IT FEELS like just yesterday that the 2025/26 Jewson Western League season finished and yet Buckland Athletic’s squad for next year is already starting to take shape.

On Friday, May 8, the club announced that Jack Baxter had committed to playing in yellow again in 2026/27 and also that they’d signed forward Toby Pullman.

The Mid-Devon Advertiser spoke to manager Matt Cusack about the campaign that has been and gone ahead of a season review (watch this space) and he sung the praises of Baxter.

Cusack said, “He wasn’t in the squad for the very first game of the season, that’s how competitive it was.

“By the last game of the season, JB was one of the first names on the team-sheet because of the great campaign that he had, always impacting the game in the final third. He had a season’s best haul in terms of goals and assists.”

Baxter did look to find a new lease of life under Cusack’s management and was a clear standout going forward, linking up really well Ryan Bush in particular.

Pullman meanwhile narrowly missed out on the golden boot in the SW Peninsula League Premier East but enjoyed electric form in front of goal all the same.

As well as starring for Newton Abbot Spurs, he also played a bit for Buckland towards the back end of the season, scoring four goals in eight games (according to the league website), including a crucial strike in the home draw with Torpoint Athletic at the end of March.

Similarly to Baxter, Cusack spoke very highly of the new addition: “He’s going to add real firepower to us having scored 34 goals in 30 games for Spurs.

“Other clubs showed interest in Toby, so we’re delighted that he’s chosen Buckland as his destination. He’s a great lad, I get on well with him, have got a good personal connection so I’m hoping that we will bring the best out of him and vice-versa.”

Pullman himself said that “This is where I want to be. Now that this is done, I can relax and enjoy my summer.”

There has been plenty of movement at the other end of the pitch in the last couple of days as well with a notable change in the goalkeeping department.

Andrew Sowden-Bird arrived at Homers Heath mid-season to replace the outgoing Jordan Duffey and now he is the one moving on.

Cusack “wanted to place on record my thanks to Sowds, he did a cracking job for us and we weren’t unhappy with him,” going on to clarify that his “new work commitments mean that he wouldn’t have been able to train with us and that doesn’t work in my environment.”

His successor in between the sticks is a real statement signing in the form of seasoned ‘keeper Michael Searle.

Searle made 24 appearances in the first half of the 25/26 for a Barnstaple Town side that went on to win the Western League Premier, not to mention that he previously worked with Cusack at Helston Athletic, where they won two trophies together.

As the pair reunite, Searle’s new manager described him as “A great character to have in the dressing room,” also noting that he’s “Really looking forward to working with him again.”

Cusack continued, “He’s vastly experienced and whilst we want to get the blend right between youth and experience, the opportunity to sign Searley is one we couldn’t pass up.”

This is surely just the start of a big summer for the Bucks; between the injuries they need to account for and the usual turnover of football at this level.

“We’ve got to get recruitment right in other areas with the injuries that we suffered, there’s no hiding that” were Cusack’s words which likely points to impending reinforcements in the backline.