Report by Alastair Muirden. Photo of Chudleigh Athletic Reserves contributed by SDFL
The South Devon Football League continues to buck the trend when it comes to adult Saturday football. It’s fair to say that the SDFL have certainly benefited from the decline of the Plymouth Saturday league, and this summers intake of 11 out of 13 new applicants that were voted into the league by the current member clubs has allowed the competition to open a sixth division for the first time since 2013.
However pleasing it is to welcome new teams into a growing competition, the league management are still faced with challenges to support struggling clubs that lose managers and players during the summer months. It’s certainly a reminder of how fluid football is at grassroots level.
Teams joining the league for the 26/27 season include Watts Blake Bearne U-18s, Buckland Athletic Thirds, Signal Box Frankfort Seconds, Lakeside Athletic Seconds, Windmill U-18s, Tavistock Seconds and Thirds, Tamerton Foliot, Horrabridge Rangers, Ilsington Villa Seconds and Newton Albion.
Teams that have left the competition include Harbertonford, Totnes and Dartington Seconds, South Brent, Teign Village, Watts Blake Bearne First and Windmill First, who have merged with Bere Alston United into the Devon Football League.
The league will operate with 62 teams, which is an increase of five from last season and with the opening of another division, gives more clubs and players the opportunity to win silverware and play in end of season cup finals. Thanks to the amazing support of our sponsors Torbay Clearance Services and the Torquay United community project, the league were able to hold two of last season’s cup finals at Plainmoor and in the process, offer players and club volunteers the chance of a lifetime to experience the occasion of a fixture on the hallowed turf. The league are currently in talks with all stakeholders regarding venues for this season’s cup finals, so watch this space.
In addition to the six divisions, there will be eight cup compititions, one for each division and in the case of the new Division Five, The Bill Treeby trophy will be dusted off and contested for the first time in 14 years. The Fred Hewings Cup is for all reserve teams together with the Herald Cup, which is an open competition and remains the league’s flagship trophy. The first trophy that will be contested is the newly named, Barry Hayward Memorial Charity Shield. This traditional season opener is by invitation and would normally be between the winners of the Premier Division and the winners of the Herald Cup, but as Lakeside Athletic won the double last term, the league management committee have invited the losing Herald Cup finalists Paignton Saints to contest the shield, which will be played on Friday 21st August at Ipplepen Athletic with a 6.45pm kick off.
This well-supported fixture is a great opportunity for both teams to get their hands on some silverware to boost their hopes for the season ahead. The regular league season will kick off on Saturday 5th September.
The league also had their presentation dinner at Dainton Golf Club, where an array of trophies were handed out by the league sponsors and special guests to divisional winners: Lakeside Athletic, Watts Blake Bearne, Signal Box Frankfort, Kingskerswell and Chudleigh Athletic Seconds (pictured). Sporting awards were won by Ilsington Villa, Beesands Rovers, East Allington Utd Seconds and Broadhempston United, who not only won the South Devon league award, they also won the top sporting award for the county. There was also a special award to Tina and Andy Thomas from Kingsbridge and Kellaton United for their long service to South Devon football.
All of the new season’s divisions are available to view on the home page of this website and the South Devon Football League’s full-time webpage.