East Allington United (in red) reached the semi-finals of the Manor Building Company Premier Division Cup last season where they lost out 3-2 to hosts Watts Blake Bearne. ©MiraclePR.com
East Allington United manager Luke Harvey, whose first season in charge of the Pirates was disrupted by the virus, will be looking to kick off the new season with a morale-boosting piece of silverware in Friday evening’s Charity Shield match against fellow South Hams outfit Meadowbrook Athletic.
“It sets you up with a positive note to the start of the season. It almost sends a message of what we’re aiming to do this season, which is to win things,” he said. “We’ve got some new players coming in so for them to win something straight off the bat and go into the new season in a confident mood would be fantastic. I want to see a good manner of performance with a lot of effort and a lot of fight.
“Pre-season has been pretty good. I’ve been quite impressed with the lads. We beat Liverton, who play at Step Seven, 3-1 which I was very impressed with, the manner of the display more than anything. Generally, it’s just been getting fitness back and fine-tuning things ready for the season.
The social side of our club is like no other I’ve ever been at. It’s a positive changing room which bodes well for the future
Luke Harvey, First Team Manager
“We’ve got some new additions to the squad and Josh Pascoe, having been away with Dartmouth, has decided to come back to us. He’s a great addition, a real ball-playing midfielder who complements the other midfielders. It’s given us a different dynamic.
“We’ve got a good front three with good forward options from the bench. Any additions to the team are always welcome though.
“We have some big characters: Dan Bowles, Finley Bullen, Josh Pascoe, Josef Sita; they’re all experienced footballers, help the younger ones and bring a good vibe and fun side to things in the dressing room. The social side of our club is like no other I’ve ever been at. It’s a positive changing room which bodes well for the future.”
Regular followers of East Allington United will however notice the absence of one big character – goalkeeper Richard Teague.
“Sadly, Richard has had to step away from football for a little bit,” said Harvey. “He’s a huge character but we’ve got a 16 year old ‘keeper called Sam Perry coming through who is a very promising young player.”
The first league game of the season takes place this Saturday, a Premier Division clash between Ivybridge Town Reserves and Buckfastleigh Rangers at Erme Park. The rest of the teams kick off the following Saturday (4th September), with East Allington drawn away to Barton Athletic.
“It is a good competitive league so there are no easy teams now,” said Harvey. “Barton will be no different to any other team so we will show the same attitude that we go into every game. We’re looking to win and play well and do the best we can against every team. Hopefully, come the end of the season we will be right up there.
“There are a lot of good teams in the league. The Windmill are no slouches and WBB are a good, well-drilled outfit. If we can win it, that would be outstanding and that’s what we will aim to do but I would be happy with anything in the top three.”
Harvey was also keen to point out that East Allington was like a family rather than just a football club.
“You ask anybody involved with the club,” he said. “The reserve team root for the first team, the first team root for the reserves and help out when they can. The fans are all local people, love the club and have been around for years. Geraldine, Martin and Andy Weeks, what they’ve done for the running of the club is second to none. We wouldn’t be the club we are without what they do.”
Come back tomorrow for the final part of the Charity Shield build-up – an interview with Meadowbrook Athletic manager Phil Collings.
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