Early Season Results

My main team Arsenal start the campaign tomorrow at 4pm but all my other picks have begun;

Brighton have drawn away at Derby County, beaten Colchester United 4-0 in the League Cup and got an impressive 3-0 victory over Nottingham Forest on the TV last night. I may have made a good choice here.

Southend United have started in relegation form. After losing to Gillingham 3-1 in the league they lost to Gillingham 3-1 in the cup. Some might see this as consistency. Today they travelled to Port Vale and lost 2-0. My old home town may have been a bad choice in League One.

Exeter seem to be a cup team at the moment. Between losing 2-0 to Blackpool and 2-1 to Hartlepool they beat championship side Brentwood 1-0 in the cup. My home town team need to buck up although there is a new 15 year old superstar on the scene.

North Ferriby drew the opening game of their season 0-0. Braintree Town have new management but my pick at National League level have to face Lincoln City next.

The team that has grown on me from nothing have started the season well. This National League South club have beaten Whitehawk 3-1, Bath City 2-1 and Welling United 2-0. Keep this up and Weston-super-Mare will be challenging for promotion rather than battling relegation.

In the Southern League Weymouth have beaten Biggleswade Town 3-1, lost 4-1 to Chippenham Town and today beat Redditch United 1-0. A mix of results points at mid table form.

The Southern League South and West Division has seen Tiverton beat relegated club Bideford between two draws with Larkhall Athletic and Bishops Cleeve.

My late choice of Bridport in the Western League lost to Alresford Town in the F.A.Cup and then Buckland Athletic in the League but today managed to beat Clevedon Town 2-1.

Exmouth Town started their South West Peninsula League Premier Division campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to St. Blazey but have since won twice, beating Ivybridge Town 4-0 and Launceston 5-0.

It always takes a long time to set things up at the start of each season so I cannot blame anyone for not following ten teams, but I once again wish to promote BT Sport for covering the National League better than any other provider in the market.

Kick-Off = August 6th

The short close season is now at an end.

The countdown has begun.

The new football season starts for real on Saturday August 6th with the F.A.Cup Extra Preliminary round. My last minute selection Bridport are at home to Alresford Town and it would have been a great way to start but I am visiting family to celebrate a birthday. I may have to look for a match to watch in the area I am visiting.

Exmouth Town are also in action. A home match against Saint Blazey. That could also have been a great start to the season.

In the Southern League Weymouth take on Biggleswade while Tiverton take on Larkhall Athletic.

Another possible great start to the season is at Weston-super-Mare where they take on Whitehawk in the National League South. So many good choices and I am at a family function.

North Ferriby United are at home to Braintree Town in the National League. I fancy them to win as the Braintree management left the club at the end of last season. I wish my choice at this level the very best of luck as they strive for Football League status.

In the league Exeter are away to Blackpool, Southend take on Gillingham at home, Brighton travel to Derby County and we know that the Premier League does not start until next week so I get to watch Arsenal take on Manchester City in a friendly in Sweden.

Let battle commence.

Almost Finalised Picks 2016-17

I had a look at Willand and somehow took a disfancy to them. I could find very little online.

My next job was to look at the Western League Premier Map. It can be found here:

http://www.footballgroundmap.com/grounds/england/western-league-premier-division

As I live in Exeter I looked at the nearest options as I do want to watch some live football this year without having to bust a gut travelling long distances. Those days are gone.

I checked out Buckland Athletic who I followed a while back but their offerings were not much better.

I have, therefore, on the basis that there is some pre-season information, gone for Bridport.


I also had second thoughts about putting a reserve team in my top 10. I think I am missing my own point, which I have not clearly defined, that I want people to get around and see what is on offer in the world of football.

I did not manage to see Exmouth Town last season and as they are neatly positioned at the end of a local branch line I shall aim to get a train ride and live football in this season.

So, with a couple of days to go and nobody to stop me, my selections are now:

1. Arsenal
2. Brighton
3. Southend
4. Exeter
5. North Ferriby United
6. Weston-super-Mare
7. Weymouth
8. Tiverton Town
9. Bridport
10. Exmouth

The season is fast approaching.