Ian Pethick

Can remember when free entry to the Carlton Suite on a Saturday night was a big factor in playing for Liskeard.

Often thought some clubs are very much "love to hate" on here. Not Peninsula League I know, but contrast what is said about Helston and Mousehole (especially Jake Ash and Steve Massey).

Looks like it's ground to a halt again. Every year it's a saga of Stadium For Cornwall sized proportions.

Teams selected playground style. Captains decided, everybody lines up against the wall, coin flip for first choice and then alternate picks until you have two elevens and subs.

Ed Harrison from Camelford and Adam McPherson from Elburton Villa announced as Tavi signings yesterday. Two very Stuart Henderson like additions. Young, promising players who can be used in numerous positions.

Wish Penzance all the best with this arrangement. A club I've always had a soft spot for, that was why I voiced my concerns.

Will be looking on to see how this works out. Can see one or two potential snags, and not sure how I feel about a club of the standing and history of Penzance being downgraded to effectively existing as Helston Reserves.

Yes, being realistic, Tyler Langmead must have been "well looked after" to make the journey down from Bristol at least once a week. River Allen and Matt Wright (for different reasons) have to both go down as bad signings. Craig Veal is another that must have brought in at great expenses (lives in Honiton I believe) who also made little impact. Also Tom Bath, picking up a serious long term injury probably spared him from being let go at the end of the season.

One of the stated aims from Parkway vice chair (and one of the club's founders), Gez Baggott as they progressed up the pyramid, was to offer Plymouth based players a high level of non league football. For too many years, they have had to venture outside of the city to the likes of Truro, Dorchester, Weymouth, Taunton and Tiverton in search of step 3/4 (or higher) standard. Off the top of my head, 10 of the title winning squad from last season were local lads (which is probably a quite high ratio for a step 4 club).

Another Fine Mass- My Life In Football by Steve Massey.

Kyle Egan joins from Tiverton and becomes Truro City's fourth signing of the summer. Former Exeter City right back and very highly rated, looks like another excellent addition.

Borussia Dortmund season ticket 2022/23, cheapest one is 240 Euros for 18 home Bundesliga matches. Cost a few quid to get there though...

As for those bloody "suspense building" Twitter trails, I would ban those if I had the power.

Still time yet. Think that Matt Cusack, as an accomplished coach, will have a good look at what he has inherited in pre season training and matches. A few key areas need strengthening, but sure he will apply a bit more thinking to who comes in rather than the scatter gun approach that went before.

It is a public forum, and anybody can contribute (subject to moderation of course), but I've also been wondering why the ex Truro City chairman is taking such an interest in this subject (assuming it is him of course). The mystery deepens...

"A lot of times he was the clubs best ambassador. He got it wrong on a few occasions, on social media or in the dressing room. He is a likeable lad, he was a challenge to manage but I enjoyed the challenge. I didn't want to keep devoting a lot of time to challenges on players." Steve Massey, Falmouth Packet, 24th May 2022.

Notice that Stuart Bowker liked my comment yesterday. No idea of what Dan Hart's or Bowker's plans are, and what budget is available, but what would have thought that Buckland would be an ideal destination for him. Close to where he lives, a statement signing who is proven at step 5 level and a real 100% commitment character who can get the supporters and team mates going. Would be a test of Hart's managerial skills, but he seemed to get the best out of Ben Waters at Launceston last season (another big personality).

As has been said many times on here, would be good if somebody (anybody) from Truro City would explain what is going on. Perhaps get Alex Black (or whoever is calling the shots now) on the Podcast in the new season? Although I am pretty sure you have probably been trying to do this anyway. From a purely economic standpoint, the Mid Cornwall Metro does seem to be a better use of what money is available.

After submitting their resignations last season, it has now been announced by Tavistock that Chair Paul Stapleton and Secretary Barry Jackson have left the club. Official statement from club was notable in that it contained none of the usual, "thanks for their past work" or ,"best wishes for the future" for either.

Ask anybody about Buckland and it is always "nice ground, nice people", Dan Hart will no doubt no thinking of how he can add "but a difficult place to get a result" on the end of that. Huge potential at the club, too many managers seem to have come and gone in recent seasons though. You have to question how much control and power Adam Castle has as the Director Of Football (whatever that is). Harsh fact is that Parkway, Willand, Tavistock and Exmouth have all overtaken them in recent seasons.

I do miss the days of national teams, and the clubs within their respective leagues, having distinctive styles. As an example, watched the Howard's Way documentary about Everton's superb side of the mid 80's recently. It was Trevor Steven who talked about the contrast in styles on display in the Cup Winners Cup semi v Bayern. The German side had their very technical and patient way of playing, Everton on the other hand, battered them physically. Sometimes right on the margins of fair play, but they muscled, tackled and ran them ragged. Nowadays, every thing is coached and analysed to within an inch of its life, and you don't get the contrasting football philosophies coming up against each other.

You have to stop thinking of the Premier League as being merely "sport", but also as being "entertainment" and a "product." Hence the endless hype, the building up of controversy, crisis level punditry when a group of players has the afront to lose a match. the need to create rivalries and the focus on "emotion" and "passion" in the crowds (People screaming obscenities at referees, players and managers. The end of season looks of stunned disbelief and sobbing when their sides are relegated/lose a cup final).

Been a long road back after a few false dawns under the likes of Chris Burchell, Dave Leonard and Darren Edwards. Still trying to erase the John Clarkson weeks in charge from my memory... Remember a pretty dire Liskeard side (who were on there way to finishing bottom and being relegated) playing at Parkway in the 2012/13 season and getting savaged 9 nil, if it was a boxing match then the ref would have stopped the fight. The present team has a good solid nucleus of local lads who've played together for years, and this has helped in rebuilding the links between the town and club. A reward for the work that people such as Martin McHugh put in when they were on the floor. The tie up/merger with St Cleer is a pretty progresive move as well, will be watching with interest how that works out. If successful, it could possibly be a blueprint in sharing resources for other clubs around the county.

Just don't accept that there are a lack of young people who are enthusiastic to play football. Taking the DJM leagues in Plymouth for example, there are over 50 divisions across age groups from under 18's down to under 7. From what I heard as well in various interviews for the Cornish Soccer Podcast last season, age group football in Cornwall seems in pretty good health at the moment for both boys and girls. So, the questions have to be asked, why do youngsters lose interest after under 18's football? Is it work commitments, expense, leaving the area for work or study, other leisure interests, or just don't like the look of it? Perhaps digging into these points, rather than talking about how "the kids of today can't be bothered" will be more revealing (not having a go at you Keith when I say this). Possibly something that the Cornwall FA could conduct a study of.

Tiverton also bringing in Dylan Jones from Merthyr, Frome duo of Kane Simpson and Joe O'Laughlin alongside Tom Purrington from Dorchester. Looks to me like they'll be stronger than last season (where they flirted with the lower reaches of the table before a decent late season run put them in mid table).