Bater commits future to Larks
Athletic have confirmed that Phil Bater and his management team will remain at the helm going into the 2021/22 season.
The Larks’ Southern League campaign was curtailed for a second successive season by The FA and with the league deeming a supplementary cup competition unfeasible, it’s left many teams now looking ahead to the new campaign which won’t start until August 14, sandwiched in between the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round and Preliminary Round. Clubs have been given until tomorrow to apply to enter next season’s FA Cup.
In a statement on Twitter, Larkhall said: “Larkhall Athletic are delighted to announce that Phil Bater and his management team will be continuing into the new season, building on recent league and cup performances and further developing the solid foundations built over the last few years.
“Club chairman Paul Rankin said: ‘Phil is the perfect fit for our club. He fully understands our values, aspirations for success and appreciates the challenge faced by a club of our size.’
“Phil has built a great squad of players who have shown commitment to the club and a desire to push on again with the hope of challenge for a promotion place next season. The club continues to invest in facilities and infrastructure within our means, ensuring that we have a viable model built for success and longevity and we continue to provide a great place for players and fans alike to enjoy their football.”
Elsewhere, the Mid Somerset Football League has decided to declare the 2020/21 season null and void. There have been no league games since before Christmas following the third national lockdown and although grassroots sport has been given the green light to resume from March 29, the league has decided to cancel the campaign for a second successive year.
There is talk of a Champions League-style cup competition for clubs across the four divisions, potentially starting on April 10.
The Somerset County League has also curtailed its season following a meeting last Wednesday. Ninety-two per cent of clubs voted in favour of ending the season and starting a cup competition on April 17. Clubs were given until yesterday to confirm their interest in participating in the supplementary competition.
However, the Wiltshire Senior League has stated that the under18 division will be completed and resume on April 8, albeit behind closed doors with spectators not allowed to non-elite sporting events until May 17 at the earliest.
Before the Somerset County League had been curtailed, Fry Club and Keynsham Town Reserves were both sitting on eight points in the Premier Division with Keynsham playing a game less. Saltford were looking for promotion from Division One after sitting second on 17 points, two points off leaders Staplegrove with a game in hand. Timsbury Athletic had managed just one win from their seven outings.
Peasedown Miners Welfare were also in the hunt for promotion in Division Two. They were second on 15 points but had played more matches than most of the sides around them. Fry Club Reserves sat bottom with just one draw from their seven matches. Tunley Athletic had just two points in six games in Division Three.
As for the Mid Somerset League, Weston were in the title race in the Premier Division, they had 16 points from six games in an unbeaten start that saw them three points off the leaders with two games in hand.
Bath Villa had 12 points from nine. Peasedown Albion had six points but had only played five games.
In Division One, Timsbury Athletic Reserves sat on ten points from seven with Peasedown Albion Reserves three points behind. Saltford were third in Division Two, already seven points behind second despite having a game in hand. Timsbury Athletic A had four points from six.