New kids Parkway want to be crowned the top dogs in Devon

FOR supporters of non-League football, Ladysmead will certainly be the place to be tonight as Plymouth Parkway head to Tiverton Town in the first ever league clash between the two clubs in mid-Devon.

- STUART JAMES

This game pits the long-standing top dogs of non-League football in the region against a relatively new club in Parkway that has every intention of stealing their crown.

Parkway's meteoric rise is almost reminiscent of that enjoyed by Tiverton in the 1990s which culminated in promotions and two FA Vase finals at Wembley. Parkway did not reach the home of English football during their Vase days but, with a growing fanbase and infrastructure as good as any at this level, the new kids on the block are certainly not here just for the short-term.

"We wanted to be in amongst the other south West clubs this year and try and finish above as many as possible," Parkway boss Lee Hobbs said. "We wouldn't like a club to come up and finish above us in the table if we were an established club at that level, so it's a big game.