Ian Pethick

That was him, Leeds. Only appeared when Bodmin won (probably explains why his postings dwindled to nothing.🙄)

Still a hangover from the Darren Gilbert, winning the league on multiple occasions and not taking promotion days? (Think the word is "schadenfreude.") Also, never any pro Bodmin voices on here. Who was the bloke that used to defend them vigorously, continually stir things up (and attract everybody's fire), but has disappeared? Beaker or Pugwash I think.

Yes, and apologies for totally straying off the original topic, but Bradley Swiggs should have played professionally. Remember well Stuart Brace (Liskeard coach) stood on the touchline shouting "give it to Brad!!", he was at times unplayable. In my opinion, the only player who came close to him on the local scene for pure natural ability was Glyn Hobbs ( a very different character, and arguably a wasted talent). He did of course join Argyle in 1984, but didn't stay long. The rumour at the time was that he would have had to take a drop in wages to turn full time ( he was on a contract at Liskeard, and was also on decent money from his day job in the Dockyard). It was regular theme of a summer that clubs would come in and try to lure him away from Lux Park with lucrative offers ( I was aware that Falmouth had a very strong interest on a couple of occasions) but he stuck with the Blues. Of course, when Saltash did lure him away, the Blues finally won the league without their talisman.

Hit the nail on the head there, what players on the Devon & Cornwall scene can command is a pure case of "supply and demand." I live and work in London, when I get talking to non league football followers where I work, they are astonished at what step 5 and 6 players in the SWPL and WL are allegedly getting as "expenses." One of colleagues is on the commitee of a step 5, Isthmian League club, and she couldn't see how these figures are sustainable (if true).I am pretty sure that one or two step 3 clubs in this area don't pay at all (the players get money for new boots and the like), but there is just a lot bigger pool of players within a city of almost 9 million to choose from.

Didn't players used to get criticised on here for lacking ambition? Lot of assumptions in there, especially after Blazey and Falmouth have played one match (and Newquay haven't even started). Think it was the great Jimmy Armfield who said he never looked at a league table until ten games have been played. Seems like pretty good advice.

The great Bradley Swiggs had the lot, and was a brilliant player in that era, often the only way teams stopped him was by kicking his legs out. Mousehole though employ an analyst who would spend hours studying the way he plays and then working out a way to counter it, this would then be communicated to the players through their Whats App groups and worked on in a training/coaching session. That's the way even the non league game is now. Is Richard Gibbons your Dad then? Brilliant player for the Blues, very much an old school centre back who would clear the ball, the man or both! Remember well an FA Cup v Southern League Prem Dorchester at a rain soaked Lux Park in 1990. Liskeard won 5-1, and Gibbo had their star striker (who they had reputedly paid £4,000 for) in his pocket all the game.

The Blues really need to go up this season. Several of those players you have mentioned are good enough to step 5 football (I'm sure that other clubs have noticed them) , and the town as a whole should be capable of supporting a team at that level.

It's certainly a different game now. When I first started following the local scene in the late 1970's you had the drinkers, smokers and genuinely unfit individuals but most sides had at least one flair player who could do something off the cuff and create something. The clubhouse was always packed after the game with both teams (and officials) enjoying a pint or three together (heard stories from someone I used to work with who played in the SWL about one or two enjoying a quick half pre match). Nowadays, the fitness levels, preparation and generally looking after themselves is off the scale. Don't think clubs or managers (the more successful ones anyway), tolerate players going out on a Friday night, it's mostly water or energy drinks afterwards , thorough warm ups and warm downs and every club has a trained and qualified physio to hand. The local game is quicker, stronger, highly organised and more tactically aware. But is it better? You form your own opinion. To my mind though, if you managed to construct a time machine and arranged a game between the Liskeard Western League, champions of 1988 and Mousehole, Western League champions 2023 (35 years apart), and had a ref applying today's laws in the match, Jake Ash's team would probably overwhelm them.

Must surely mean there's at least 1 (hopefully 2) forwards coming before the big kick off on Saturday. At the moment, Jack Crago is the only experienced and fit forward available. I know people at Parkway are very excited about Dylan Jones (who came off the bench and scored against Yeovil on Saturday), but expecting him to make a regular impact after making the jump from the under 18's is a big ask. They have used a selection of trialists in pre season, don't know if any of those will be made into permanent signings. The squad does look very thin going into Saturday's game with, according to the Southern League website, only 15 players currently registered. And that includes Adam Carter and Henry Wilson (who is rumoured to be injured). As Lee Hobbs has often said though, trust the process.

Few from Parkway's League and Cup winning under 18's at Dobwalls (believe their assistant boss ran this side last season). One of these, Callum Bleasdale, (who captained them) has had a season with Saltash. I'm surprised he hasn't moved to another step 5 (or higher) club.

Very early days. Nobody ever won or lost a league title on the opening Saturday of the season.

Mentioned on another thread, but Oscar Massey at PZ is one to watch. Surely playing several levels below where he should be, Golden Boot contender if they keep hold of him?

Can tell you're a professional James. Lots of detail, yet fast moving and punchy. Excellent report. (Incidentally, if PZ keep hold of Oscar Massey, is he a contender for the Golden Boot?)

Whatever happens, can't see anybody running away with this league. The Western Prem usually serves up a dramatic finish , with the last 3 completed seasons title race going to the final day.

I guess that if you believe that PSF's are for the most part, pretty irrelevant (as I do), then you would disregard last night's result. 3-0 win, or 0-3 loss, it probably isn't going to make too much difference to the season for either Tavi or Parkway. There's been such a large movement of players at most clubs in the Southern League, that things will only become clearer after 10 games or so. Let's judge Lee Hobbs (and Stuart Henderson) at this point.

A few of those clubs will bring decent travelling support as well.

Yes, Pursall would be a quality addition and a very Mousehole signing. Surprised if Parkway didn't have a look at him (wonder if he was one of the unnamed trialists). Believe that Max Hill is on holiday, and that Adel Gafitii has gone back to France. Looks like another defender,Josh Baxter (ex Torquay and Dorchester) has returned to Bude. With the addition of ex Cardiff player Morgan Lewis, and Josh Storey returning sooner rather than later (hopefully), Jake Ash has a decent set of options at centre back.

Farewell season? You make it sound it sound like they're folding after this campaign.😁 Paul Wotton does tend to make decent loan signings. The benefits of his networks in the pro game I guess.

Oscar Halls joins from Argyle on a 3 month loan. Tall, 18 year old centre back, who signed his first professional contract in the summer. Mutually beneficial for both clubs, gives Halls vital experience of playing competitive, regular senior football and Parkway get extra squad depth in a key position.

They seem to have made a good start on that with the success of their under 18's and St Pirans side over the last few years, and Paul Wotton has got a few of these players involved with the first team in the last couple of pre season campaigns. Even with the reserves playing SWPL football next season, still a big gap to the NLS and 1st team football. Wonder if getting some of these lads loaned to Western League clubs has been looked at, and if George Newton's progress at Tavistock will be closely watched.

Problem is, there's not many ace goal scorers around, and everybody wants them. See that Liskeard's Dan Jennings and Wadebridge's Jacob Rowe are both registered on Full Time, cover only I would assume. Both would be good to have around on a permanent basis.

Cheers Mr Craze. Yes, PSF's are no real guide, but it looks to me like Torquay and Yeovil will be the pacesetters in the NLS. The matter of them being full time, and still having the staffing structure to support that, is going to be a big factor. Looking at the sheer distances and some of the away days coming up for Truro, it is really challenging to sustain for a club that is part time. There are bound to be a few epic end of season treks happen as a result of what is thrown up by cancellations and rescheduled matches.

Just out of interest, do the Pirates rugby team have all of this? Not digging at you, just don't know as I don't follow the egg chasing game. No idea what sort of gates they get either. Several years ago, the stated ambition was to get to the Premiership (they did lose twice in promotion play off finals) but seem a way off that now. Given though the seemingly disastrous state of all the club's collective finances in this division, it would hardly seem to be a sunlit uplands. I would guess that, when the Pirates eventually move to the new facility at Langarth, the Mennaye will be developed for housing.

After having read about how Trevor Francis was treated at times by Brian Clough (numerous attempts to belittle him in front of others) which were borne of himself wanting to be the "superstar" at Forest, and being convinced that the former wonderboy Francis had it too easy and needed taking down a peg or two,made me realise why it went so badly wrong for Clough at Leeds, and why he would have been a disaster as England manager. The common thread through Clough's career was how he couldn't cope with players who he couldn't bully. Martin O'Neill is a good example of this.

Is that the ex Torquay and Argyle youth player Jayden Gilbert playing upfront for Falmouth? Penzance did well to sign Oscar Massey. No offence to them, but he is probably a couple of levels below where he should be. Seem to remember him being highly rated at Argyle as a youngster (same as Rhys Shirley, who seems to have disappeared after picking up a serious injury). Might be a good thing though for him to play every week and enjoy his football after barely playing at Swindon, and going out on loan to 3 different clubs last season.