Ian Pethick

Jordan Hackett and Ryan Tressider listed in the match day squad for Mousehole. Couple of names I'm not familiar with, who are they and which clubs did they sign from?

With hindsight, would it have been better if Truro had played a friendly or two at Langarth to iron out the little niggles?

Yes, the stands do look a bit flatpack and the supporter and player facilities are temporary, but nobody should underestimate the achievement in getting a step 2 standard facility up and running. This time last year it looked impossible to most people (including myself) and little more than a pipe dream. It was vital this happened as I don't think Truro could have taken a 4th year of being homeless, the contribution of Eric Perez in buying the club, providing stability and driving the Langarth project should never be forgotten (hopefully he was there yesterday). From what I've read, the vital components of the pitch and floodlights are absolutely state of the art with no expense spared. The rest of it (including the 3G community pitch) will follow in years to come, and will hopefully be of the same standard.

Yes, suspect there will still be a core of Lee Hobbs loyalists looking to pounce on anything that Chris McPhee does. After years of upward trajectory at Parkway, and possibly unrealistic expectations of life at step 3, will be difficult selling a season of transition and consolidation to the Bolitho Faithfull. New, first time manager, with a load of new signings trying to implement a new style of playing. It will take time and patience, especially in a division that looks like it has gone up another notch or two in quality.

Would you say that newly promoted St Austell and Ivybridge are both out of their depth in this league? Both got goings over today. The big attraction of the Western League is that if it's not your day, and the other team is on it, most teams are capable of beating each other.

Hopefully a decent number of those will like what they saw, and keep coming back.

The F-Troop have a day off now. Heard there's a match going on just up the road at Langarth. 😁

Understand totally what you're saying 100%. No comfort to the family of the victims, but you're totally correct in saying that Luke will have to live with what he did every single day.

One for the club I think. Luke McCormick has served his sentence, shown remorse and gone on to play for Truro and Argyle. My opinion is that it's in the past now (although not for the victims), do understand others feeling different though. Don't know if he's signed as keeper cover or involved on the coaching side, but someone of his experience would be very useful. Regarding Parkway,, one or two interesting youngsters signed on. In particular Corey Koerner, a teenage full back on a loan/dual signing arrangement with Yeovil. Very highly rated, he's trained and played with their first team.

Know that City haven't kicked a competitive ball yet under their new manager, but where do people think they'll finish? New manager,much changed squad, new ground and first full season under the new owners, it will probably mean that consolidation in the NLS is the main objective. James Hamon and Ed Palmer, the two outstanding players from last time around have departed and we have to see what the quality of their replacements is. Still looks to me as though Tyler Harvey and Rocky Neal are going to be heavily relied on for goals as well. Considering the budgets and squad strengths that others around them are carrying (several are full time) I think that finishing around 15th in the league (and keeping clear of the relegation dog fight) will be seen as a good season. What do others think?

Need to see a bloke at Par Market for those (does Par Market still exist?).

As a comparison, tomorrow's opponents Dorking charge £50 (the same as City) for their replica shirt, while Plymouth Parkway are a bit cheaper at £40.

Heard rumours of another incoming loan signing at Parkway before tomorrow, striker possibly?

Matt Cusack has moved to try and replace those lost goals. Jack Crago has joined Helston on a "short term loan" from Parkway.

Bashley v Falmouth is off. Pitch has failed a referees pitch inspection, whatever that means in August.

Sure I heard a figure of £50k a season quoted to be city's shirt sponsor. It is slightly surprising that there isn't one, especially given the media interest in them surrounding their homecoming, and the ever increasing number of local businesses that have committed as partners. If one couldn't be secured, would it have been preferable to have the name of a local charity on the kit?

Peter Masters stating in a piece on the BBC website about City's homecoming that he believes the cost of staying competitive in the NLS is £40-£50,000 a month. Reading that, you start to understand why Taunton imploded financially last season. It was widely rumoured that Chesterfield won last season's NL on a playing budget of around £125k a month, with a couple of players on contracts worth £5 per week. For City to reach the EFL in 5 years would take some serious external backing.

Saturday's visitors, Dorking, who are considered by many to be the club in this league with the largest budget, and many people's favourites to win it, had an average attendance of over 1900 in the NL last time around. Looking at last season's NLS average gates, and counting out Torquay and Yeovil, it looks to me like Truro would need gates up towards 1500 to be financially competitive. Last time Truro had a proper full season at Treyew,in 2017/18, they averaged around 460. Like I've said before though, a good start combined with a curiosity factor about Langarth, could do wonders for numbers of paying customers. I hope that when Truro visited Hampton & Richmond last season, one or two took note of the spectator "experience" on offer there with a view to applying this at Langarth.One of the better grounds in terms of food and drink offerings (multiple bars offering a wide selection of well priced drinks, and great food ranging from traditional pies and chips, to Turkish and pizza).

Seemed to suffer with injuries last season, but Danny Sullivan was superb in the 2022/23 SL promotion campaign. His ability to play in a creative part in that hole between midfield and forwards made him very influential for City. A tough player to replace.

You didn't need to be Nostradamus to see this coming (speed of it was a surprise though). Pretty scathing statement from the BTFC Independent Supporters Club accompanied this as well.

It was initial shock and surprise, I then realised his mistake. Great feature though, some really good interviews.

Nearly spat my wine out when Gareth Davies said that Tiverton had signed Dylan Jones from Parkway. Not sure if he is aware that it's not that Dylan Jones playing for them, their Dylan Jones is a Welsh winger that they signed from Cinderford.

Sam Joce and Carlo Garside also announced as new arrivals today by Parkway. Carlo Garside,younger brother of Rio, is an interesting one. Undoubtedly a very talented young midfield player( he was invited for a trial by an unnamed Premier League team back in January), but does seem to move clubs with regularity. He was only "announced" by Willand a month ago. Wouldn't mind a fiver as well for every Parkway player that says on the video clip that accompanies their signing, "that they want to settle down and make this club their home for several years." 🙄

See that Luke McCormick is now listed on the Southern League website as a Parkway squad member. Probably a wise move to get cover in that position given the precarious nature of having a keeper on loan from a league club. In other play news, been announced that Tom Dean and Mitch Beardmore have both joined Parkway on loan until January. An obvious benefit of Chris McPhee's day job at Exeter City.

Young winger Tavonga Kuleya joins Truro on an initial month long loan from Doncaster Rovers, squad is coming together now. Surprised to see that the bookies have City to finish 24th and bottom in next season's NLS. They are currently at 66/1 with Bet Victor to win the league. Their predicted top 4 is Dorking at 7/2, Maidstone 6/1, Borehamwood 10/1 and Torquay at 12/1. This is all before a competitive ball has been kicked though.