CLUBS across the district are still counting the cost of damage caused by Storm Dennis after a total fixture wipeout last weekend.

No Teignbridge footballers kicked a ball in the Western League, South West Peninsula Premier or Devon Football League on Saturday, with only games on artificial surfaces surviving the deluge.

The Peninsula Premier East and West divisions, which cover Devon and Cornwall at Step Six on the non-league pyramid, suffered a total fixture wipeout for the first time in two years.

League secretary Phil Hiscox, the man responsible for picking up the pieces, said: ‘As usual, this situation has been deeply frustrating for the league and clubs.

‘The last time we had a total wipeout was during the Beast from the East – and that was because of snow.

‘It’s very rare that all fixtures are called off because of rain. Usually there’s a club somewhere which survives.’

Bovey Tracey’s Mill Marsh Park took the biggest hit, with rain and floodwater leaving much of the playing surface submerged. Luckily, the clubhouse wasn’t affected.

The Moorlanders are already five fixtures behind table-toppers Ilfracombe, and now face the prospect of waiting weeks for the grass to recover.

Mark Blake’s men will have a race against time to complete their remaining 19 games – half of their schedule – by the final day on April 25.

Club secretary Nigel Call explained: ‘We’ve got 21 games – 19 in the league and two in the cup – to go before the end of the season, and that’s without any progression.

‘Unfortunately you can’t stop Mother Nature, it’s just the world we live in at the moment.

‘It is a shame when we work hard in our jobs during the week, and the day we can make money for the club is taken from us.’

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‘But there are worse things in life. Nobody died. At the end of the day, it’s a green field that got wet.’

And Hiscox added: ‘One thing I will not do [to clear a fixture backlog] is have teams playing two nights running during midweek.

‘The worst I’d do is have games on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, or Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, for example.

‘And I’ve informed Bovey that the league would be flexible about the prospect of playing matches elsewhere.’

After their Western League tie at home to Street was shelved on Saturday, Buckland Athletic’s midweek matchup away at Cadbury Heath also fell by the wayside.

Paul Froude’s side will be looking to get back on the pitch tomorrow as they travel to face Odd Down (Bath) (3pm).

Bovey are set to make the trip to Torrington, while Newton Abbot Spurs are scheduled to welcome Ilfracombe to The Rec (both 3pm).

In the DFL, Bovey Tracey Reserves, Chudleigh Athletic and Liverton United host Exwick Villa, Braunton and Exeter University respectively, while Teignmouth head to Newtown (all 3pm).

Buckland Athletic Reserves entertain Lakeside, while Kingsteignton go to Plymouth Argyle Development and Newton Spurs Reserves travel to Tavistock Reserves (all 3pm).ORDER YOUR DIGITAL EDITION HERE