FOLLOWING the excitement of their 1990-91 Western League opening season Crediton United were looking forward to the new 1991-2 season in the Western League.

The Club had, over the space of three or four seasons, risen from a “local” Devon and Exeter side to being a “regional” football Club with the chance to play in the “national” F.A.Vase competition.

The team had made a flying start to the 1991-92 season with six wins out of the first eight games including beating Torquay United Reserves 3-1 and on October 5, triumphed in deep Cornwall with a 2-1 victory at St Blazey in the FA Vase, only to lose in the competition a month later in a 2-1 defeat at Torrington.

Manager Trevor Atkins had strengthened his team in the previous summer months now knowing that the Club team was capable of holding its own in this standard.

So he started focussing his thoughts on another promotion, to the Western League Premier Division. After 42 games in 1991-92 the team finished in third place in the League behind Westbury United and Torquay United Reserves.

As usual with Trevor Atkins defensive priority the statistics for the season show that no other team in the division conceded less goals than Crediton but all 10 teams immediately below Crediton scored more goals than United’s total of 57. Westbury and Torquay were promoted and Crediton remained for another season in the First Division.

In the early 1990’s the number of Clubs who had acquired good enough facilities to gain promotion to the Western League were few and this is clearly shown by the fact that Heavitree United finished the 1991-2 season winning only two and drawing two of their 40 games but with only eight points still avoided relegation.

Bath City Reserves withdrew allowing a total of three teams Clyst Rovers, Ottery St Mary and Welton Rovers to join the division for the 1992-93 season.

So for Trevor Atkins, Club committee and supporters a great success bringing thoughts for a real push for promotion the following season.

The main stumbling block was that at the next level Clubs needed floodlighting.

So planning permission was obtained and foundations were dug and concreted in during mid summer by Mickey Stevens, John Guy, Jon Skinner Dave Blanchford and Chris Gillard.

The floodlights were provided thanks to a special deal arranged by the Western League with Thorn Lighting and the lights installation carried out by, the late, Alan Gilbert’s Company and the lights were up and running in time for a 1-0 win against Heavitree United on August Bank Holiday, August 31, 1992.

A few weeks before the summer break United had been able to play a friendly with league team Shrewsbury Town.

In those days many lower league clubs used to come to the South West for pre-season training and play local Clubs before they were rich enough to travel to Mediterranean spots.

United had made a blistering start to the season losing only one game in their opening 15 games.

By the turn of the year United had won 10, drawn five and lost three games. Trevor Atkins had recruited three top goalscorers in the shape of Neil Gauntlet, Russell Dawson and Andy Hawes, a very talented trio.

The same day that the team’s season had commenced the first game of the new Devon County Premier League was played at Willand with Newton Abbot the visitors.

The Devon County FA who had been debating whether to form this league for many years and finally it got off the ground. This would eventually play a big part in Crediton’s future.

United’s success carried on into 1993 and by the end of the season had secured a place in the top three of the First Division. They had missed automatic promotion by one point but were promoted due to a withdrawal from the League.

So the following season we took our place in the Premier Division and yet another new adventure began. The 1992/3 season had been one of the most successful ever without winning anything. The social side was very successful and all this during the duration of the early 90’s national recession.

The 1993/4 season was to prove more difficult with the likes of Tiverton, Taunton, Mangotsfield and Saltash dominating the league. We had a satisfactorily successful season finishing in 10th position.

Other Clubs, however, had taken notice of our players and we were victims of our own success as several were enticed away from the Club with the promise of big money.

On top of this, nearby clubs were falling by the wayside and the two Divisions were becoming dominated by eastern-based Clubs meaning an increase in travelling time and the cost of travel.

Chris Gillard