A PERFECT start to the new season continued for Ottery St Mary in the South & West Division of the DFL, as they crushed Waldon Athletic 8-1. Liam Carey bagged a hat-trick, there were braces for Pete Grover and Ash Small, with Connor Swingler completing the scoring.

Okehampton Argyle remain in the 100% club but they were made to work very hard by Bere Alston, eventually securing the win with a goal from Luke Mortimore. Jamie Micklewright scored a late winner for Paignton Saints to give them all three points at home to Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves.

In a cracking game at Plymstock United, doubles from Jack Presland and Lloyd Russell gave Lakeside Athletic a 4-2 victory. Sam Davey and Jake Batizovsky were on target for the Stockies.

Plympton Athletic came from behind to defeat Argyle Community Trust 3-1, Tom Parvin scored the only goal in a Torbay derby, as Paignton Villa triumphed at Roselands and there was a 2-1 success for Kingsteignton Rams at Watcombe Wanderers.

In the North & East, Exwick Villa made an early-season statement with a tremendous 4-0 win over the dangerous Newtown, with Jamie Mudge bagging two and further headed goals from Ash Matthews and Sam Johnson.

A brace from Craig Kingswell helped keep the University of Exeter top of the league after a 3-2 success at St Martins, while Teignmouth remain in second after a tightly-contested 1-0 victory at Alphington.

Clyst Valley and Budleigh Salterton shared a 1-1 draw, while Josh Gresham scored twice and a strike from Morgan Cullen gave Exmouth Town Reserves a 3-0 win at Heavitree United.

On Friday night, a double for Dejan Maric, plus goals from Neil Last and Sam Hebbes, helped Liverton United to an entertaining 4-2 success at Bovey Tracey Reserves.

The final two games ended in draws, Witheridge shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw with Braunton, while Bailey Jason-Ryan and Lee Radford were on target for Topsham Town in a 2-2 stalemate with Chudleigh Athletic.

The Devon Football League has today received a communication from the F.A. announcing an extension to ‘behind closed doors’ pre-season matches to National League System Feeder League clubs. This includes the Devon Football League.

The email communication states:

Due to evidence received over this weekend we now need to extend behind closed doors to Regional NLS Feeder League Clubs (Step 7) and this will also apply to pre-season matches played in an NLS or Regional NLS Feeder League ground including, for example, County FA or League Cup Finals.

For the full communication, please click the button below:

The FA have released a package of documents to help clubs and players of all levels to prepare for the return of football.

We have linked to the documents below and all those relevant to the DFL will also be added to the Useful Documents section.

DFL North and East Division side Witheridge are looking for a new First Team Manager/Coach & Linesman after the resignation of the previous incumbent last weekend. Any interested parties have been asked to send an email to
 grahampilsbury@yahoo.co.uk.

Following the Devon Football League’s AGM, the constitution for the 2020/21 season has been officially announced. This is subject to ratification by the Football Association. LMC members remain the same.

South-West Division	North-East Division
Bere Alston United	Alphington
Buckland Athletic Reserves	Bovey Tracey Reserves
Kingsteignton Athletic	Braunton
Lakeside Athletic	Budleigh Salterton
Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves	Chudleigh Athletic
Okehampton Argyle	Clyst Valley
Ottery St. Mary	Exmouth Town Reserves
Plymouth Argyle Development	Exwick Villa
Paignton Saints	Heavitree United
Paignton Villa	Liverton United
Plympton Athletic	Newtown
Plymstock United	St Martins
Roselands	Teignmouth
Totnes & Dartington SC	Topsham Town
Waldon Athletic	University of Exeter
Watcombe Wanderers	Witheridge

Image: (c) MiraclePR

The Premier League, The FA, the government and Sport England have come together through their Football Foundation to launch a new ‘Pitch Preparation Fund’ in support of the game, which is currently facing unprecedented challenges as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.

The fund provides almost £10 million of financial support to those struggling to maintain their football pitches across the country. This is a direct response to a need across the game, providing grants to clubs that have lost out on normal revenue streams during this difficult period and helping them to prepare their pitches after challenging winter weather conditions.

The move will help to get clubs in a position to start playing football again when it is safe to do so, following government advice, and is estimated that to benefit up to 4,000 grassroots clubs and organisations.

A total of £9.56 million has been allocated to the fund, which is open to football clubs and voluntary organisations that maintain their own natural grass pitches and have at least 12 months’ security of tenure.  Clubs with suitable tenure for a 3G artificial grass pitch are also eligible to apply.

Grassroots football clubs and organisations, FA National League System Clubs from Step 1-6, Welsh Cymru Premier League clubs and clubs in The FA Women’s Pyramid (Tier 1-5) that maintain their own natural grass and third generation (3G) artificial grass pitches, are among those eligible to apply for funding.

Robert Sullivan, Football Foundation Interim Chief Executive, said: “This fund reflects the determination of the Premier League, The FA and government to work together to make funding available to help get pitches match-ready for when restrictions are lifted.

“The Football Foundation will work with eligible clubs and community organisations across the country to ensure they get what they need.  We are here to help, so please apply via footballfoundation.org.uk before the deadline of 25 May.”

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “These are unprecedented times, not only within football but for society as a whole, and our thoughts are with all those who have been directly affected by COVID-19.

“On top of our existing financial commitment to football facilities, this funding will ensure vital work can be conducted on pitches across the country to help clubs prepare for when it is safe for the game to resume.”

Mark Bullingham, The FA’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “These are extraordinary and challenging times not just for football, but across society and as always, our first thoughts are with those families affected.

“We remain committed to supporting clubs during this uncertain period and that’s why The FA has joined forces with the Premier League and government to create this new initiative.”

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “We’re doing all we can to help the sport sector through this difficult time and that includes grassroots football that has such a positive impact on millions of people’s lives.

“This funding from the government, the Premier League and The FA will help clubs upgrade their facilities so they are ready to go as soon as it’s safe to start playing again.”

The funding will help eligible clubs with essential maintenance works which could include vertical decompaction, slitting, over seeding, fertilising and weedkilling, as well as routine preparatory works such as grass cutting and the setting out and line marking of pitches. For artificial surfaces, eligible works could include deep cleaning, overmarking and FA pitch testing.

The application window will be open between Thursday 7 May and 9pm on Monday 25 May 2020.

Please visit the Football Foundation website for further details on the fund and how to apply.

THE Football Association has confirmed the 2019-20 season has been terminated with all results expunged due to the Coronavirus.

This decision will mean the Scott Richards Solicitors Devon Football League has sadly come to an early conclusion but we complete understand the decision taken by the FA in these unprecedented times.

The DFL would like to thank all the clubs, players, officials, supporters, volunteers and everyone that makes football such a special game.

We will come back stronger and better than ever before once this crisis is over but, for now, please stay safe and well, and please follow all the advice from the government.

Please see a copy of the full FA statement here.

FOLLOWING further guidance from the FA, all matches in the Scott Richards Solicitors DFL are postponed over the weekend of March 14/15 due to the Coronavirus.

We will provide a further update from our League meeting early next week.

THE weather has continued to dominate football through February but there were some games played in the Scott Richards Solicitors Devon Football League last weekend.

Buckland Athletic is the best place to start and a very difficult time at Homers Heath, as we learned of the sad passing of beloved club chairman Roy Holmes. A wonderful servant of Devon football and Buckland Athletic, our deepest sympathies go out to Roy’s family and friends.

On the pitch, Buckland Athletic Reserves v Lakeside Athletic was one of four games in the South & West Division last weekend, and the two teams served up an absolute cracker, with Buckland running out 5-3 winners to stay top of the table.

Two penalties from Ben Clark, an outrageous effort by Owen Stockton and goals from Charlie Cuss and Zack Chalmers-Wood gave Watcombe a 5-0 win at Ottery St Mary, while there was a brilliant hat-trick from Jamie Micklewright to give Paignton Saints a 3-0 win over Plympton Athletic.

The final game in S&W saw Waldon Athletic win 3-1 at Paignton Villa and just the one game played in North & East, but what a game, as Liverton United and the University of Exeter shared eight goals in a thrilling 4-4 draw.

It is a fascinating weekend of fixtures scheduled in the S&W and a couple of intriguing local derbies, as Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves host Kingsteignton and the Plymouth Argyle Development side travel to Plymstock United.

In N&E, Bovey Tracey Reserves are the latest side to take on the daunting task of a trip to runaway leaders Newtown and two big games in the chasing pack, as Alphington in third host Heavitree in fifth, while second-place Exwick Villa travel to fourth-placed St Martins.

Weekend Fixtures
South & West
Bere Alston United v Waldon Athletic
Lakeside Athletic v Paignton Saints
Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves v Kingsteignton Athletic
Ottery St Mary v Paignton Villa
Plymstock United v Plymouth Argyle Development
Roselands v Watcombe Wanderers
Totnes & Dartington v Tavistock Reserves

Weekend Fixtures
North & East
Alphington v Heavitree United
Braunton v Witheridge
Chudleigh Athletic v Topsham Town
Exmouth Town Reserves v Clyst Valley
Newtown v Bovey Tracey Reserves
St Martins v Exwick Villa
Teignmouth v Liverton United
University of Exeter v Budleigh Salterton

NEWTOWN extended their lead to 13 points at the top of the North & East Division in the Scott Richards Solicitors Devon Football League after a 2-1 win over second-placed Exwick Villa last weekend.

In a thoroughly entertaining and highly competitive encounter between two top sides, a brace from Dale O’Donoghue proved enough for Newtown, despite Villa going ahead through Nathan May and pushing their hosts to the very end in search of an equaliser.

Alphington are in third place after their goal-fest at home to Witheridge. Connor Saunders scored twice and Tom Beddow, Mark Saunders and Bailey Jason-Ryan also scored for the Alphas in a 5-3 win, while Tom Williams, Ashley Harrison and Matt Pengelly notched for Witheridge.

St Martins are another side riding high following their 7-1 trouncing of Liverton and there was also a comfortable 4-1 triumph for Teignmouth at Heavitree United. Bovey Tracey Reserves defeated Chudleigh Athletic 3-0 and a brace for Charlie Nichols, and teenager Tor Swann also on target.

Clyst Valley finally got their first point of the campaign and fully deserved in a 3-3 draw with fellow-strugglers Topsham Town. The last game in the N&E Division ended in a 3-1 win for Exmouth Town Reserves over Budleigh Salterton.

In the South & West Division, Buckland Athletic Reserves consolidated their lead at the top with a battling 2-1 triumph over Watcombe Wanderers, thanks to goals from Dan Rankin and Jacob Scotte, while Joe Constantinou notched for Watcombe.

Waldon Athletic moved into second with a 2-1 win over Lakeside Athletic but Kingsteignton Athletic continue to struggle for consistency after being held to a 3-3 draw at lowly Ottery St Mary. A late winner from Lewis Edwards gave Plympton Athletic a 3-2 home win over Totnes & Dartington.

A double from Jamie Micklewright was a key factor in Paignton Saints winning 3-1 in the local derby with Paignton Villa, but another tough day for Roselands, who were thrashed 8-3 by Bere Alston United. The final game in S&W ended in a 2-1 win for Newton Abbot Spurs Reserves against the Plymouth Argyle Development side.