DEVONPORT Services have been forced to switch their high-profile pre-season match with neighbours Plymouth Albion due to improvement work going on at the Rectory.
Newly-promoted National League side Services had been due to host Albion next Saturday (August 10) at home having played them at Brickfields last year.
But the match will once again be played at Albion’s ground as foundation floodlighting work is now planned at the Rectory.
Services had hoped to pull in a big crowd for their fixture with Albion before also entertaining Launceston on Thursday, August 22 in between an away trip to Barnstaple on August 17.
Their second team are also due to host Welsh touring side Dunvant on August 17, with their thirds entertaining New Cross on August 24.
“Babcock are doing the floodlights so we can’t use the ground for six weeks,” said Services head coach Ben Russell.
“It means our other (pre-season) games will either have to be at Keyham or on pitch one (Stonehouse Creek).
“But they do say it will be ready for the start of the season.”
Services have been training hard in the last few weeks as they prepare for life in National Two West, where they will be locking horns with the likes of Taunton, Cinderford, Redruth, Clifton and Camborne and also having to travel to Macclesfield.
Devonport are remaining amateur and so they know it will be tough as they will be playing some sides with big playing budgets.
“We know we are going to have to fight for every point, especially when you have the likes of Ollie Devoto signing for Taunton,” said Russell. “I think that’s exciting for our lads as they will get the chance to play against someone who was in the Premiership last year.
“We’ll fight to the end and see what happens.”
Services have kept nearly all of their promotion-winning side and have added a few new faces, including former Launceston and Cardiff Met back-row forward Joe Stansfield and Royal Marine players Henry Glidden and Freddie Elliott.
“I coached Joe at college, so I know him quite well,” said Russell.
“Henry Glidden is a marine who played at Twickenham last year when the Royal Navy beat the Army.
“Freddie Elliott is another marine. He is coming down in September, but with marines we will have them until they have to go away.
“And we have retained everyone we wanted to. Lewie Riley has left to go to Oaks, but he was not really going to be pushing for our ones.”
Services have also welcomed back Tom Richards from Oaks. Richards is returning to the Rectory as a player-coach and will help oversee their second team.