Ian Pethick

With Falmouth Town returning to the Western League for the first time in 39 years this weekend, I thought people may be interested to read the match reports from their final game of the 1982/83 season (when they finished a credible 6th place) which I came across while researching another subject. This was , of course, their last game before withdrawing from the league and the end of a golden chapter in the club's history.

Long serving Tavistock centre back and captain Lewis Daw has announced his departure from the club. Interesting statement to read in which he talks about getting over a long term injury,(and how he has to manage it before and after games) , and also the pressures of juggling work and family life with the commitment needed to play a high standard of non league football. It has been mentioned in other posts on here about how some players haven't returned to the game after the enforced COVID breaks, he talks about how he started to enjoy having blank weekends without football. https://www.tavistock-today.co.uk/news/tavistock-football-club-captain-calls-it-a-day-after-nine-years-557095

"It's more valuable minutes in the legs." One that's usually used after a PSF defeat.

Yes, know it was only a pre season friendly, but Truro getting beaten 5-1 by Willand Rovers last night must be a cause for concern.

Possibly a transitional season for Helston. From what I have read, Matt Cusack is looking to change their style of play and bring in players to suit this system. Will be interesting to see how Rikki Shepherd and Tom Payne perform, two long time players at Millbrook and an integral part of their rise to the Western League Beat me to it Dane. Agree with you regarding Liskeard, they will be a hard team to beat this season. Could be a few cricket scores against the lesser sides if the Lorenz and Jennings partnership clicks into place.

Excellent report Rappo. Monday night football, why not? Sure the purists and traditionalists used to knock Friday night games when they started to happen, now they're an integral part of the fixture list. Would I be right in saying that somebody from Blazey has previously talked about under 18 matches getting decent attendances on a Monday night? Seems like there is a precedent.

Looking forward to it. Hope you had the *bleep* button handy for Shane's interview. 😁

Jake Miller is undoubtedly a very talented player (probably step 3/4 standard), but doesn't stick around anywhere for long. Would have thought that playing under Shane Krac and Danny Lewis, two of the best midfield players on the SW non league over the past ten years, is potentially a career changing moment for him. Always rated Mike Smith highly. Went under the radar a bit at Parkway as he was overshadowed by Glyn Hobbs in that SWPL winning side of 2017/18, and then had his playing time limited when he was away with the Navy, but a superb player.

Would say that Parkway are usually poor in pre season, and things generally click into place when the proper stuff begins. Don't know if ex Argyle and Truro striker Louis Rooney is still on trial, he could be being looked at as another option in attack. Onto Tavi this Saturday this week for the final PSF, although there's not usually much that's friendly between these two sides.

Probably need to put thoughts on Parkway in the Southern League section. Wasn't at the game, and don't know anybody who was, but would be interesting to hear how this compared to last week's Buckland match. Saltash no doubt enjoyed this win, another ex Parkway man in Mike Smith taking the headlines.

Brandon Pursall joins Parkway on a short term loan from Plymouth Argyle. Highly rated 18 year old left sided centre back.

I've got my eyes on Monty Don's gig. 😁

Completely off topic Gary, but regarding stopping the use of chemicals on plants and gardens, I have been using my own home made banana skin fertiliser this year. Simply put old banana skins in a container, put about 3inch of water over the top, and leave to soak for 5 days. Sieve it to use just the now potassium rich water on your plants, my outdoor pots seem to love it.

No doubt you're already across this Gary, but an interesting read. No doubt many people will be looking at how you get on with the non chemical journey regarding the G's playing surface. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/24/eden-project-creatorsto-open-edible-green-golf-course-gillyflower-cornwall

For me, lots of questions surrounding Saltash. The new management team of Shane Krac, Danny Lewis and Lee Bevan were top quality players on the local scene, but are all new to the managerial side and completely unproven (given the long and detailed wish list that The Ashes put on the job spec back in May, how many of these requirements do the new managers fulfill?) Would have thought that an old hand on the local scene brought in as assistant manager/ideas board would have been beneficial. Tough league to cut your managerial teeth in, will be interesting to see how it plays out. If they are off the pace after a few months, would Shane Krac put his boots back on? After the glittering and trophy laden career he has had, not sure how he would take to life as an also ran.

Yes, quite a rise, but think Duchy Premier in 2004/5 to SW Peninsula League Cup winners in 2014/15 is a greater achievement.

We talk, quite rightly, about the rise of clubs like Wendron and Mousehole, but will we ever see something along the lines of what Godolphin achieved (with Derek Martin being a big part of that) ever again? From being promoted to the ECPL from the Duchy League, through to the Peninsula League, and winning the Peninsula League Cup within 10 seasons is quite a story, and probably couldn't be repeated now.

Thanks for that. So it's basically £1500 before you've even played a match. Wow. Having your own ground brings more expense though. You are then liable for all pitch maintenance and improvements as well as keeping going and maintaining the changing facilities. No idea what the charges are for hiring local authority pitches in Plymouth for example, but the playing surfaces and changing facilities are, for the most part, dreadful. I know that my local authority in London, Hackney Council, currently charges a hefty £112 for three hours on a Saturday/Sunday.

Did a superb job at Penryn, hopefully the time away from the game has recharged his batteries. Has got a big job on his hands though pulling together a squad in the couple of weeks before the season starts.

"'Ere you go Matty lad, got a real player for you here!"

No offence to the Peninsula League West, but River Allen could play with a cigar in his mouth for most of these games. Wasted at step 6. Will he get frustrated with the players around him not being up to his level, or on his wavelength?

Aside from the obvious one (player availability) would be interesting to see how the sheer cost of running even a park, junior or Sunday morning team has contributed to this. There used to be a time when a junior club, playing on a local authority pitch, could exist on subs from players and a bit of local sponsorship (from a pub for example in return for both teams going back there after a game). Now, when you add up the cost of pitch rents, couple of kits, cleaning the kit, equipment, match balls, insurance, affiliation fees etc, etc, then I suspect that it is not possible without money from several sources. Would love to hear from the treasurer of a Trelawney team (for example) about what it costs for a team at that level to start the season and play every week.

Have a feeling that this story is going to run and run over the upcoming season.

I am of the opinion that, just like Jamie Vardy and Ian Wright, if you are good enough, work hard hard enough and are willing to sacrifice enough, you'll make it. Given how budgets are stretched in the Football League, they are eager to turn up potential nuggets from anywhere they can find them. Foreign players filling up squads is true in the Premier and, to a lesser extent, the Championship. But a quick look at Exeter City's current squad shows that only 2 out of their 21 players are non British or Irish, while it is only 2 out of 25 at Argyle.

One or two ex Parkway players in the Buckland side who may have had a point to prove? I'll leave it at that. Judging by his post game comments, appears that Dan Hart (another ex Parkway player) took it very seriously as well.