Ian Pethick

No idea where they train now, or where they plan to be in the future, but think that Truro used to train in Exeter.

Yes, April is now a pretty congested and chaotic month as it has invariably become a rush to get the regular season finished. Move the Senior Cup final into mid May when the leagues have finished, get it out of the way of all the ground hops, play offs and FA Vase semi finals (and hopefully) final. Restore its place as the showpiece game in the county, and the grand finale that supporters and officials from every club can attend. Only downside is that you might have a big gap between the semi final and final.

Great news.

Dare I say it, but if they were unable to commit to step 5 football with St Austell next season, Olly Brokenshire and Neil Slateford would suit Liskeard very nicely.

I'm quite relaxed about this. Rather the club went about their pre season business quietly, efficiently and without fanfare. Far better this in my opinion than last summers big announcements, slick videos and glossy interviews with new signings who, for the most part, were complete blow outs. Believe as well that the transfer and registration window hasn't actually opened yet, and that any new players announced are just agreements not signings. Patience will very much be the key for Parkway fans. It is going to be a very different looking side come August, and supporters will also see a different style of management under Chris McPhee and Lee Peacock. Not clear as well if Matt Godfree and Stuart Dudley will remain as part of the coaching staff . I would also love to see Round Our Way come back one day. It was certainly a very candid, warts and all, look behind the scenes of a non league club. Believe though that the person who spent many, many hours capturing and editing the footage and content as part of his university studies, now has a full time job so cannot commit to doing this any longer.

Ivybridge did go under the radar a bit as this forum, as the title suggests, is very SWPL West focussed. Lance Bailey and Wayne Gamble did a brilliant job in running away with what is usually a very tight league, in their first season in charge at step 6 level. Looking forward to seeing how they do at step 5, but would think they'll be competitive. See that they have brought in Sam Hillson already, who's very experienced in the Western League with Parkway and Torpoint.

Great idea but, as Dave has said, a non starter as long as there's only 1 promotion place. Topics like this make me wonder what could have been if the Western League/SWPL merger had happened.

Hope it's not another case of Liskeard being most people's early tips for the title, only to get pipped again (Newquay already seem to be taking up the "party pooper" mantle for the next campaign).

Think Mousehole train 2 nights a week in Penryn, heard that Helston train at Saltmill in Saltash (where I believe Reece Thomson lives). That cuts the travelling right down.

George Newton also now announced as joining Helston from St Blazey. Believe he's very highly rated, but does seem to have moved clubs several times already even this early in his career. Pressure will be on him and Reece Thomson to replace the goals of Ricky Shepherd and Curtis Damerell.

Understand he was effectively sacked by Tavistock, was told Stuart Henderson lost patience with his continual foul play and aggressive behaviour on the pitch. Despite him having a stated ambition of wanting to play higher than step 4 football, would think he has a lot to work on before the likes of Parkway (or even Truro) would be interested. Both Sides Of The Tamar has posted on this subject previously.

Will Sullivan joins Helston from Millbrook. Described by Steve Massey as, "one the most exciting players I've seen." Son of Martyn Sullivan, who I remember as a teenage full back for Liskeard in the mid 90's. I do feel old sometimes..

Hearing of discontent amongst the Barnstaple fans. Unhappy at the abrupt sacking of Ben Watson right on the eve of the Les Phillips final and it looks like there is a mass exodus from the squad that got to the play offs last season. Rumours that the chairman wants to go with younger and more locally based players, which is usually code for, "the money has run out."

Reece Thomson announced on Helston Twitter as agreeing to join them.

What connections they have and an ability to bring players in would have been two of the questions raised in any interviews with prospective new managers. No doubt John Askey and football consultant Alex Black will be combing the lists of players released by clubs at the seasons end, and also talking with other managers regarding loan availability once the season starts. Regarding the 120 mile round trip that the Plymouth based players will now have to undertake for matches (and possibly training a couple of nights a week), new chair/co owner Eric Perez talked in his initial interviews about coming up with arrangements to help out with this. Guess this could mean overnight stays in the area. As part of them being survival and sustainable, I would like to see City developing the pathway of players from the under 18s and Peninsula League teams, potentially loaning them out to local step 4 clubs would be a big help in bridging the gap and helping them gain experience.

Remember that. Parkway assistant Karl Curtis talking in a swiftly edited post match interview about Alex Cairo's goal in a PSF v Taunton, when he was officially "A.Trialist." On the subject of trialists, anybody want to make a prediction as to how many clubs Orlando Anker will appear for in pre season?

Can't see JBE going back to step 6 football in the SWPL (I have no idea of his personal or work circumstances though). Step 5 with St Austell may be worth looking out for...

Seemed like John Askey was very popular at York, just got caught up in the politics surrounding the new owners. Always have mixed opinions on touchline shouters and screamers. People will remember that the likes of Trevor Mewton and Brian Hodge said very little on the side lines. Got good players in, coached and prepared them well. Did all the communicating on the training pitch and in the dressing room.

Yes, does look like a really good appointment. Keeping club legend Stewart Yetton as his assistant is a very good move as well. Hopefully John Askey will be bringing in some of his own people to bolster the backroom staff. Need more than just him and Yetton in the dugout at this level. Looking at the teams that have come into the NLS for next season, and the signings that these and the existing clubs have already made, it looks like it will be an even stronger division next time around. Agree with the teams you have picked out as contenders, would also add Weston to those names. They have gradually built both on an off the pitch, and look well placed to challenge. The play offs are probably a bit of a stretch for City (or "The Tinners"), but a bit of a mundane mid table campaign would (in my opinion anyway) do very nicely. Is that going to create enough of a buzz amongst the locals to get them into Langarth though?

The bit of experience that Saltash were crying out for in midfield, and the proven goalscorer that their general play deserved. Two superb bits of business by Macca Brown.

Will be interesting to see where Jack Bray-Evans and Reece Thomson play next season. Both released by Parkway.

Link to a thread about his departure from York City in 2022. Seemed quite popular with the fans and they weren't happy with his sacking, appears that he fell out with the incoming chair and owners. https://yorkmix.com/york-city-manager-john-askey-sacked/

Just been made aware of Dave Waters' death. Desperately sad news.

Not always a given that because players appear on retained lists, they actually start the season with the club. Tom Bath was an example of this from last summer. We'll see a lot of new faces and trialists in pre season for Parkway as Chris McPhee shapes the new look squad. Patience is the key here I would think.

Real leader in that Parkway side, effectively the manager on the pitch. Him and Nick Milton were a great pairing in that first Western League season. Very popular around the club as well, made a point of talking to all the volunteers before a home match.