Buckland Athletic v Exeter City
Saturday 20th July, 2pm
Homers Heath
Pre-season friendly
Buckland Athletic surely won’t be too offended to hear that Exeter City have a more attractive tie to look forward to this weekend in the form of reigning League Cup champions Swansea City, who arrive at St James Park on Sunday.
But that isn’t to say that the short trip to Homers Heath won’t be a valuable experience and an entertaining game to those involved. With Paul Tisdale recently revealing that he intends to send down a strong squad of pros – albeit those that are unlikely to play any major part in Sunday’s game against Swansea – it is a chance for some of those exciting fringe players to get a few more minutes under their belt and build on their limited experience of adult football.
Of the side that started in City’s last friendly, only Sam Parkin had played more than 40 games in the Football League (just shy of 300, in fact, let alone his cup appearances and spell in Scotland). Yet the young starlets put the Seasiders to the sword with a 2-0 win, which might have been more emphatic had some gilt-edged chances not gone begging.
Now, the Bucks will host Exeter’s young bucks and a familiar face will be lining up against the Grecians. Jamie Micklewright, who has made a bright start to his career at Homers Heath, will line up against his old club – he was released by Exeter last season after having been with the Grecians since under-12 level.
Founder members of the South West Peninsula League when it was formed in 2007, the Bucks won the Premier Division in both 2010 and 2011, and then were finally allowed to step up to Step 5 to join the Western League, after finishing as the division’s runners-up in 2012.
They have also had significant success in cup competitions in recent years, to add even more silverware to their trophy cabinet along the two league titles – they lifted the St Luke’s Bowl in both 2011 and 2012, after having made their first ever appearance in the FA Cup during the 2009/10 season.
Tickets
Tickets for this friendly fixture will be priced as follows:
Adult: £5
OAPs: £3.50
Under-16s: £1
Buckland also inform us that they have a large clubhouse which will be open throughout, with a bar and a kitchen that will be serving a variety of hot food including chips and burgers. There is also substantial on-site parking.