LAUNCESTON were much improved over the second half of last season and boss Neil Price has all but one of last year’s squad that finished the campaign intact for their 2024/25 South West Peninsula League Premier West season.
The Clarets started slowly last time out, but a superb run of nine wins in 11 games put them in with a shout of a top seven finish.
A hectic schedule towards the end meant they faded, but tenth was a fine effort.
They make the long trip west to Penzance on Saturday, and the former Watford defender has made some additions in recent days.
Former Plymouth Argyle youth striker Ismail Badjie-Heath will hope to add some pace up front, while Price has also bolstered his attacking options with 20-year-old Isaac Varga from Sticker and 17-year-old Aaron Hughes from Devon League outfit Bere Alston United.
Hughes’ former team-mate Ollie Northam, who made a couple of appearances towards the end of last season, has impressed in pre-season and could form part of the back four, particularly as right-back Mark Wilson has joined Western League Premier Division side St Blazey.
Looking ahead to the season, Price said: “I’m hoping for consolidation in that middle group, perhaps a couple of places higher than last year. That would be good progression for my young team.
“Pre-season has been good with two games versus SWPL Premier East opposition in Torrington and Sidmouth, followed by games against two Southern League teams (Helston Athletic and Mousehole) and Western League Ilfracombe inbetween.
“Although they we were well beaten in them, it was a great learning curve for the young players and you always learn and improve against better opponents.
“We’ve had a few missing due to holidays and niggles, but everybody has stayed bar Mark Wilson who has joined St Blazey. We wish him well.”
Price is looking forward to Saturday’s season opener at Penzance, who he expects to be much improved under new boss Mark Vercesi.
He said: “They seemed to have come into some money and signed a few big names. It’s always difficult down there regardless, and even more so now.”
Launceston’s group isn’t the biggest, but Price expects them to be much faster out of the blocks than last term.
He said: “It’s always difficult with lots of games quickly for us as we haven’t got the money to have lots of players around the squad, but with a bit of luck with injuries etc, we can be a bit more consistent at the start than we were last season.
“But we’ll continue with our plan of improving young players. My squad going to Penzance could have five or six 17/18-year-olds and probably ten players out of the 16 will be 21 or under
“We can’t afford and don’t want to go paying out for players, we’ll do it our own way.”
Launceston have added a development third team this season after merging with Southgate in recent months, and Price believes it will help the club thrive.
He said: “All in all we are improving the club facilities every year.
“We’ve added a third team in the St Piran League Division Four East and restarted a ladies team. That and the fact we’ve amalgamated with Southgate to try and make a pathway for local young players to go straight into men’s football.
“In the pre-season games, two lads from the thirds have sat on the bench for the first team and got minutes, so it is important to us to grow and improve year on year in the right way.”
Launceston are at home to Millbrook next Tuesday night (7.30pm).