WELLINGTON Reds, the footballing section of the local cricket club, have pulled out of the Taunton & District Saturday Football League because of a lack of players, despite having a very successful past season.

Their decision not to field a side again next winter was announced at the league's annual meeting but they will be allowed to play in the Rowbarton Charity Cup despite withdrawing from the league.

"We're very disappointed to be losing Wellington Reds," said league secretary of 21 years, Gary Best. "We've only got one team coming in - Staplegrove Colts - so the league will again consist of 33 teams.

Mr Best added: "We had been hoping to get a few more new teams, but players don't seem to have the same commitment as years ago. They're got too many other things they can do these days."

Reds just missed out on promotion in Division One of the Saturday League, finishing with the same number of points as second-placed Bridgwater Grasshoppers but with an inferior goal difference.

Reds also reached the Rowbarton Charity Cup final where they went down to Premier Division side Staplegrove Reserves on Taunton Town's ground despite a spirited display. They also reached the semi-finals of the Somerset Intermediate Cup where they lost out to Chilcompton Sports, a talented outfit from the Mid-Somerset League, at Court Fields School.

The Saturday League gets underway on September 7 with 11 teams competing in the Premier Division, including Wellington A, ten in the first division, and 12 in Division Two.

The league will also have the use of the all-weather pitch at Bridgwater Academy College on Mondays for Rowbarton Charity Cup ties.

The League and Seward Cups will not be straight knock-out competitions but will first be played in groups. The League Cup is for premier and first division sides, while the Seward Cup involves second division teams.