ANOTHER season of football is upon us and two local teams are set to face each other on the opening day of 2024/25.

Bovey Tracey were second to the brilliant Ivybridge Town who topped the standings by a whopping 26 points, and to rub further salt into the wounds, they stole a key Bovey player in the off-season as well.

Ollie Aplin was a lethal goal scorer in the Bovey colours, winning Golden Boots and other awards for his efforts, but he has rejoined his former club Ivybridge following their promotion to a higher level.

Whilst Bovey finished as runners-up in the Premier East, Newton Abbot Spurs were in sixth on just two less points.

In the 2023/24 campaign, the separation between second and eighth was practically non-existent it was that close. The aforementioned Bovey accrued a total of 58 points whereas Elburton Villa in eighth had 54.

Also in and amongst this group were Crediton United (55pts), Newton Spurs (56pts), Okehampton Argyle (56pts), Bridport FC (57pts) and Axminster Town (58pts).

There was so little to split this group with four of the six each winning 16 games and so it is incredibly difficult to predict how the weekend’s clash between Bovey and Spurs will go.

Buckland Athletic meanwhile are in FA Cup action and they will welcome Wellington United to Homers Heath.

Their first taste of league football this season then arrives on August 10 when they travel to face Oldland Abbotonians at the Aitchison Playing Fields. A mid-week game on the road against Saltash United succeeds that and then the home campaign gets underway when Nailsea & Tickenham 1st come to town on August 17.

Moving on now to Newton Abbot 66 and their first team still have a while to wait until they get the ball rolling.

Key fixtures come thick and fast with local clashes against Kingsteignton Athletic on September 14 at Osborne Park and Newton Abbot Spurs 2nd XI in mid-October, also on home soil.

Lastly to Teignmouth A.F.C. and it all begins for them at St. Mary’s Field on August 3 when they visit Bridport FC.

After three away fixtures to get the new season going, they can welcome Torrington FC to Teignmouth on August 17.