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Good Afternoon All.
Hope you are all staying safe and looking forward to a different kind of Christmas. Whoever said that it would all end in Tiers could not spell very well !!!
I wanted to update our member clubs on what progress has been made and the current situation at the Christmas break.
COVID. Since the start of the TCS SDFL season we have had 11 positive tests from players or officials and two players have had to isolate through being in contact with a person who tested positive.
As a result of this, 31 games have been postponed but the good news is that all concerned have made a full recovery.
LEAGUE SEASON. As last season had to be curtailed due to COVID, the Committee put a restructure to member clubs which was agreed at the AGM. We were able to do this as we had nine new applications for membership which allowed us to put some clubs into respective divisions to create competition across the league.
A number of people have told me that we have the most competitive Premier Division that we have had for years and if you look at the results for 5th December you will see that there were only six games played but in two of them a team in the bottom three beat a team in the top three. That’s competition.
THE FUTURE. In the current climate, we can only do what we are allowed to do and we are further forward than most other leagues.
We have 22 playing Saturdays left plus light evenings for seven weeks after the clocks change so you can check how your own club sits with games but here are some examples:
Premier. Broadmeadow have 18 games to play. That means four spare Saturdays with no mid-weeks.
Barton Athletic have 23 games to play. That means no spare Saturdays and one mid-week at the moment.
Div One. Upton Athletic have 12 games to play. That means ten free Saturdays and no mid-weeks (they could be on the beach by Easter).
Kingsteinton Athletic / ‘Kerswell and Chelston/ Harbertonford and Waldon Athletic have 16 games to play. That means six free Saturdays and no mid-weeks.
Div Two. Ilsington Villa have 14 games to play. That means eight free Saturdays and no mid-weeks.
Torbay Police 2nds have 18 games to play. That means four free Saturdays and no mid-weeks.
Div Three. Six teams have 19 games to play. That’s only three free Saturdays and WBB 2nds have 23 games still to play so mid-weeks will be needed at Abbrook Park.
The Management Committee have decided to delay a decision on our cup competitions until March as there is no point starting them sooner in case we are forced into another lockdown and we feel it’s more important to concentrate on the league games. I would also say that we have not forgotten the clubs that are still in last season’s competition.
I also want to wish good luck to our teams that have decided to enter the County cups that start on 2nd January.
That just leaves me to wish you and your families a very happy Christmas and a safe new year and thank you for what you do for your club (I am wishing for a vaccine jab and a dry winter)
Stay Safe
Alastair Muirden
Secretary – South Devon Football League