Saturday 19th April 2025 ko 18:00

South West Peninsula League Premier West

LAUNCESTON AFC 0

CALLINGTON TOWN 1 (Skews 32)

Att 603

Entry £6

Programme £2

I’m not sure why, but I didn’t expect much from Launceston Town. Even their programme suggested there were better grounds on the Easter Hop than Pennygillam. I surprised myself by arriving before most of the programme enthusiasts, and again when I ssaw what the club were doing for their big fundraising day.

The ground occupies a smallish footprint, with a wind turbine dominating the background. Fortunately the turbine can be disconnected during games (it was here!) and it was a pleasure watching a club use everything they had cleverly.

Inevitably a lot of what was going on happened in the clubhouse. I’d been warned that the club were running out of badges, dashed in bought mine then watched a volunteer crack open the next bag of them. The genius was partly in the thought that had gone in, everything on offer was in a different place minimising queue times. Anyone who was at Eastwood Community’s hop game a couple of years ago will remember what happens when clubs consolidate their offerings including food in one place!

And speaking of food on sale, congratulations to Launceston for being easily the best host club for catering. There are no end of “groundhopping events” these days so swerving the unimaginative burgers and having nachos on the menu was a clever and I trust, profitable one. In fact so good was Launceston’s hosting that it hid what a dreadful season that they were having.

We caught them bottom of the table, and while a reprieve from relegation was both expected and received, it doesn’t pay to get in the habit of relying on them. You saw in the team the issue they had all season; hard working, committed players but without that little bit of magic to make the hard work pay. Averaging 31 goals in 30 games spoke volumes.

You hope that this last season is an aberration for Launceston, and from what I saw here, I think they’ll draw that metaphorical line and build for the future.