Devon district leagues

[Easterfield]

Details coming through of the four district leagues in Devon; the top divisions being at the same level of the East Cornwall and the Combination.

First to announce was the North Devon which has lost three teams to the Devon League and has re-organised into four divisions as opposed to five:   

Kilkhampton still in the top division (with Morwenstow seconds further down). Not sure who there may be to step up to the Devon League in time save for Boca Seniors (who have been mentioned before) and Park United (the most successful side of recent years who play in between Appledore and Westward Ho!).

Maybe that doesn’t matter too much at a time when it’s important to keep the district leagues going. The North Devon has shrunk over the years but, from a distance, it still seems relatively healthy given the area’s small population. Certainly plenty of attractive rural venues. 

Indeed I'd say the numbers compare favourably to the South Devon League which draws upon a larger population. Here's the SDL constitution for next season:

Still five divisions which has been the case in most seasons recently. But the divisions are getting smaller and smaller. Really not much football at all if teams only play each other twice.

Morley Rangers from Plymouth have switched across from the P&WD as have Plympton Athletic reserves. A number of disappointing absences including Ashburton, Galmpton (ex-SWPL) and Salcombe.

Three of the clubs which dropped of the Devon League - Chudleigh, Kingsteignton and Waldon Athletic - are back in the premier division but Watcombe Wanderers are lower down, Roselands United are missing and Totnes and Dartington have merged with Meadowbrook Athletic to become rather a mouthful.

More at https://www.middevonadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/agm-report-five-new-teams-enter-south-devon-league-551920

 

 

[Buckland Jim]

Would expect Boca to go up eventually, the ground can't be far off meeting the grading regs. 

[Easterfield]

9 minutes ago, Buckland Jim said:

Would expect Boca to go up eventually, the ground can't be far off meeting the grading regs. 

I'd have thought so unless there's something glaring.

AFC Brixham rather than Brixham AFC Reserves in the SDL? Is that an error or intentional? 

Odd that Teign Village - a club which has existed from just after the village was built by the Teign Valley Granite Company - have switched to the Devon and Exeter after all these years.

[Buckland Jim]

19 minutes ago, Easterfield said:

I'd have thought so unless there's something glaring.

AFC Brixham rather than Brixham AFC Reserves in the SDL? Is that an error or intentional? 

Odd that Teign Village - a club which has existed from just after the village was built by the Teign Valley Granite Company - have switched to the Devon and Exeter after all these years.

Think it's probably a typo on Brixham, have seen both variations used in the past. 

Teign Village is a strange one, maybe they wanted a tougher challenge. Travelling will certainly be a lot more in the D&E League 

[Easterfield]

30 minutes ago, Buckland Jim said:

Teign Village is a strange one, maybe they wanted a tougher challenge. Travelling will certainly be a lot more in the D&E League 

Just one of those unusual choices perhaps? At least the main roads will get them into East Devon quickly enough. 

A relatively strong team at times in the past. Think Trevor Webber - one of those locally-born players who made a few FL appearences for Torquay United in times of particular strife - played for Teign Village some time after leaving Plainmoor.

[  https://www.flickr.com/photos/easterfieldlane/  - see page 3 for a picture of Teign Village (next to Liverton United); Brora and Clachnacuddin at foot of page 2 for those who may be interested. One or two Cornish additions last week; absolutely no trespassing involved so no close-up at Mullion ]

 

[Easterfield]

Devon and Exeter announced. More teams joining than leaving although there were departures during last season. One division has been cut but several will be larger than last time. No bigger-name departures save for Beer Albion and Thorverton joining the Devon League.

Premier division weighs in as half firsts and half reserves with a good geographical spread.

Familiar names that have slipped in recent times: St Martins (Division 2) and Heavitree and Witheridge (both Division 3).

Five substitutes to be allowed as will also be the case in the South Devon.

[Buckland Jim]

Don't recognise Exeter Royals, new team or name change? 

[Easterfield]

59 minutes ago, Buckland Jim said:

Don't recognise Exeter Royals, new team or name change? 

According to the league it's most of last season's Exeter Panthers .

I guess that's the nature of football in the larger towns and cities;  more stability in the smaller places. I tend to look at the top divisions but go blurry-eyed for the rest. But good on the league for remaining so strong. 

[Dave Deacon]

3 hours ago, Easterfield said:

Familiar names that have slipped in recent times: St Martins (Division 2)

Is this the same St Martins that did so well only a handful of seasons ago in the SWPL? If so, what happened?

[Easterfield]

26 minutes ago, Dave Deacon said:

Is this the same St Martins that did so well only a handful of seasons ago in the SWPL? If so, what happened?

Same club; still playing at Exminster which would be off to your right heading north as you start on the long viaduct across the Exe.

Pitch is level with a club house and an embankment which helps viewing. Lots of newish housing all about; very much a commuter suburb so plenty of children and youth football. 

Never any talk of step 6 facilities which would be why they declined promotion from the old Division 1(E) and then found themselves declining a place in the new Premier East twelve months later.   

It's possible for clubs such as St Martins to gather some of Exeter's better players together for a while but, when they've gone, they've gone. Devon League results went downhill in the second Covid saeson and they resigned from the league (I think) just before the start of 2021/22. Reserves became the firsts but they were several notches down the Devon & Exeter. Wondered if the league may have offered them a higher diviison next season (such things happen) but either they didn't or St Martins said no. 

Went from the Devon League around the same time as Heavitree. 

[Buckland Jim]

1 hour ago, Easterfield said:

According to the league it's most of last season's Exeter Panthers .

I guess that's the nature of football in the larger towns and cities;  more stability in the smaller places. I tend to look at the top divisions but go blurry-eyed for the rest. But good on the league for remaining so strong. 

Thanks Easterfield, I have noticed lower down the D&E you tend to get name changes most seasons. 

[Easterfield]

Plymouth and West Devon. Taken from Full Time:

Premier Division
Hooe Rovers 
Mainstone Social 
Millbridge
Mountwise 
Plymouth Hope
Plymouth Marjon Reserves
Plymouth Phoenix 
Plymouth Vaults
Signal Box Oak Villa

Division One
DC Auto Repairs Reserves 
FC Tavyside 
Horrabridge Rangers
Lugger Devonport 
Millbridge Reserves
Plympton Athletic Reserves
Princetown
Tamar View

Division Two
Central Park Rangers
Horrabridge Rangers Reserves
Hunter District 
Plymouth United
St. Johnstone Social 
Tamar View Reserves 
Torpoint Athletic 4ths

Since first seeing the list elsewhere earlier today another team dropped out to leave the above 9-8-7 structure.

Uncertainty about Plympton Athletic who are missing from the Devon League's fixtures. They appear to be running one team in the South Devon; another in the Plymouth and West Devon. Bith currently listed as 2nd XIs.  

This looks to be very fluid. Think I'll leave it at that without following matters blow-by-blow.

[Buckland Jim]

On 25/06/2022 at 08:21, Easterfield said:

Devon and Exeter announced. More teams joining than leaving although there were departures during last season. One division has been cut but several will be larger than last time. No bigger-name departures save for Beer Albion and Thorverton joining the Devon League.

Premier division weighs in as half firsts and half reserves with a good geographical spread.

Familiar names that have slipped in recent times: St Martins (Division 2) and Heavitree and Witheridge (both Division 3).

Five substitutes to be allowed as will also be the case in the South Devon.

Have just seen Honiton Reserves have pulled out of the D&E. 

[Easterfield]

On 27/07/2022 at 21:25, Buckland Jim said:

Have just seen Honiton Reserves have pulled out of the D&E. 

That's an interesting place for Honiton to be. You'd have to say they're a fairly modest step 6 outfit. Now the only men's team they have is at step 6. Not much margin of error if things were ever to go wrong? 

Has happened just as the floodlights are going up. One step forward.... 

[Easterfield]

On 27/07/2022 at 21:25, Buckland Jim said:

Have just seen Honiton Reserves have pulled out of the D&E. 

Followed by Lapford, Premier Division champions in each of the last two seasons. No reserve team to fall back upon either.

League website says "although not offered as a reason the players disappointment at not being accepted by the Devon League was hinted as being a major factor". 

Saw Lapford on both occasions they won the D&E. Clearly had a good group of players. Not sure how many were from the village and whether, those who were not, were from Exeter, Crediton, Tiverton or wherever.   

 

 

 

[Easterfield]

Tally of the four district leagues in Devon according to Full Time as of the second weekend in Spetember.

116 teams in the Devon & Exeter; 118 in the three other leagues combined.

D&E has nine divisions varying in size between twelve and fourteen. 

South Devon (51 teams across five divsions) only slightly bigger than the North Devon (46 teams; four divisions).

Plymouth and West Devon running two divisions of eight and thirteen. 

By contrast forty teams (five divisions) in the P&WD's Sunday competition.