Big kick-off for the South Devon Football League

The South Devon Football League, sponsored by Torbay Clearance Services, kicks-off its 121st season on Saturday with its biggest opening day of fixtures in six years.

56 of the 59 competing teams will kick off at 2.30pm, all with hopes and dreams of collecting silverware next May and having some bragging rights during the working week. Ten new teams have bolstered the leagues fortunes and two more Plymouth-based teams in Drake FC and Elburton Villa 3rds join the current teams from the west of the county that have strengthened the competition in recent seasons.

Also moving across from the Devon Football League are Paignton Saints 1st, Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds and Buckland Athletic 2nds, who will all play in Division 1 and will be expecting to gain promotion to the Premier Division in their first season.

Ashburton have reformed following a period of change at the club and will be hoping for promotion from Division 3 alongside a Teign Village outfit that have returned from a season in the Exeter league. The other new teams placed in Division 4 are Liverton United 2nds, South Brent 2nds and Watcombe Wanderers 3rds.

All 10 teams are living proof that football at this level is alive and well, and in particular the South Devon Football League, which became an England FA accredited league last season for the first time in its history, and continues to deliver a well-run competitive football competition that is respected across the south and west of the county.

There are some great fixtures to look out for on opening day. In the Premier Division, last season’s runners-up, Buckfastleigh Rangers, will be looking to go one better this season when they kick off against a very strong Watts Blake Bearne team, who are always good for a top five place.

Another game to catch if you fancy a trip to Plymstock is newly promoted Morley Rangers, who take on the champions Kingsteignton Athletic, this could be a tough opening fixture for the Plymouth lads. Also in the Premier, another newly-promoted team Ilsington Villa welcome East Allington to their Moorland ground.

Last season’s Division 1 champions, Beesands Rovers, travel to Elburton Villa, where they will be looking to continue their unbeaten run from last term against a Plymouth team that just avoided relegation. Newton Abbot 66, who have improved under Ian Clennehan’s stewardship, host Brixham AFC still in search of a manager and Steve Breed takes a new look Waldon Athletic to Chudleigh Athletic.

In Division 1, newly-promoted Totnes and Dartington have the pleasure of playing at Homers Heath against an unknown Buckland Athletic 2nd, who will be looking to start winning some games after life in the pyramid. Also returning from the Devon League are Newton Abbot Spurs 2nds, who travel to Harbertonford.

Watcombe Wanderers, who won Division 2 last season, have the Premier Division in their sights and will be one of the teams to beat, host a well-drilled Babbacombe Corries team. Promoted Brixham Town, who almost stalled last season, face the unpredictable Upton Athletic.

The other game completing the Division 1 fixture list is Paignton Villa, who went close last season, against relegated Ivybridge Town 2nds looking to bounce straight back to the Premier.

Division 2 is also looking like a very competitive league with Paignton Saints 2nds, who played in the Premier last season, having to take two steps back due to the first team returning, and must be hot favourites for promotion, but not to be ruled out are Bovey Tracey 2nds, Waldon Athletic 2nds, Newton Abbot Spurs 3rds, Ipplepen Athletic 2nds and a Barton Athletic team with a number of high profile signings together with a return to playing home games at Barton Downs. Newton Rovers are always difficult to beat at bakers park.

The top game in Division 3 looks like Stoke Gabriel TP against newly-promoted South Brent, Watcombe Wanderers 2nds will be looking to get off to a flyer down in Kingsbridge and Ashburton host Paignton Saints 3rd. Liverton United take on Totnes and Dartington at Halford. The other interesting game is Teign Village hosting Newton Abbot 66 2nds with both teams looking for some consistency to accompany some early points on the board.

Division 4 really is an unknown quantity with five new teams, some of whom have been established in other leagues. Elburton Villa 3rds, Drake FC and Watcombe Wanderers 3rds are last season’s youth teams at the clubs so will be fast, South Brent 2nds are moving over to Saturday from the Plymouth Sunday League. Liverton United 2nds make up the new teams in the division, thanks to Sue and Chris Stephens, who are rebuilding the club after a time in the pyramid.

It is clear that there are lots of great fixtures to be seen every Saturday afternoon and there is no charge, just check the SDL website for details of all the fixtures and go along to support local football.