BOVEY Tracey FC got the new season underway with a difficult 4-0 defeat away at Newton Abbot Spurs.

The local(ish) fixture was decided by braces from Toby Pullman and Callum Noyce, with Bovey also having defender Mike Humphreys sent off for over-exuberant complaints towards the referee, in the face of an admittedly baffling decision.

Their season then took another odd turn as Axminster Town AFC were unable to put out a team, meaning Bovey got an away walkover result.

Axminster having had their next couple of games postponed by the Peninsula League as they look to rectify the issues at the club, whilst next up for Tony Radford’s men is a first home game of the campaign. Bishops Lydeard will visit Mill Marsh Park on Saturday 17, as will Liskeard Athletic (FA Vase) and Elburton Villa subsequently.

Talking of Tony Radford and looking ahead at the season on the whole, he described it as “The toughest pre-season I have known.” He went on to add, “with the euros happening and teams of all levels struggling to get commitment from players. It's been hard.”

A summer festival of football that saw England fall at the final hurdle once again clearly has ramifications up and down the football pyramid with everybody wanting to see if the Three Lions could get the job done under Gareth Southgate.

It is always interesting to know how a manager plans for an entire season and Radford interestingly added that, “[Any] goals and targets, in short, no.”

“Can we play attractive football, be hard against the ball, and enjoy our season?” are the parameters which he wants his Bovey team to adhere to rather than aiming for a set finish in the league table or a set amount of points.

Last year, Bovey were one of the chasing pack who couldn’t quite keep up with runaway champions Ivybridge Town. A second-placed finish is massively commendable with the dagger blow being the single promotion slot.

To make matters worse, frequent goalscorer Ollie Aplin departed the Moorlanders and re-joined Ivybridge upon their step up to the next level.

Radford noted on this that “When Weymouth, Plymouth Parkway, and others in leagues above us are interested [in Bovey players], they have my best wishes. But I would also welcome them back to Bovey Tracey at any time.”

At his disposal is a “Half a new squad, and there will be a couple more to come” with the current crop being described as “together” and technical”.

Finally, when it comes to competing across various competitions, the manager said as follows. “We have a tough FA Vase fixture in Liskeard but a Vase run, and League Cup run would be great. The final was held at Bovey Tracey last season so it would be great to have the trophy there for us.”