Mike Heathcote's benefit

MICK Heathcote has been granted a benefit match by Plymouth Argyle in recognition of his long service and loyalty to the club and its supporters.

Premiership Sunderland will form the opposition on Tuesday, July 31st (7.45 pm). Ticket can be obtained from the Box office on 01752 562561.

Carlsberg is best for SWL

LEAGUE Chairman Bob Bell said this week that the South Western Football League is delighted to have reached agreement with Carlsberg for sponsorship over the next three seasons.

"Carlsberg is a major company whose name is synonymous with quality sponsorship of sport, particularly football and this agreement represents a hug boost to the South Western Football League," he said.

"The agreement was reached with the full support and co-operation of the St Austell Brewery Co. Ltd. and formalises a long association between the League, and its member clubs and the brewery.

"The League now has the opportunity to develop further and we look forward to our association with Carlsberg and a continued strengthening of our links with St Austell Brewery."

Opening day ECPL fixtures

CORNISH Guardian East Cornwall Premier League fixture secretary Mike Murray has arranged the following fixtures for the competitions opening programme on Saturday August 11 - Bodmin v Bude, Camelford v Liskeard, Foxhole v Probus, Launceston v Padstow, Nanpean v Millbrook, St Breward v Roche, St Cleer v St Austell, St Dennis v St Blazey, Sticker v Saltash, Torpoint v Wadebridge.

Callington open their

programme at Dartmouth

Callington Town's Carlsberg South Western League team begin their Pre-Season warm up games on Friday 27th July when they travel to Westward Development Devon League outfit Dartmouth United (7.00pm k.o.). On the following Monday 30th July, another Devon outfit, Newton Abbot Spurs visit the new look Ginsters Marshfield Parc ground (7.00pm) and then two days later, the team are on the road again when they travel up to the North Coast to play East Cornwall side Bude Town (7.00pm).

They finish off their games with the visit of Plymstock United to The Parc on Sunday 5th August before starting the League season with a tough trip to Holsworthy on Wednesday 15th August.

Callington's first home game of the season is on Saturday 18th August when Bodmin Town are the visitors. With away fixtures at Tavistock (21st) and Saltash United (28th) and the visit of Plymouth Parkway (25th), August promises to be a tough test for Ian Southcott's young charges.

For Callington Town Second Team, the Pre Season games start on Sunday 22nd July when they travel to East Cornwall outfit St Dennis (2.30pm) before entertain Tavistock at The Parc on Tuesday 24th July (6.30pm). Other games include home clashes with the current East Cornwall Champions Liskeard Athletic on 27th July (6.45pm) and Manadon on Wednesday 1st August (6.45pm) before the final game which is a tough trip to Wadebridge Town on Saturday 4th August (2.30pm).

Meanwhile, the June winners of the Club Lottery have been announced with H. Clavey winning the first prize of £100 with ticket No. 483. Keiron Ruck wins the second prize of £50 (520) while Sam Stewart £25 (87), Matt Reid £15 (443) and Lee Rider £ 10 (48) being the other winners.

Saltash ring the changes

AFTER finishing sixth in the league, semi-finalists in the Cornwall Senior Cup, finalists in the Jewson South Western League Cup and becoming winners of the Durning Lawrence Cornwall Charity Cup, Saltash have this season seen a few changes of players.

Out go Darren Gilbert to Liskeard, Andy Bowker to Plymouth Parkway, Nathan Blamey to Tavistock, whilst Jason Powell and ian Symons have moved out of the area. However, new signings include Lee Fox from Bodmin, Paul Wilmot from Falmouth, Mark Crowley from Liskeard and Lee Ireland from Wadebridge.

The first chance to see new faces will be at Ashes first pre-season friendly against Plymouth Argyle at Kimberley Stadium on Monday July 16th with a 7:00pm kick off. It will also be your first opportunity to see Argyle in action this season. Other first team friendlies are against F.A. Vase winners Taunton Town on Saturday July 21st (Kick off 3:00pm) and Friday July 27th against Western League side Chard Town when the kick off time is 7:45pm.

The reserve side did so well last season finishing third in the East Cornwall Premier League, winners of the E.C.P.L. Cup and the George Evely Cup hope to retain the majority of last season's players. They also have pre-season friendlies arranged against Plymstock Utd (Western Developments Devon League side) on Tuesday July 24th with a 7:00pm kick off, against Plymstock Utd (P & D Combination League side) on Saturday July 28th with a 3:00pm kick off, Tuesday July 31st against Holsworthy (match to be confirmed and time to be arranged) and Sunday August 5th against Callington (kick off time possible 6:00pm) - see your local press for details.

A new innovation this season is the official Saltash Utd A.F.C. website. Anyone wishing to keep up to date with all the news, match reports and fixtures this season should log on to http://www.saltash.com">www.saltash.com which is an impressive site and logged over sixty hits in the first week. With this new website and the fact that Saltash are looking for a Commercial Manager the future of the club has never looked brighter.