The 2018–19 South West Peninsula League season was the twelfth in the history of the
South West Peninsula League
The South West Peninsula League (SWPL) is a football competition in England, which was formed in 2007 from the merger of the Devon County League and the South Western League. The league covers Cornwall, Devon, western Somerset and western Dors ...
, a
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
competition in England, that feeds the Premier Division of the
Western Football League
The Western Football League is a association football, football league in South West England, covering Bristol, Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, western Dorset, parts of Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. The league's current main sponsor is Jewson, so it ...
. The league was formed in 2007 from the merger of the
Devon County League
The Devon County Football League was a football competition based in England. It consisted of 20 clubs and sat at step 7 (or level 11) of the National League System.
History
The league was formed in 1992 in order to form an intermediate level bet ...
and the
South Western League, and is restricted to clubs based in Cornwall and Devon. The Premier Division of the South West Peninsula League is on the same level as the
National League System
The National League System comprises the six levels of the English football league system immediately below the level of the English Football League. It comes under the jurisdiction of the Football Association. The National League System has a ...
as the Western League Division One (Step 6).
The constitution was announced on 25 May 2018.
At the end of this season, significant restructuring of the league was to take place. With this in mind, it was decided not to transfer clubs between Division One East and Division One West just for one season, solely in order to balance the numbers in each division for this season.
For 2019–20, the league will consist of two Step 6 divisions of twenty clubs each. These two divisions will be made up of the 2018–19 Step 6 (Premier Division) clubs, plus others promoted from Step 7 and below. There will be two new Step 7 leagues below the South West Peninsula League in 2019–20, the
Devon League
Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...
and the
St Piran League.
Premier Division
The Premier Division featured 20 teams, the same as the previous season, after
Plymouth Parkway were promoted to the
Western League Premier Division, and
Stoke Gabriel
Stoke Gabriel is a village and parish in Devon, England, situated on a creek of the River Dart. The village is a popular tourist destination in the South Hams and is famous for its mill pond and crab fishing (known colloquially as ''crabbing'') ...
were demoted to Division One East.
Two new clubs joined the league:
*
Elburton Villa, promoted from Division One West.
*
Millbrook, promoted from Division One West.
Reserve sides are not eligible for promotion to Step 5.
*Witheridge withdrew from the league on 7 August, before any matches had been played. They joined the
Devon League
Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol Channel to the north, Somerset and Dorset to the east, the English Channel to the south, and Cornwall to the west ...
at the start of the 2019–20 season.
*At the end of the season, any clubs not promoted to Step 5 or taking voluntary relegation to Step 7 were placed in one of the two Step 6 divisions for 2019–20, except Plymouth Argyle Reserves, who did not apply to stay at Step 6. A Plymouth Argyle Development side joined the Devon League at the start of the 2019–20 season.
League table
Division One East
Division One East featured 19 clubs, increased from 18 the previous season, after Totnes & Dartington and Galmpton & Roselands resigned from the league, and three new clubs joined:
*
Elmore, promoted from the
Devon and Exeter League.
*
Stoke Gabriel
Stoke Gabriel is a village and parish in Devon, England, situated on a creek of the River Dart. The village is a popular tourist destination in the South Hams and is famous for its mill pond and crab fishing (known colloquially as ''crabbing'') ...
, demoted from the Premier Division due to ground grading failure.
*
Waldon Athletic, promoted from the
South Devon League.
*All clubs applied for promotion to Step 6 next season except: Alphington, Budleigh Salterton, Liverton United, St Martins, Teignmouth, University of Exeter and Waldon Athletic. The remainder were promoted to Step 6.
*Torridgeside must secure full planning for ground grading G by 31 March 2020, or face demotion at the end of 2019–20.
*Brixham, Honiton, Stoke Gabriel and Torridgeside must install floodlights by 31 March 2021, or face demotion at the end of 2020–21.
League table
Division One West
Division One West featured 15 clubs, reduced from 18 the previous season, after Millbrook and Elburton Villa were promoted to the Premier Division, Illogan RBL were relegated, and
Penryn Athletic left the league. One new club joined:
*
Bere Alston United, promoted from the
East Cornwall League
The East Cornwall Premier League (ECPL) was an English football competition based in Cornwall and west Devon
Devon ( ; historically also known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is bordered by the Bristol ...
.
*All clubs applied for promotion to Step 6 next season except: Bere Alston United, Bude Town, Ludgvan and Plymstock United. The remainder were promoted to Step 6.
*Dobwalls, Mousehole, St Dennis and Wendron United must install floodlights by 31 March 2021, or face demotion at the end of 2020–21.
League table
Other applicants for Step 6
Two other clubs from outside the league applied for Step 6 status for 2019–20. They are
Dartmouth of the
South Devon League, and
Torrington of the
North Devon League. Both were accepted for promotion to the Premier East.
References
External links
South West Peninsula League
{{DEFAULTSORT:2018-19 South West Peninsula Football League
South West Peninsula League
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