Managing Falmouth Town in their first Western League game for 40 years will be a proud moment manager Andrew Westgarth declared as his side gear up for the curtain raiser on Saturday.

Town who last year won the league, senior cup and champions bowl treble, will host Wellington at Bickland Park (3pm) this weekend.

Speaking ahead of the match Westgarth told the Packet: "It is going to be a proud moment, it is the reward of the success from last year. When you're in the mix of last year you can't really take stock of it until it's finished.

"I think the pre-season games always have a different feel to them whereas Saturday will feel like a reward, I think it'll have an FA Vase game feel to it for a while because we are facing new sides until we can get into the swing of it.

"There's immense pride to be a Falmouth lad and to be the second man to lead them into the Western League behind Richard Gray. It is exciting times. 1982/83 was the last season we were there, that was before I was even born so it is exciting times and is something I am really looking forward to."

Falmouth's opponents on the weekend finished 14th in the Western League last season and finished last campaign on a high, with a five-match unbeaten streak including a last day of the season 3-0 away win at Falmouth's rivals Helston. They have also been a continuous member of the Western League, appearing in the division since the 1978-79 season.

 

When asked what Westgarth expects from his Somerset opponents this weekend the manager said: "As the season was progressing last season we kept one eye on the Western League, the Cornish sides to see how well they were doing.

"There were names that pop up and I have spoke to a couple of people and they have all said the same thing about Wellington. It is so hard to gauge really.

"Pre-season can be so disjointed I think it has been evident this year, if you look at some sides they have really positive results one game then the next they have a real bad one. You never know what personnel they are playing, what shape they are trying, it is so hard to gauge what they are going to be like.

"All we can do is take care of ourselves, they have to deal with the travelling just like we will when we have the big away games and obviously we will be backed by a big support hopefully and they will get to see what we are all about."

Westy is hoping that Bickland Park, filled by the ever-lively F-Troop can be made into a fortress this season, but expects other sides to raise their game when they turn up at the ground.. "It can definitely play as an advantage to us, but on the flipside it can raise the other teams.

"I am sure there will be venues we go to where there won't be many supporters, we might not be able to bring as many with us. Those games are played at a different sort of of atmosphere. The home games are generally loud, noisy and like I said teams generally raise their game.

"You only have to look at the Peninsula sides last year, some of our results away were quite convincing results at times but at home they might have been a little tighter because teams find that extra games."

The Packet will have live updates, match report and match reaction including a video interview with Andrew Westgarth on Packet Sport TV after the game. 

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