AFTER suffering two frustrating seasons of interrupted and unfinished football, Crediton United is looking forward to a return to normality when an early start to the season kicks off for the South West Peninsula East Division next Tuesday, August 10, with Holsworthy AFC the first visitors to Lords Meadow.

Attendance at pre-season training and friendly matches has been excellent with an influx of new and promising players whilst the bulk of the team’s regular players are still available for selection. So hopefully there is going to be some severe competition for starting places.

Pre-season friendly matches have gone well for the first team with good home performances against Western League Wellington (3-4) and Ilfracombe (2-1), and Devon League teams Alphington (5-1), Topsham (2-2) and one away trip to the astro-turf of Exwick Villa (2-3).

Matt Trenaman will now be starting his ninth season in charge of United’s First team, (closing in on Trevor Atkins’ nine years and a “bit” in charge) plus one year - 2012/13 - as Reserve team manager.

Reserve team manager Danny Harvey has also had a good start to the season with new assistant manager Mathew Leach bringing in an influx of new players. Their results against Chagford (2-0), Chudleigh (5-0), Winkleigh (1-3), Alphington Res (1-2) and Broadclyst (2-0) were also promising.

One of the most pleasing features of the summer months has been the formation of the new adult Women’s Team with Sean Hartrey and David Hartshorne stepping up from youth football as managers - a move that the club has been anxious to develop for several years.

The problem has always been the potential over-use of the Club’s main pitch in the winter months for Sunday games. But a back-up arrangement has been made with the Youth section to use one of their pitches if the main pitch is unplayable after a Saturday game.

The enforced spring and summer months break has provided an opportunity for some badly needed facility updating around the ground and changing rooms.

Thanks to some Mid Devon District Council grants, government business help, and grants from Devon County FA and the Football Association, changing rooms have been updated, trees obstructing floodlights have been lopped, the now 40 years-old shower units have been updated and a new shower boiler is due to be fitted later in the summer as well as replacement fencing along the Commercial Road end.

Two new big TV screens plus a large wall projector have been installed in the clubhouse, which proved to be a sell-out attraction over the Euro Cup matches.

We are particularly grateful for all the voluntary work done by committee members, supporters and players tidying up the ground area and changing rooms and in particular Roger Ingram and Callum Vanstone for the many hours spent updating the changing rooms.

Match day ground admission has been frozen at £5 with concessions of £3.50 for senior supporters and under 16’s free. We are now looking forward to the season’s first game and welcoming our supporters back to Lords Meadow for what we hope is a successful season. 

We have four home fixtures in August as follows: 

Tuesday, August 10 - Holsworthy AFC 7.30pm

Tuesday, August 17 - Torrington AFC 7.30pm

Saturday, August 21 - Newton Abbot Spurs 3pm

Saturday, August 28 - Torpoint 3pm.

Finally – after nearly 40 years editing and producing match day programmes I have broken my pencil and am looking for a successor to take over. If there is anyone who has the time and interest please let me know.

Chris Gillard