BUCKLAND Athletic have a first Western League game under the management of Matt Cusack to look forward to this weekend.

After tomorrow night’s meeting with Plymouth Parkway, another pre-season campaign will have been and gone and the Bucks will then host Newquay AFC for a first competitive outing of 2025/26 on Saturday, July 26.

Newquay secured the single promotion slot out of the South West Peninsula League Premier West last time around and so will likely enter this game in high spirits.

24 wins, two draws and four defeats made for a superb record and so they earned top spot, finishing two points ahead of fellow Cornish side Liskeard Athletic. 84 goals scored and only 18 conceded makes it all the more impressive, their final goal difference standing at 21 better than anyone else.

Buckland meanwhile finished fifth in the Western League with Dan Hart in charge, losing in the playoffs to Clevedon Town.

That changing of the guard has now taken place from Hart to Cusack and the latter was full of confidence when speaking to the Mid-Devon Advertiser after the pre-season clash with Torquay United earlier this month.

“We are setting our aspirations high, we make no secret about that, we want to get out of this league and get into the Southern League.

“I’ve said it many times, the club is already operating like a Southern League team off of the field and now it’s our job on the pitch to make sure we get out of this league.

“The new signings have bedded in well, we’ve put some ideas together on the training ground… and I feel like the more we play together, the more automated everything will become and I do think we’ll be a threat.”

It promises to be an intriguing season opener at Homers Heath for both sides.