CREDITON United’s second season – 1994-95 in the Western League Premiership proved to be very difficult and the club ended up fighting a relegation battle with Liskeard and Saltash, which in the end proved meaningless as both the other two withdrew to play in the Cornwall-based South Western League for the following season. Obviously other clubs were suffering because of the increased costs in travelling.

Their withdrawal made things more difficult for Crediton as they were replaced by two easterly-based teams. Trevor Atkins, still nowadays regarded as the most successful manager in Crediton’s history, ended his nine years spell as manager, not entirely amicably, in October 1994, and was replaced by former Exeter City player Graham Weeks, with goalkeeper Mike Barrett as his assistant.

They were succeeded 15 months later by highly successful Newton St Cyres management team Bob Calderhead and Rob England.

The writing was on the wall, however, as the team finished bottom of the Western League Premiership and were relegated to the First Division.

In view of the poor form in the two previous season’s their first year back in the First Division must be considered satisfactory with a 1996-7 mid-table finish.

Former Plymouth Argyle trainee and Devon County FA Coach Jimmy Hargreaves took over for a short while but was replaced in October 1997 by former United players Nick Thomas and Norman Bye who created some success with the team ending the season in eighth position.

By May 1998, however, the Club now had the option of joining the relatively new Westward Developments Devon County League, of which they had been keen supporters of some eight or 10 years previously.

A decision was made to withdraw in favour of the more localised league ending the eight seasons’ adventure in Western League Football.

Nick Thomas’s success at Crediton had been noticed and was approached by league rivals Cullompton Rangers to join the management team there with an offer he couldn’t refuse.

As a result of the vacancy an approach was received in 1999 by former Arsenal apprentice and Dunfermline Athletic, Airdrie and Port Vale player John Clarkson who offered to take over the management of the First team. He was a successful care home businessman who had recently settled in the area. He managed to entice several players back to the Club including John Harkness, Neil Gauntlett, Chris Ormand. Clarkson also signed a top goalscorer in Bristol-based Rickie Lennie.

However, his first season in charge did not bring the promised success and United managed to avoid finishing in the bottom three re-election places by a goal difference advantage over Heavitree United of just four goals! Things were not to improve for some time.

Chris Gillard