The Final Push: How the season is shaping up for Devon football clubs

This is it, the final knockings of a long football season, and the situation ranges from promotion prospects to relegation fears for Devon football clubs.

We take a look at the full picture from Devon Football League upwards.

On the professional scene, Plymouth Argyle are in the most perilous position. After just clinging on to their Championship status at the end of last season, the Pilgrims shocked the football world by appointing England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney as their new boss last summer.

After a sluggish start, there were signs of hope in the autumn but Argyle slumped badly from November onwards. Although severely hampered by injuries, the pattern of heavy defeats ultimately led to Rooney’s departure at Christmas.

It was an outcome that brought great sadness to the Green Army, as Rooney, despite the disappointing results, had endeared himself to everyone at the club with his honest and humble approach.

The Argyle Board sprung another surprise with their next appointment, turning to former Cercle Brugge manager Miron Muslic. One of his first tasks was to lead the Greens to an incredible FA Cup win over Liverpool, and a strong showing at Manchester City in the next round.

In the league, however, the situation remains extremely difficult. Argyle are six points from safety with seven games left, and two of their home fixtures are against the leading duo of Leeds and Sheffield United.

It is not impossible, and any team that can beat Liverpool is capable of producing the spectacular. We are not yet in the miracle category but pulling off this escape would go down in Home Park history.

In Sky Bet League One, Exeter City were in serious danger of slipping into a relegation scrap of their own after a dismal run that failed to yield any victories between Boxing Day and the middle of March.

Fortunately, Gary Caldwell’s Grecians had given their season a steady platform with an inspired start to the campaign that had City punching at the top end of the table. Points were on the board and that has ultimately proven decisive.

Draws with Northampton and Reading steadied the ship at the start of March, and City followed that with wins over Shrewsbury and Mansfield. Although the six-game unbeaten run was ended by title-chasing Wrexham over the weekend, Exeter are nine points clear of trouble with eight games left.

Their current tally of 45 points would have been enough to stay up last season and there are plenty more points to play for, and, like Argyle, City can take away some fine FA Cup memories from this campaign, defeating Championship side Oxford before taking Premier League high-fliers Nottingham Forest to penalties on a dramatic night at St James Park.

When it comes to pure drama and tension, the National League South is an absolute treat, and Torquay United are one of six clubs within seven points of the lead with five games left to play.

Worthing have a three-point lead at the top on 80 points, but the Gulls join Dorking and Truro on a group with 77 points. Eastbourne and Maidstone are the other two sides with a chance of taking the one automatic promotion slot.

In this division, the six teams below the leaders go into the play-offs, but finishing as high as possible provides home advantage in the end-of-season lottery.

While Torquay have by far the biggest fanbase and heritage in this division (Plainmoor averages 3,775 fans for games this season, 1,500 more than their closest rivals Maidstone), the Gulls entered the new campaign as a club fighting back from the brink.

After six years under the widely unpopular ownership of Clarke Osborne, Torquay were plunged into administration in February 2024 and faced genuine concerns for their future existence.

Step forward the Bryn Consortium, a group of local businessmen who have paid off the debts and brought stability and genuine personal affection for the club. Former Argyle legend Paul Wotton was named as the new manager, with support from football consultant Neil Warnock.

Wotton had just five players on the books when he took charge in May but the massive summer recruitment drivehas led to this moment. The Gulls are the side in form in the NLS, unbeaten in eight games and five wins from their previous six outings.

On paper, they also have the easiest run-in of the promotion chasers, although the Good Friday trip to Truro, Wotton’s former club as a manager, has all the ingredients for an all-time Westcountry classic.

Two Devon clubs, Plymouth Parkway and Tiverton Town, are involved in the Southern League Premier, and it has been a tough campaign for both.

Off the pitch, Parkway have made huge strides in recent years and everyone at Bolitho Park deserves immense credit for establishing the club as the fourth-highest ranked team in Devon, but they have had to fight back from a difficult start to this season.

Heading into the final weeks of the campaign, Parkway have opened up a healthy cushion above the relegation zone and Saturday’s 3-1 win over struggling Poole Town placed the club seven points clear of danger.

It is, sadly, a different story for Tiverton Town, who have turned to former Torquay icon Asa Hall to steer them away from serious trouble. Tivvy have five games left to save their status in this division and must recover quickly from the weekend loss at Gloucester.

The Yellows are currently second from bottom on 37 points but that is only two points from safety. It can be done, but now is the time for Tiverton Town. Merthyr Town are the runaway leaders in this division.

For long periods in the Southern League Division One South campaign, Exmouth Town were the side lodged right behind leaders Yate Town, but a horrible run of form, typified by Saturday’s 2-0 loss at home to Bishops Cleeve, has seen the East Devon drop out of the play-off places. The race is not run but Exmouth must start winning now!

The three other Devon clubs in this league (Willand, Bideford and Tavistock) have all flirted with the relegation zone through the course of the season, but all three now have a fairly comfortable cushion above the bottom four.

Brixham AFC surprised a few with their sojourn at the top of the Western League but, while Portishead and Clevedon are now locked in a two-horse race for the title, the Fishermen remain third and assured of a play-off spot.

Barnstaple Town also look fairly comfortable in fourth and Buckland Athletic will join them both in the end-of-season party if they win their games in hand on Paulton Rovers.

It has been a fine first year at this level for Ivybridge Town, who are guaranteed a mid-table finish at least, and a late spurt could even see them threaten the play-offs. Sadly for Ilfracombe Town, it has been a campaign to forget and they will finish in the bottom three.

In the West Division of the South West Peninsula League, Holsworthy have done a decent job of flying the Devon flag alongside the 15 other clubs from Cornwall. The Magpies are all set for a mid-table finish.

A terrific come-from-behind win for Sidmouth Town at Stoke Gabriel & Torbay Police has all but confirmed the East title. Earlier in the season, around six clubs were vying for the glory, but while Sidmouth have maintained their consistent excellence, the likes of Newton Spurs, Cullompton, Stoke and Elburton Villa have fallen backwards.

Axminster and Torrington make up the bottom two in this division, while Cullompton will face Penzance in the League Cup Final played at Launceston on May 5.

Alphington are competing with the University of Exeter for the Devon Football League crown. The Alphas are one point ahead but the students have two games in hand. Beer Albion, Plymouth Marjon and Appledore complete the top five, while Ipplepen, Bere Alston and North Molton are propping up the table.