Start of a new season - and a new era for Henderson's Tavi

IT feels like the dawn of a new era for Tavistock, who get their Southern League Division One South campaign up and running at Langsford Park tomorrow against Bemerton Heath Harlequins

- STUART JAMES

For years, the Lambs have relied on a tried and trusted group of core players that have not only served the club well, but enjoyed great success as well under the guidance of Stuart Henderson, who has taken the club from the depths of the South West Peninsula League to Division One South.

The likes of Josh Oak, Dan Evans, Josh Robins, Warren and Lewis Daw, Callum Watson, Dave Hallett and Josh Grant are synonymous with the Lambs, but Father Time waits for no man. The likes of captain Lewis Daw, Hallett and Robins all departed last season, while Evans and Warren Daw retired from playing over the summer.

Oak remains, but is troubled by a long-standing shoulder injury, which led to a new goalkeeper, Aaron Dearing, being signed, while stalwarts Ben Cross and Tallan Burns are veterans of the club at just 26 and 24 years of age respectively.

Young, hungry but talented players cherry picked by Tavi from leagues beneath the Southern League now make up their new-look squad which, according to Henderson, has an average age of just over 20. But what it lacks in experience, it makes up for in promise.