Sports in Axminster

The league season is over for the first teams of three East Devon football clubs – Axminster Town, Sidmouth Town and Honiton.

The South West Peninsular League has decided to curtail the 2020-2021season with immediate effect, despite the fact the government has indicated that football can recommence as from March 29th.

Axminster Town FC have parted company with first team manager Josh Stunell and his assistant John Clements.

In a statement from club chairman Andy Hurford, it was confirmed that after three seasons together at the club it was felt a fresh approach was required with the priority of building a team team squad that can compete in the top half of the SouthWest Peninsular Premier East division.

It looks increasingly likely that Axminster Town's league programme is over for this season due to clubs not being able to fulfil their fixtures when they eventually come out of lockdown.

The FA issued a statement last week to say that the survey of local clubs had been completed and they are now looking at recommendations before communicating with the league.

Former Millwey Rise players were saddened by the death this week of Cedric Vernon, 85, one of their most respected goalkeepers.

Known affectionately as "Ceddy", Mr Vernon joined the Axminster estate side in their second year of operation and went on to win a number of trophies with The Slopers, including the Perry Street Division Three trophy in 1968.

It's been an on-off sort of year for Colyton Football Club.

In March, COVID-19 forced the FA to abandon the 2019-20 amateur season. When the new season got underway in September, the first team was riding high in the Premier East division of the Joma Devon & Exeter League when the most recent lockdown brought a new temporary halt.

By Stuart Broom

LOCALfootball clubs are facing the possibility of playing no more competitive games this season if lockdown continues into the spring.

Recreational sport is currently on hold until the government eases the current restrictions so it could be April before football starts again.

WITH Devon and Dorset now in tier 3 and part of Somerset in tier 4, all local football has been suspended until further notice in both the Devon & Exeter League and the Perry Street League.

That means there will be no local matches played until at least the end of January.

Axminster Town's long-suffering supporterss were given the best Christmas present they could expect on Boxing Day when the Tigers recorded only their third victory of the season with a much deserved win over Cullompton Rangers.

Axminster manager Josh Stunnell has always believed that his side had what it takes to move away from the relegation zone and into a respectable position in the highly competitive South West Peninsular Premier East Division.

FOLLOWING the government decision to place Somerset in COVID-19 tier three, the Perry Street League has suspended football for the month of January.

The Management Committee has issued the following statement:  "It has been agreed that, given the travel restrictions imposed following Somerset's escalation into tier 3 whilst other parts of the League remain in tier 2, we have no option but to suspend the league fixtures until further notice.