their sleeves, so the name may not disappear from the SDFL league tables should they end up in the placings they hope for.
Games to catch on opening day: 6th September.
In the Premier Division, Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves have a tough opening game as champions when they face newly promoted Windmill at the Millennium Pitches in Plymouth. Kingsteignton Athletic open at home to Ilsington Villa which is always a classic Premier Division game.
Division One offers Bovey Tracey Reserves v Elburton Villa Reserves; both of these teams are tipped to be there or thereabouts come May, and the moorland team are desperate to get into the Premier Division; there is also an interesting fixture at Watcombe where the first team welcome Mount Gould in what could be a tough start for both.
In Division Two, Harbertonford’s new line up will be on show when they welcome neighbours East Allington United Seconds in a game that should attract a decent crowd, and new boys Signal Box Oak Villa get their first taste of SDL football as they host Watcombe’s Second team to Manadon 3g.
Division Three looks like it could be a tough competition and Galmpton United’s youngsters will need to keep their cool when they face Waldon Athletic Seconds, and Kingskerswell should have a test against a good Kingsteignton Athletic second team at the ‘Kerswell Bowl.
Division Four is a real unknown quantity this season, with new boys Bere Alston United Seconds opening against an experienced Newton Rovers Seconds and Teign Village, who just missed out on promotion last season, having a home tie versus Kingsbridge and Kellaton United.
All games K.O at 2.30pm, and you can view all of the opening day fixtures on the league’s full time website.
Enjoy your new season of grassroots football.