Plenty has been going on behind the scenes at Hemyock Football Club over the past two weeks. Following the latest release of guidelines by the Government and the FA, manager Sam Iddon has been busy setting up the team’s pre-season friendly schedule.

As it stands, five friendlies are on the cards as follows: Thursday, August 13 v Tipton St John (home); Saturday, August 15 v Chudleigh (home); Saturday, August 22 v Wellington Town A (home); Wednesday, August 26 v Awliscombe (home); Saturday, August 29 v Axminster Reserves (away).

Treasurer Alex Vickery has secured a grant from the Football Foundation for 75 per cent of the cost of a new set of goals. The existing goals have been in place since Hemyock’s move to Longmead in 2007 and have been attacked by the lawnmower one too many times!

A new playing kit has been ordered through MJM Sports after the club secured a new sponsorship deal with Window Warehouse Devon, while an order for new club polo shirts has also been sent, thanks to a separate sponsorship deal with Pallex South West.

While all this has been going on, the committee has been busy talking to local businesses about taking up advertising space around the Longmead pitch. So far more than 30 businesses have agreed to be part of Hemyock FC’s new direction and thanks go out to each and everyone one of them.

The squad is still training hard on a Tuesday evening with numbers remaining very impressive. It is hoped in the near future Iddon will be able to make an announcement on the capture of an assistant manager – watch this space.

PHIL BELL