Helston Athletic v Saltash United

Helston Athletic Football Club - Founded 1896

CLUB HONOURS

*Front cover picture courtesy of Tyler Bowden Photography*

Welcome to Kellaway Park, the home of ‘The Blues’ of Helston Athletic Football Club.

The 22/23 season was without doubt the club’s most successful of recent times, if not that of any in the clubs one hundred and twenty seven year history.

Whilst progressing further in The FA Cup than ever before in addition to completing a Cornwall Senior Cup and Western League Les Phillips Cup double exceeded expectations, an early FA Vase exit along with finishing sixth in the league has given room for yet further gains to be achieved.

Away from the flagship the wider club triumphed in three additional county cup competitions whilst finishing as runners up in a further two. Several youth teams were also crowned league and / or league cup champions.

Win or lose the club and town remain proud of everyone who represented Helston Athletic Football Club last season.

As a club we continue to strive for continued improvement both on and off the field of play. Over the forthcoming months we hope the results of the dedication and hard work of those who give up so much of their time will continue to enhance your match day experience whether you are a player, an official or a spectator.

Compliance has become ever more important to help ensure everybody enjoys their football in the safest of environments. Helston Athletic Football Club are therefore pleased to share that it was recently awarded an England Football Accredited Club 3* rating. The award reflects the club’s commitment to the future of football within our local community.

As always, the club remains extremely grateful for the valuable contributions of the numerous organisations, businesses and volunteers who continue to support us. Without your individual support running a successful football club for all ages would be impossible –thank you.

Finally, we hope you enjoy your visit to Kellaway Park today, so much so that you return very soon.

Here’s to another successful year of footballing action and for all things Helston.

Good Afternoon One & All,

Never in a month of Sundays did I think I would be writing ‘From The Chairman' ahead of a home tie being played in Devon versus Cornish rivals. Like so many things these days, I guess we can put this rare event down to the impact of global warming.

On behalf of Helston Athletic Football Club may I welcome the players, officials and supporters of Saltash United, along with match officials Jonothan Green, Barry Raiker and Nicholas Stephens, to Coach Road, the HQ of Devon FA.

To have not been able to host any football at Kellaway Park over the Easter weekend, not dissimilar to many other clubs across the South West, was a bitter disappointment, no more so than for the club volunteers who gave up so much of their time both on and off the pitch preparing for two local derbies. Not wanting to be beaten by the weather for a further weekend, may I take this opportunity to thank Devon FA for allowing today’s fixture to played here at the excellent facilities of Coach Road. Given the continuing decline in winter conditions surely a ground similar to this is now very much overdue in the Duchy. Let's hope for some positive news from the Cornwall FA, or maybe even others, in the not too distant future.

Today’s league fixture comes off the back of surrendering our hold on the Les Phillips Cup at the hands of Barnstaple Town on Easter Monday. I know Matt, Dan and the lads are hurting from the manner of such defeat and will doing all they can to return to winning ways this afternoon, particularly given we are now very much at the business end of season with a further six fixtures to play, after today, in just three weeks.

Following the juggling of the rearranged date of last weekends postponed fixture between Helston and Falmouth Town, this will now be played on Thursday 18th April, KO 7:45pm. The match has the potential of being the most crucial of fixtures between two Cornish clubs in the modern era. This will be one no local football fan will want to miss so be sure to keep a close eye on both clubs social media platforms for full match details as we edge ever closer to ‘Showdown’.

To all in attendance this afternoon thank for your support under such unusual circumstances. Please be sure to enjoy the game

Paul Hendy (Chairman)

Today’s Fixtures

Toolstation Western League Premier Division

Bridgwater United v Ilfracombe Town

Buckland Athletic v Shepton Mallet

Falmouth Town v Clevedon Town

Helston Athletic v Saltash United

Millbrook v Oldland Abbotonians

Nailsea & Tickenham v Brixham

St Blazey v Welton Rovers

Street v Barnstaple Town

Toolstation Western League Division One

Bitton v Bristol Telephones

Bradford Town v Shirehampton

Brislington v Gillingham Town

Cheddar v Hengrove Athletic

Cribbs Reserves v Cadbury Heath

Hallen v AEK Boco

Longwell Green Sports v Wells City

Odd Down v Bishop Sutton

Portishead Town v Warminster Town

Wincanton Town v Middlezoy Rovers

Interest in promotion from the Premier Division of the Toolstation Western League will be extended from the top two places to the top five, in the 2023/24 season. The Football Association have announced that next season, there will be a fourteam Play-Off in each of the sixteen Step 5 divisions, the level of the non-league pyramid occupied by the Western Leagues Premier Division, guaranteeing a second promotion place into the Southern League. Last season, Saltash United were denied promotion by Bristol Manor Farm, who managed to retain their Southern League status, defeating their Western League rivals at the Creek.

The FA’s proposals for promotion and relegation, announced in March 2023, have signalled that the inter-step play off is a thing of the past, with Western League Clubs now competing against each other for a playoff place, subject to their facilities meeting ground grading requirements.

Next season, two sides are set to be relegated from the Southern League Division One South, as the FA seek to increase the divisional size at Step 4 to 22 Clubs per division. The FA’s latest reorganisation is good news for Western League Premier Division Clubs as only one side will be liable for relegation next season. From the 2024/25 season, the FA have announced their intention that four Clubs will be relegated from Southern League Division One South, along with the other seven divisions that cover the country at Step 4.

However, the future of the Western League is uncertain going into the 2024/25 season, with an FA working group currently looking into the future structure of Step 5 and 6 football in the South West, following the collapse of the merger between the South West Peninsula League and the Western League, earlier this year.

Should the FA undertake a reorganisation of football in the South West and create an additional Step 5 Division to address the considerable travel distances Clubs currently face, this may impact both how and how many sides are promoted and relegated across the region.

South West Women’s Regional Football League (Western Div.)

St PIRAN LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION (WEST)

Development 1

League Table 2023/2024

ST PIRAN LEAGUE DIVISION 1 (WEST)

Development II

Table 2023/2024

ST PIRAN LEAGUE DIVISION 1 (WEST)

Blue & White shirts

Blue & White shorts

Blue socks

Kyle MOORE (GK)

Dave BARKER

Tyler ELLIOTT

Callum MARTINDALE

Callum O’BRIEN

Jordan BENTLEY

Aaron BENTLEY

Harrison JEWELL (c)

Steve COLWELL

Jacob SMITH

Tom PAYNE

Gregory EASTMAN

Kai CORNISH

Jordan COPP

Rikki SHEPHERD

Curtis DAMERELL

Sam CARTER

Adam CARTER

Jamie SIMMONDS

Manager/Coach

Asst. Manager

Physio

Matt CUSACK

Dan HARRISON

Jaimie OSBORNE

Referee

Jonothan GREEN

Red/White shirts

Black shorts

Red socks

Jordan DUFFY (GK)

Ben GOULTY

Ethan WRIGHT

Ed GOODMAN (c)

Ben FOWLES

Laurence MURRAY

Kieran O’MELIA

Joe PREECE

Jake CURTIS

Aaron GOULTY

Jordan EWING

Alfie ECCLES (GK)

The Ashes FANS

Tylor LOVE-HOLMES

Jake FOSTER

Tom HUYTON

Josh TOULSON

Tom BADCOTT

Jack KELSEY

Management

Kitman

Physio

Macca BROWN

Lee BRITCHFORD

Jamie HOLT

Nat HOLT

Assistants

Barry RAIKER Nicholas

SALTASH UNITED

Football in Saltash was first played as long ago as 1893. Teams played under several names – Essa, Saltash Stars and Saltash Town among them. The Saltash team disbanded with the onset of the Second World War but a new club, Saltash United, was formed for the 1946–47 season, playing in the Cornwall Senior League Eastern Section.

In the 1950–51 season the Ashes won the "Triple Crown" taking all three Cornish senior trophies: the Cornwall Senior Cup, the Durning Lawrence Charity Cup and the Herald Cup. In 1951/52 Saltash United made the move to its current location at Kimberley Stadium. The same season saw the formation of the South Western League and being the top club in Cornwall at the time Saltash United became founder members of the league. Runners up in the league’s opening season the Ashes were the first team to win the South Western League Cup defeating. Torquay United’s Reserve team 3-2 in the final.

Two seasons later, they won the title in the 1953–54 campaign. The club stayed in the South Western league until the end of the 1976 season except for a four-season period when they left the league at the end of the 1958–59 campaign and re-joined again for the 1962–63 season. In their last season in the South Western League, 1975–76, they won the league for a second time. On gaining promotion from the South Western League to the Western League in 1976, Saltash won the First Division Championship in their first season. The Ashes went on to become one of the great forces in the Western League Premier Division during the 80's in which barely a season went by without the team securing at least one piece of silverware.

Irregular entrants since 1970, Saltash fell agonisingly close to reaching the FA Cup first round in 1987. Farnborough F.C., then of the Isthmian League Premier Division, won the Fourth Round Qualifying tie, ending the most successful run for Saltash in the famous knockout cup competition's history. Farnborough went on to lose 2–1 to Cambridge United in the First Round.

By the end of the 1994–95 season the club returned to the South Western League as the high travelling expense of competing in the Western League took its toll. Former European Cup winner Allan Evans became manager in 2002 and his influence was immediately felt with new players and a new approach to club discipline and training.

Despite re-joining the Western League First Division for 2 seasons in 2004–05 and 2005–06, the club have since been unable to repeat the success of the 1980s. In 2007, they joined the newly formed South West Peninsula League finishing the inaugural season as runners-up.

Since Saltash joined the South West Peninsular League Premier Division in 2007 when the South Western League and Devon County League merged, they have always been in the top half of the table. Their best finish was runners up in 2007/08 and 2016/17 seasons and their lowest finish was in the 2009/10 season when they finished ninth.

SALTASH UNITED

The club broke their record for most consecutive wins at the start of a season by beating St Blazey 5-0 on 27 August 2016. During their time in the league, they have won the Charity bowl in 2008.

During the Peninsula league era they came runners up in the Cornwall Senior Cup in 2007/08 losing 2-1 to Truro City, 2011/12 losing 3-2 to Bodmin Town and 2016/17 losing 2-1 to Bodmin Town. Season 2017/18 saw the Ashes lift the Senior Cup beating Mousehole 3-1 in the final. In season 2018/19 they were unable to retain the Cornwall Senior Cup, losing 2-1 to Falmouth in the final however revenge was sweet when two weeks later Saltash beat Falmouth 1-0 to win the Peninsular League Cup.

Following the two curtailed Covid seasons, Saltash were promoted to the Toolstation Western League following the FA reshuffle of the FA League Pyramid. Promotion was awarded on a Points per game basis achieved over the two seasons, Saltash achieved an average of greater than 2.8 points per game which was the greatest number in the country.

SALTASH UNITED’S HONOURS

Cornwall Senior Cup Winners

50/51. 74/75. 81/82. 87/88. 90/91. 92/93. 17/18

Runners-up:

51/52. 80/81. 86/87. 88/89. 03/04. 07/08. 11/12. 16/17. 18/19

Charity Cup Winners: 50/51. 00/01.

South Western League Champions: 53/54. 75/76.

Runners-up: 52/53. 73/74. 74/75. 06/07.

South Western League Challenge Cup Winners: 69/70

Western League Division 1 Champions: 76/77

Western League Premier Champions

84/85. 86/86. 88/89

Runners-up: 83/84. 87/88.

Western League Cup Winners: 86/87. 87/88

South West Peninsula Premier League: Runners-up 07/08. 16/17

SWPL

Charity Bowl Winner: 2008. 2019

Player Profiles...

Kyle MOORE (GK). KylejoineduspartwaythroughtheseasonfromPlymouth Parkwayandwaspartoftheteamthatwonbacktobackpromotions.Anexcellent shotstopperanddistributoroftheball,he’lladdgreatvaluetoournewcampaign.

Jordan BENTLEY. Jordanentershis3rdseasonwiththeclub.Hecontinuestobea dominantCBwhocanplaywithindifferentformations.andwaspartofourcupdoublesuccessinthepreviouscampaign.

Aaron BENTLEY. Aaronentershis3rdseasonwiththeclub.Heisatechnicallyefficientdefenderwithattributestoplayinotherpositions.Aaronhasanexcellentfootballpedigreeandhasoperatedathigherlevels.

Harrison JEWELL (Capt) Anexceptionalseasonlastyear,HputinmanyM.O.Mperformancesandwon2ofourendofseasonawards.AninfluentialCBwhohasalso beenmadecaptainforthiscampaign.

Callum O’BRIEN. Athrowbacktohowdefendersusedtobe,nononsenseandhard hitting.Lethalatsetplaysandcanplayonthedeckaswell.Deceptivelyquickover 10-15metres.

Callum MARTINDALE. Callumisatechnicallygiftedleftbackwhohasbrought addedqualitytoourlefthandside.CallumhasenjoyedspellsatTauntonTown,PlymouthParkwayandSaltashUnitedwherehepreviouslyworkedwiththemanager. Expecttoseehimimpactinggamesatbothendsofthepitch.

Dave BARKER. Hassetthestandardforrightsidedfullbacks/wingbacksoverthe pastfiveyears.Barksregularlychipsinwithdoublefigureseachseason,aremarkablestatgivenhisposition.Heactuallygrabbeda90thminutewinnerhereforhis formerclubSaltashlastseason.Hewillbringvalueatbothendsofthepitchwith addedleadershipqualities.

Tom PAYNE. Payneyhadanexceptionalcampaignlastseason.Hechippedinwith 15goalsand15assistsfrommidfield,andscoredinthefirstofourtwocupfinal triumphslastcampaign.

Greg EASTMAN. GregjoinsusfromWadebridgeTownandhasalreadyimpressed onthetrainingground.Aleftfootedtechnicianadeptatplayingasabasemidfielder orasanumber8.Wehavehighhopesforhimmovingforward.

Jacob SMITH. Theyoungestofoursummersignings.Playedthemostnumberof gamesforTorpointlastseasonasabasemidfielder.Hasworkedwiththemanager beforeatPlymouthParkway.Hasputinsomeimpressiveperformancesinpreseasonandcontinuestoadoptandexcellentapproachonthetrainingground. Stevie COLWELL. Steviehasoperatedathigherlevelshavingpreviouslyplayed withWeymouth,Tivertonandmorerecently,PlymouthParkway.Aballplaying midfielderwithexceptionaltechnicalandtacticalquality.

Tyler ELLIOTT. Tyisaversatileplayerthatcanoperateinmanypositionswithin theteam.Lastseasonhewasregularlyimpactinggamesfromwiderpositions.He hasaterrificworkethicandappetiteforthegame.

Kai CORNISH. Kaihasnowcompletedhisuniversitystudiesandthereforefeelslike anewsigning.Anaccomplisheddribblerthatcanimpactsgamesinthefinalthird. Wearehopefulitwillbeabigcampaignforhim.

Sam CARTER. Cart’sseasonhadliftoffaroundSeptemberlastcampaign.Hefound himselfamongstthegoalsandassistsfromanattackingmidfieldposition.Extremelyathletic,Cartswillbelookingtobuildonhissuccessfulcampaignlasttime around.

Jordan COPP. Jordanisoneofthemosttechnicallygiftedplayersthemanagerhas workedwith.HebringsbagsofexperienceandpedigreehavingoperatedatStep2 withWeymouth.Anattackingplayerofexceptionalqualitywhocanoperatewide orcentrally.Hecreated18assistsinthelastcampaign.

Rikki SHEPHERD. Rikkiisalightningquickstrikerwhofinishedtopscorerlast campaignwith26goals.Heprovedabiggameplayerscoringinbothofourcup winningfinals.Weareexpectingmorebigthingsthisseason.

Jamie SIMMONDS. Themanagerhonestlydoesn’tknowhowthisladgetsthrough eachday!Asidefromthat,heisstartingtoflourishasafootballerinthisenvironmentandismoreregularlyimpactinggamesinoffensivepositions.Jamieisoneof thebesttechniciansintheteamandweareexpectingbigthingsfromhimthisseason.

Curtis DAMERELL. AnothermanagerdescribedCurtisas‘thecompletenumber9’. HewasjointtopscorerintheWesternLeaguelastseason.Curtishashadaslower starttothepre-seasonduetoinjury.Howeverheisnowwellontheroadtorecoveryandisgettingbetterallthetimeonthetraininggroundandinmatches.Expect himtoaddhugevaluetothefrontlinethisseason.

Helston Athletic is a well established Community based football club offering all that visit a warm and friendly welcome. The Club’s ground, Kellaway Park, offers great playing and clubhouse facilities.

In recent years, the Club has been successful both on and off the pitch and, as a result, we are now looking for additional people to join our team. Not the one ON the pitch but the one OFF it. The team behind the team, if that makes sense.

We are looking for anyone that feels that they can contribute whether it be in a professional, administrative or hands on role.

With matchdays becoming ever more popular, we are looking to volunteers to support our hospitality team, stewards, selling draw tickets, working on the gates or even just helping to tidy up after the game. You’ll get to watch the football free of charge but better still, you’ll be joining a small team of dedicated volunteers that make Helston Athletic Football club extra special.

If you can help for only a few hours per month, that would be fantastic.

If you feel this could be for you, please email chairman Paul Hendy at paul.m.hendy@btinternet.com or call him on 07740 812555.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.

A guide to away games this season in the Western League Premier Division

(Mileages obtained from theaa.com route planner)