Ian Pethick

Given how stretched the squad is, really surprised that Shane White was allowed to leave (although not much you can do if a player wants to go). Truro are not even a quarter into a long, hard NLS season, do worry that having such a small squad will start to bite soon. Can see why some believe an early exit from both the FA Cup and Trophy may be a blessing in the long term, but perhaps the extra revenue could have been used for player additions.

It is very disappointing, especially as they do the things in the community that people complain Truro don't do (run multiple men's teams, having a women's team and a thriving youth section ). Probably more people stood in a town centre pub watching Premier League football than bothering to watch the step 5 league leaders on their own doorstep.

A farewell to Alfie Moulden from Parkway. Feel like we never got to know you...

Joke in there somewhere about him having seen "Fire And Rain" during his playing career. (Doubt if anybody under the age of 50, and with no knowledge of early 70's singer songwriters will get that). Described as "a right or left side wing back, but is also comfortable in several other positions including in the middle of a back three." Sounds like a straight replacement for Shane White

Lots of idle chit chat and rumours regarding Shane White over on the Truro Transfer Rumours thread

You are right, time will tell. Do know as well that football fans (especially in Cornwall) can be a fickle bunch. Decent start for a step 2 Truro in the new ground , and a few old faces will renew their allegiances.

Tiverton would be unlikely in my opinion, all does not seem well behind the scenes there. Shane White would be a really good signing for Parkway. Bags of experience with succesful step 3 sides, can play pretty much anywhere across defence or midfield. Would slot into a back 3 and release Mikey Williams to play further forward.

Heard that some of the regular attendees at Falmouth are former City fans, and have no doubt that several have gravitated towards Helston, Mousehole and possibly Blazey. Do not also underestimate how many are making the journey to Home Park in Plymouth to watch a resurgent Argyle. As I've said before, the Cornish football landscape looks very different to when Treyew Road was finally vacated during 2020/21 They were then a step 3 club surrounded by those at step 6.

Heard rumours about this a few weeks ago, and that he was talking to a pair of Southern League clubs (probably not too difficult to guess their identities). Apparently,felt that at 33 he wanted to be playing every week. Given how stretched Truro are for numbers at the moment, surprised he was allowed to go. Must mean that Paul Wotton has players coming in ahead of the weekend.

Seem to remember the Torbay Police being very strong back in the 90's with the likes of John Durham and Gerry Nardiello being involved occasionally. The D&C Police team of the early 90's were, on the occasions they could get a full side out, a match for anybody in the SW League. In addition to Durham and Nardiello, they also had players such as Gordon Nisbet, Richard Tomlin, Peter Small and Steve Spear involved. Think that Cornwall Fire & Rescue were also a decent side around this time, didn't they get to a national semi final or final with Justin Ashburn in the team?

As usual Wendron, just going about their business and going under the radar. Liskeard and St Austell are the sides that seem to catch all the attention.

Shame about the website, but have to say that their social media content is really good. The match highlights package they put out is also right up with some of the best around. On a purely personal note, they also provide a printed edition of the matchday programme. Can't be cheap to produce.

The English Rugby Premiership does appear to be a collective financial basket case. Even Exeter Chiefs, who were held up by many as a model for the Pirates, are on (to quote one rugby publication) "shaky foundations", with their owner purchasing one of the club's assets (the hotel at Sandy Park) to ease the debt burden.

All really good points, the non league world in Cornwall looks very different now though to when Truro left Treyew Road. Very possible come August 2024 that you could have Mousehole playing step 3 football and Helston or Falmouth (both even) playing at step 4 level. Great for Cornish football, but they will then all be competing for floating fans and the best local players. Looking at Mousehole and Falmouth (don't know much about Helston), they have both got the jump on City regarding engagement with the local communities, businesses (especially in the case of Mousehole) and supporter bases. Given the relatively young age profile of these teams, can see both of them benefitting from transfer fees/sell ons.

That's the biq question St D. To be sustainable and competitive in the NLS, you need crowds around the 1000-1200 mark. Probably double that at least to keep you going in the almost completely full time world of the National League. Can anybody honestly see people turning up in those sort of numbers week in, week out in the new ground? Even during the glory days of the Heaney era, and later on when Lee Hodges was leading the team into the NLS play offs, don't think the gates were anything like this. I just cannot forsee a time when outside investment (a sugar daddy in other words) won't be required.

He didn't even get a mention when injured players were spoken about in the Mousehole section of the podcast. This, and the signing of Brandon Pursall, makes me think a comeback is months, and not weeks, away.

The average salary in the NLS is supposedly around £400/week (or £16000 for a 40 week season). That is the average though, so the "star" players would be on considerably more. Expect that Truro would have to pay a premium as well to attract them down to the Plymouth area. City's first eleven is a match for most in this league, but it is a squad game. As we go deeper into the season, the full time clubs in the NLS especially will be able to call upon their greater resources and make their presence felt (Yeovil, for example, are carrying a squad of 22). Paul Wotton does brilliantly with what he has at his disposal, but I would worry that there's only so long he can keep doing this. I would still consider staying up to be a big achievement.

Think you and Rappo were scratching your heads to think of any strikers around, at step 6 and below aged 21-29, who could make the step up.

They're contracted step 3 semi pro footballers, not a St Pirans player. They should know the levels of commitment and what is expected of them. That was not a great interview, the things said should probably have been kept in house. Can only think he's saying this to try and get a reaction. This seems to be a regular occurrence though for Parkway that players are away and unavailable, and has happened several times already in both the pre season and season proper. Somebody must be given them the nod and saying it's OK (this should be the exclusive responsibility of Lee Hobbs, the manager) in which case he can't point the finger at them. If he doesn't have any sort of knowledge or notice of them being missing, it does make you wonder who is running things. Be interesting to see if the absentees, Jones, Wilson and Wright, come straight back into the side on Tues away to Brixham in the St Lukes, or if there are further sanctions against them.

Losing James Lorenz in the summer, and then Ryan Downing to Blazey last week, shows that they (and all Peninsula League clubs) are vulnerable when the step 5 (and higher) boys come calling, and means that they need to get promoted themselves. Must be a few in this very talented Liskeard side that are on various watch lists.

And some (myself included) thought that Falmouth needed to sign a recognised striker in the summer...

Never a good idea trying to read a Twitter feed on a particularly bouncy bus ride without your specs on. 🙄 Seen Hanwell once this season, that was against high flying Merthyr. Despite them being on the wrong end of a 4-1 defeat, thought they were better than the scoreline suggested. Made some good signings in the summer, and improved from last season.

Parkway 1 Hanwell 2 Parkway's mini unbeaten run brought to an end by a Hanwell side that came from behind after Alfie Moulden put the home side 1 up, to score twice and take all 3 points.

Really good addition, a player that Lee Hobbs has been after for a few years now. Know that he was mainly used by Mousehole as an attacking midfielder, so interesting to see that he is regarded by Parkway as a forward signing. Certainly brings physical presence, as well as more mobility, to that position.

By way of comparison, Transfermarkt.co.uk give an estimated market value of all league clubs (no explanation of how they come up with these figures). I've taken League Two Forest Green Rovers as a club that City would be trying to emulate, they're valued at £5.13m.