Report ©Tom Besford. Photo ©Danni Hide Photography
With a blink of an eye, the new season is upon us already as the A&S Interiors Devon Football League enter their second season as a one division league. Last season it was an enjoyable campaign eventually won by University of Exeter, however, following their denied promotion by the FA, they will be hoping to once again reclaim the title.
The 2024/2025 season starts this weekend with two special opening fixtures on the Thursday and Friday before the rest of the games on Saturday. With the late withdrawal of Barnstaple Town Reserves, the league are now running with an odd amount of teams which means that every week one club will be without a game, this week it is reigning champions University of Exeter.
LAKESIDE ATHLETIC v PLYMOUTH MARJON:
The Thursday night opener to the new season will take place in Plymouth with only the third league fixture between these two sides in the Devon Football League. Last season, Plymouth Marjon finished fourth in the league and were semi-finalists in the League cup, a run in the competition which included victory at Lakeside in the quarter finals 3-1. Both league games between the sides were played in the first half of the season and both games ended in a 2-2 draw. Hopefully we can get a winner on Thursday night to start the season in style.
BUDLEIGH SALTERTON v ALPHINGTON:
Alphington return to the Devon Football League for their second spell and kick off the new season with a Friday Night fixture at Budleigh Salterton, a side who they will know very well. Both clubs have played in the same division for thirty seasons prior to Alphington leaving the Devon League to play in the Devon & Exeter League a few years back. Budleigh finished last season in seventh and only lost four home games in the league whilst Alphington know all about winning having only lost three games in the last two seasons.
BEER ALBION v PLYMSTOCK UNITED:
Plymstock United were founder members of the Devon County League in 1992 and have played at this level every season since. They start their new campaign on the road at a strong Beer Albion side who are only entering their third season at this level of football but have enjoyed plenty of success with a league title and two league cups in that time! Beer Albion won both league games comfortably last season and even won 4-1 against Plymstock in the ThirstFitness League Cup. Plymstock will be out for revenge this season as Beer Albion will be hoping for a strong start to the season to launch another push at the top of the table this season.
DARTMOUTH v TOPSHAM TOWN:
Dartmouth had a season to forget last time out as they were relegated from the South West Peninsula League Premier East with just two wins in thirty two league games. The last time these two sides met in a league game was during the 2003/2004 Devon County League season when Dartmouth won their away match 6-1 before drawing the home game later in the campaign. You would have to go back to March 2001 for the last time Topsham Town beat Dartmouth, winning 2-1. Topsham will be hoping to start their season with a win on the road whilst Dartmouth will be wanting the three points to start their push for promotion back to the Peninsula League.
IPPLEPEN ATHLETIC v OTTERY ST MARY:
Last season was the first time these two sides met in a league match and Ipplepen took four points from the two matches with a 1-1 home draw followed by an impressive 4-1 win on the road. Some end of season form saw Ipplepen rise to a twelfth place finish last season whilst Ottery finished in fourteenth place. Will Ottery be able to pick up their first win against the Pens or will Ipplepen continue their unbeaten run against the Otters?
NEWTOWN v APPLEDORE:
Appledore picked up all six points against Newtown last season with a 3-2 win at home in August followed by a 3-0 victory on the road in May where they were presented with their runners-up medals. Last season, Newtown finished in sixth position in the league and will be hoping to finish higher this season, but both teams will be looking for a quick start to the new season in a competitive division.
THORVERTON v ELMORE:
This will only be the third meeting between these two clubs who finished level on points last season after thirty two games each. It was the former Western League club that picked up six points last campaign as Elmore won their home game 3-2 and the away game 2-0. The hosts will be hoping to make home advantage count as they will be eager for a good start to the new season with a first victory over Elmore.