NOW that the Lapford Lookout has been brought back starting with July 2021 issue, I am taking my information from it: - Journey to the Pinnacle! By the secretary Mr Niall McAreavey,

2014 Winner Division Five

2015 winner Division Four and runners-up of Devon Senior Cup

2016 winner of Division Three and runners-up of Devon Senior Cup

2017 winner of Division Two

2019 winner Division One

2021 winner of Premier West and Winners of Champions, and winner of Division One play-off against Lyme Regis by 1 - 0 played on June 5, 2021 at Topsham FC ground.

The team deserve some credit for massively promoting the name of Lapford AFC across the counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset, as their song goes “We conquered all of Devon from Chagford to Lyme Regis”.

Well done and from me, onwards and upwards for all involved with the club, be it players and coaching staff and all of our supporters, plus more I hope now.

Last of all a little mention to some faces of players of days gone by who have helped and supported the club for many years.

Fred Leach (Mr Football) and captain in my playing days 1954 - 1966, and now our President, plus Arthur Leach and son for the football field at Edgerley, and the raffle king, Gerald Leach, without theirs and many others input in the early years the club wouldn’t be where it is today. Just for the record, Fred and Gerald are the only ones who played in the first match of the season in 1954/5 away against Hatherleigh B winning by 5 - 1, yes I did score a hat-trick playing centre forward.

The next match, at home to Okehampton B by the same score at right half, and Fred said I want you at right back, this I did, but every Saturday I played left back because the other left back worked at the Ambrosia Milk Factory.

Moving on we come to the Throgmorton Champions League Competition for Premier Champions from the North, East, South and West Devon areas.

So, on July 31 the first semi-final is between North Molton (North Devon League) at home to Lapford (Devon and Exeter League). The second semi-final is between Millbridge (Plymouth and West Devon League) at home to The Windmill (South Devon League) with the winners in the final to be played at Coach Road, Newton Abbot, Devon FA Headquarters on August 7, 2021 on the Four-Gee pitch.

Good luck to Lapford.

I am looking to see the teams to play in the premier division of the Joma Devon and Exeter League, to see what teams come out of the woodwork, who didn’t play or pulled-out of the Premier West and East with various voices, or took fright - could be very interesting - say no more.

Gerald Leach