FIVE new teams were welcomed into the South Devon Football League at its annual meeting earlier this week.

League president Mervyn Benney, 91, took charge of his 39th AGM – which was held at Buckland Athletic’s Homers Heath ground on Monday.

The first two newcomers were Morley Rangers and Plympton Athletic Reserves, who move across from the Plymouth & District League. They will both play in Division One.

‘I’ve been at the club for around 10 years and during that time it’s become clear that we needed a change from the P&D League,’ said Morley manager Craig Taylor.

‘We spoke to the lads and to a man they all agreed that they wanted a change of environment. I’ve heard really good things about the South Devon League.

‘We’re really lucky that we have a core group of players who have been together for five or six years. A few of them have played in the South Devon League before so they were unanimous.’

Morley play their home games on the artificial surface at Plymstock School. Club secretary Peter Frankland added: ‘We’ve had a bit of success recently and we needed a bit more of a challenge than the P&D League was giving us.

‘I spoke to Alastair [Muirden, SDFL league secretary] and he was really keen for us to come aboard. Division One is a sensible one to go into because we don’t fully know yet where we’ll slot in.’

Scott Pickering, manager of Lee Moor-based Plympton Athletic Reserves, said: ‘We feel we can offer a bit to the league. I have a group of young players who I want to develop outside of Plymouth.’

Following a merger between Totnes & Dartington and Meadowbrook Athletic, the new club has formed a reserve team which will play in Division Four.

Simon Head, TD&M club secretary, explained: ‘After pulling our first team from the Devon Football league we were always looking to put a reserve team back in somewhere.

‘Player-wise we’ll have a lot of lads coming from Meadowbrook and a few from Salcombe Town. As you’re all aware, our facilities at Foxhole are second to none.’

They will be joined in Division Four by fellow newcomers Paignton Villa Thirds and Waldon Athletic Thirds – two teams which have been formed, in the representatives’ own words, to ‘give club players more game time’.

Dropping out of the SDFL from last season are Galmpton United, Salcombe Town, Ashburton, Abbotskerswell, Dittisham United, Bishopsteignton United, Torquay Town Reserves, Ipplepen Athletic Thirds, Discoveries Devon and Barton Athletic Thirds.

Plymouth side The Windmill have been promoted to the Devon Football League from the Premier Division, while Division Three outfit Teign Village have shifted sideways into the Devon & Exeter League.

Among the many other movements in the new constitution are the promotions of Kingsteignton Athletic and Chudleigh Athletic to the Premier Division. Division Two winners Ilsington Villa have also been moved up to Division One.

► Teams in bold have been promoted, underlined teams have been relegated and teams in italic are new applicants.

PREMIER DIVISION

1) AFC Brixham

2) Buckfastleigh Rangers

3) Chudleigh Athletic

4) East Allington United

5) Elburton Villa Reserves

6) Ivybridge Town Reserves

7) Kingsteignton Athletic

8) Newton Abbot ’66

9) Paignton Saints Reserves

10) Waldon Athletic

11) Watts Blake Bearne

DIVISION ONE

1) Babbacombe Corinthians

2) Barton Athletic

3) Beesands Rovers

4) Buckfastleigh Rangers Reserves

5) Harbertonford

6) Ilsington Villa

7) Morley Rangers

8) Paignton Villa

9) Plympton Athletic Reserves

10) Torquay Town

11) Upton Athletic

DIVISION TWO

1) Brixham Town

2) Dartmouth Reserves

3) East Allington United Reserves

4) Kingskerswell and Chelston

5) Newton Abbot Spurs Thirds

6) Newton Rovers

7) Paignton Villa Reserves

8) Stoke Gabriel and Torbay Police Reserves

9) Totnes Dartington and Meadowbrook

10) Watcombe Wanderers

11) Watts Blake Bearne Reserves

DIVISION THREE

1) Barton Athletic Reserves

2) Bovey Tracey Reserves

3) Brixham Town Reserves

4) Chudleigh Athletic Reserves

5) Ivybridge Town Thirds

6) Ipplepen Athletic Reserves

7) Newton Abbot ’66 Reserves

8) Paignton Saints Thirds

9) Kingsbridge & Kellaton United

10) Waldon Athletic Reserves

DIVISION FOUR

1) Babbacombe Corrinthians Reserves

2) Broadhempston United

3) Kingsteignton Athletic Reserves

4) Liverton United Reserves

5) Newton Rovers Reserves

6) Paignton Villa Thirds

7) South Brent

8) Totnes Dartington and Meadowbrook Reserves

9) Waldon Athletic Thirds

10) Watcombe Wanderers Reserves