BUCKLAND Athletic announced the departure of midfielder and popular club figure Cieran Bridger on Thursday, July 31.

They wrote on social media that he “has decided to seek regular football for the 2025/26 season and therefore has decided to leave the club.

“We would like to thank Cieran for his service to the club and wish him the best for the season. He will remain dual-registered for the club at this time.”

Bridger made a late cameo appearance off of the bench in Buckland’s season opener, a 3-1 home win over Newquay AFC. He then wasn’t in the squad for the midweek victory away at Bridgwater Town, understandably so now.

His path and that of Bucks boss Matt Cusack may not have crossed for long but the latter told the Mid-Devon Advertiser that “Cieran departs and goes with our best wishes- a fantastic servant for the club.

“We’ve got high competition levels in that position this year and Cieran has moved in search of more first-team football. He gets our full support in that and we just want to thank him for the service he’s given to the club in the time he’s been with us.”

As Cusack looked to make his own impact on the side, Sean Thomson, Cameron Sangster and Ruben Kane all made the move to Homers Heath to accompany Bridger and captain Ben Carter in the middle of the park.

Under the previous manager Dan Hart, the tenacious midfielder made 26 Western League appearances in 2024/25, 17 of which were starts and he scored three times. With his numbers unlikely to reach those heights based off of the early indications, this move makes sense for all parties concerned.

Bridger himself spoke about how he “loved [his] time at Buckland.” Adding, “It’s a great club full of fantastic people who I’ve got nothing but good things to say about but like anyone, I just want to play football, so I’ve moved on to get consistent minutes.”

The 28-year-old was always going to have plenty of suitors and his landing spot is Bovey Tracey AFC, a hugely ambitious SW Peninsula League side under the management of former Torquay United defender Ben Gerring.

Bovey wrote that they are “delighted to welcome Cieran” to the club. On Twitter, they continued, “It’s a situation we were made aware of regarding Cieran’s playing time at Buckland and we wanted to act quickly to secure his services.

“I know he was very fond of his time with Buckland Athletic and thought very highly of by their club and supporters so naturally we are delighted to secure a player of this quality.”

This project at Mill Marsh Park is clearly an enticing one, Bridger is the latest in a line of great acquisitions by the Moorlanders and he will be sure to help them on their path to the top of the Peninsula League.

On the move, he said: “What better place to go at the minute than Bovey. Gez is putting together a great side that I’m excited to be a part of and I’m looking forward to challenging at the top end of the league, looking to push the club to the next level.”

Alongside the man in question, Newton Abbot Spurs winger Callum Noyce plus the Aplin brothers, Dom in goal and Ollie up front, are amongst the new arrivals for Bovey.