THE five Post area clubs who competed in last year’s Carlsberg South West Peninsula League’s three divisions have found out their fate for the 2019/20 season after the league was revamped to form a new Premier Division East and West.

The South West Peninsula League was formed 12 years ago — but the structure of a Premier, Division One (West) and Division One (East) are no more with there now being two 20-team leagues across Devon and Cornwall.

Nine teams from last year’s Division One (West) will move up to Step Six although that won’t include Bude Town who will play in the newly-formed St Piran’s League. They finished third bottom last term and as a result will take on the reserve teams of St Austell and Wadebridge Town amongst others.

Holsworthy finished eighth in last year’s Division One (West) but have been placed in Premier East meaning they face long trips to the likes of Sidmouth Town, Axminster Town and Ilfracombe Town.

Launceston, Camelford and Callington Town were all in the Premier last term and will all take their place in the Premier Division West, although all finished in the bottom four above basement side Sticker.

They are among 11 teams from last year’s Premier with nine clubs moving up from Division One (West).

The full divisions are as follows:

Premier West —

AFC St Austell; Bodmin Town; Callington Town; Camelford; Dobwalls; Falmouth Town; Godolphin Atlantic (Newquay); Helston Athletic; Launceston; Liskeard Athletic; Mousehole; Newquay; Penzance; Porthleven; Saltash United; St Blazey; St Dennis; Sticker; Wadebridge Town; Wendron United

Premier East —

Axminster Town; Bovey Tracey; Brixham; Crediton United; Cullompton Rangers; Dartmouth; Elburton Villa; Elmore; Holsworthy; Honiton Town; Ilfracombe Town; Ivybridge Town; Millbrook; Newton Abbot Spurs; Plymouth Marjon; Sidmouth Town; Stoke Gabriel; Torpoint Athletic; Torridgeside; Torrington

South West Peninsula League secretary, Phil Hiscox, explains the changes.

He said: “The restructure is aimed at reducing travel for the majority of clubs at both Step 6 and at Step 7 and also by bringing more clubs into the pyramid system then more of them will have opportunities to access FA/Football Foundation grants that are aimed at pyramid clubs, such as floodlights at Step 6.

“The re-structure was decided by the FA but only after a period of consultation with leagues, county FAs and clubs — most reaction has been positive as most clubs will benefit from more local games and access to funding, but clearly some clubs are bigger winners than others, Holsworthy lose some local games as they have been placed in the East but also have been given promotion to Step 6.

“The new set up has mirrored Step Seven being given back to counties which has been happening nationally and will ensure more local management, the Peninsula will provide the first rung of regional football that is governed by Wembley but with a board made up of people from throughout Devon and Cornwall. The new set-up is intended to be permanent and to provide more movement up and down each year, and consistency so that clubs know results on the pitch will decided promotion and relegation, however like all new set ups it is expected that some teething problems could occur and the new system will be monitored and can be changed if circumstances dictate.

So how does promotion and relegation work and what about the standard?

He said: “Promotion and relegation links will be with the Western League above with Peninsula East and West champions eligible to go straight into Western League Premier, at the bottom end clubs can be relegated to and promoted from the new Devon Football League or St Piran’s League in Cornwall.

“The overall playing quality will probably drop a touch as the steps are more watered down, but it is also hoped that the improvement in facilities and the reduction in travel will encourage the best players locally to play at the highest level that they are able to.”

Long-serving Camelford manager Reg Hambly is excited at the changes.

He said: “From our point of view, we were situated sort of midway in the old league. We enjoyed the league and our trips to Devon as we were quite central but the new league will create local derbies and hopefully generate more interest so we’re looking forward to the new season with a degree of interest and excitement.”

Hambly believes that the new structure will see plenty of player movement so isn’t entirely sure what to expect.

He said: “There might be players who want to stay and play in Cornwall so you might find other teams strengthening. I don’t expect all the players at some clubs to stay where they are.”

Although the likes of Saltash United (last year’s winners of the Walter C Parson Funeral Directors League Cup and fourth in the SWPL Premier) will take on the likes of Wendron United and Penzance who were mid-table in Division One (West), meaning potentially some one-sided fixtures on paper, Hambly believes the standard won’t be much different.

He said: “I think it’ll be a strong league, the teams coming up from the west usually do well, especially in the first couple of seasons, so they’ll be up for it.

“We’re expecting it to be a good league.”

On the other hand up at Pennygillam, Launceston believe that the changes are ‘unnecessary’. In a strong statement, the club said: “We’re unhappy about the new structure and, in particular, the way it was imposed. It was drafted and agreed at national level, with no consultation. It may work in the Home Counties but because of unique geographical characteristics, the Devon and Cornwall region needed to be assessed separately. It wasn’t, so we struggle to see any significant benefits.”

Launceston is situated on the Devon/Cornwall border, meaning travelling for them in the old structure wasn’t a problem.

They say: “With Launceston located close to the county boundary, we will experience an increase in travelling, a reduction in local derby fixtures and a likely drop in crowds. The two best-supported teams at Pennygillam last season were Exmouth Town and Tavistock, both Devon clubs. It might be good news for the cluster of clubs based in the far South West of the county, but they will each involve round trips of up to 145 miles for us, to play in front of sub-100 crowds. Our distance travelled will increase by 13% next season, directly at odds with one of the main stated FA objectives.

“Compulsory promotion for title-winning clubs, allied to rigorously applied financial penalties for those refusing to comply, would have achieved the same outcome without dismantling a structure which was working well. It’s disappointing, poorly constructed and unnecessary.”

Callington are situated within 15 minutes of Launceston but aren’t too worried.

In a club statement, they said: “We have made sure we have been kept up to date on the proposed changes and our first team will now be in the Step 6 Cornwall League and, subject to approval from the FA, our seconds will play in the Step 7 St Piran’s East League.  For the both teams travelling will not be much different. The new Cornwall league means that we replace long trips to East Devon with the same distance to the west and for the seconds it is a similar story.”

Holsworthy will replace trips to the likes of Mousehole and Penzance in the far west of Cornwall with long treks to East Devon, and manager Liam Dart can’t wait.

He said: “We were told over a year ago that it would become a Devon and a Cornwall league. We wanted to go into the Devon side and it’s good to have a change. In fact, we are returning to where we used to be as it’s the same set up as the old Devon Firewatch League and South Western League.

“It can only be good as it’s a step up in level. I think the standard of the league will be good; not as high as the previous Peninsula Premier League but a good change for us.”

The traditional Boxing Day and Good Friday clashes with Bude Town will be a thing of the past for the foreseeable future, although Dart hopes to get to face some of Devon’s professional clubs.

He said: “We only had one derby game previously which was Bude. Financially that will be a hit from the home game but we have Torrington, Torridgeside even Ilfracombe as another North Devon Club and we may get Exeter City, Torquay United or Plymouth Argyle in the Devon St Lukes bowl, so the loss of the Bude game maybe offset if we get one of them.

But the players are happy. There’s less travelling, new grounds, new challenges and a step up in level. The leagues have changed we have improved the level of football on offer in the town, you can only be positive about progressing it’s easy to stay where you are and stagnate. Do you want to put lid on the club or open the lid and see what’s outside? We are seeing what’s outside and have to be progressive and ambitious and this is what we are trying and everyone is looking forward to it.

“Our current squad have all committed so far to stay next season and I am looking to strengthen our squad in key areas to complement and improve the squad we already have.

“Off the pitch we have continued sponsorship with Tamar Trading Ltd. We have a new kit and tracksuits for the season ahead and are partnering with SWAZ Sports. Tamar Trading Ltd are our main club sponsors for the next three years, Trewin Design Architects are our tracksuit sponsors for the next three seasons and AS Excavation are sponsoring the back of our shirts for the next three seasons.”

If you have any thoughts on the changes and how it’ll affect the local football scene, email [email protected]