SALTASH have decided to upgrade their playing surface after winning promotion to Counties One Western West.
They have completely dug up their Moorlands Lane pitch and have levelled it out and have now re-seeded it.
However, it is unlikely to be ready for the start of the new season and, unfortunately, they were handed two home games in their opening two matches in Western West.
They have asked their first two opponents – Newton Abbot and St Ives – if they would be willing to switch the fixtures and it looks like Newton Abbot are going to agree. If St Ives don’t, then that match is likely to be played on their second team pitch at Chapel Field.
“The pitch was not in great condition,” said Saltash official Stephen ‘Albert’ Hall.
“There was a lot of weed in there and the grass coverage was poor. We also had areas where water would settle.
“So, we took the decision to try and raise some money (via Crowdfunder) and get the pitch sorted and, in the process, also get rid of some of the slope.
“It was seeded on Thursday, and we are now at the mercy of the weather.
“With the (Papa Johns) cup run at the end of last season we were not able to start it as early as possible and then we were at the mercy of the contractors.
“We know it is not going to be ready for the start of the season, so we have put a few things in place.
“We have contacted some of the other clubs to ask them if they would mind switching fixtures and I believe Newton Abbot have done so. St Ives haven’t, so we will probably have to play them on our second team pitch (Chapel Field).
“We know it is going to be an issue, and it is also going to be an issue for training. We are using the football pitch where we can and come September, we should have the all-weather pitch (at Saltmill) which we have signed up to for the season and we’ll make the most of that.
“But it is just one of those things that we needed to do and there is never a good time to do it.”
By levelling their pitch, Saltash could be getting rid of a big advantage as their home record has been impressive over the years.
“The work hasn’t got rid of the slope per se,” said Hall. “But it does look a lot flatter than it did, but there is still a metre fall.
“We want to play good rugby and play on a good surface, and we want to be able to play all-year round.
“At the end of last season for the cup run, the ground was so hard because there was no grass covering and it was probably borderline dangerous.
“We want to improve our facilities, especially for the youth. Hopefully, doing this will mean the pitch can get more usage, if we look after it properly.”
Saltash are back in training for the new campaign and expect to have a very similar squad to last season, albeit with some more colts coming up to challenge for first team spots.
It does look like Western West is going to be a much tougher league in 2025-26 than it has been in recent years, with Bude, Tavistock and Bideford all going down and Saltash and Torquay coming up and Truro and Newton Abbot coming down from Regional Two South West.
“Looking at it, there are no easy games,” said Hall. “But we have moaned for the last three years about the league we were in and so this is what we want – we want to be competing week-in, week-out.
“We are going in as the underdogs as we are coming up from the lower level, but if we do play as well as we can, we should be able to compete it the league, which is what we want to do.”
Saltash have pre-season games against Devonport Services and Ivybridge lined up, but are still looking for at least another fixture, especially as they have only two league games in September.