Saltash United F.C.

Football in Saltash was played as long ago as the 1890s under the name of Essa, although the date of its formation and origin remain unclear. The team eventually became known as Saltash Stars and had a credible history which included a hat-trick of victories in the Cornwall Senior Cup, winning the trophy in the seasons 1929–32.[3] They disbanded for the duration of the Second World War but reformed in the 1946–47 season, this time under the name of Saltash United.

In 1951, the club won the Cornwall Senior Cup, for the first time since 1932 – alongside the Charity Cup and Herald Cup – to complete the "Triple Crown" taking all three Cornish senior trophies.[4] The club entered the South Western Football League in 1951–52 as a founder member, finishing runners up and winning the inaugural South Western League Cup defeating a strong Torquay United reserves side 3–2. The Ashes went on the secure the League Championship in the following 1952–53 season.[1] Further success eluded the club in the ensuing years and, with the loss of some key players and the retirement of others, the club was forced to disband and withdrew from the South Western League in 1958. However, a group of enthusiasts led by long serving club supporter Terry Maynard, called an Extraordinary General Meeting on 22 July 1959, and Saltash United was unanimously reformed. At the same time, a small committee was formed to raise funds over the next 12 months to set the club back on its feet.[5]

The 1960–61 season saw the club join the newly formed East Cornwall League, in which they became League Champions as well as losing finalists in the League Cup.[6] Former player Alan Armstrong was appointed team manager for the 1969–70 season and lifted the South Western Cup with a team which included future team manager Brian Hodge. A regular in the back four during the 1969-70 season, David Lean left Plymouth Argyle the following season to become player-manager of Saltash United.[7]

In 1976–77, the club entered and won the Western League Division One at their first attempt.[1] Peter Darke guided the club to a 4th-place finish in the club's first season in the Western League Premier Division. Despite a 3rd-place finish in 1978–79, the club was back in 9th place the following season.[1]

Following a 2nd-place finish in the 1983–84 season, the club won its first Western League Premier Divison title in 1985. Saltash United won the league again in the 1986–1987 and 1988–89 seasons.[1] The 1987–88 season saw the club’s best FA Cup run to date. The run started with a 3-0 win at league opponents Taunton Town F.C. in the 1st qualifying round. This was followed up by a 7-1 thrashing of Ottery St Mary A.F.C. of the lower Western League Division One, and then a 3-0 home win over Tiverton Town F.C. of the same lower division. The club fell one round short of reaching the FA Cup First Round Proper, losing 4–2 away to Isthmian League side Farnborough F.C. in the Fourth Qualifying Round.[8]

By the end of the 1994–95 season the club returned to the South Western League as the high travelling expense of competing in the Western League took its toll. League success eluded the club in the ensuing years, with only the Durning Lawrence Charity Cup, won in 2000/01 to show for their efforts.

Allan Evans became team manager in 2002 and his influence was immediately felt with new players and a new approach to club discipline and training. Despite rejoining the Western League First Division for two seasons in 2004–05 and 2005–06, the club once again returned to the South Western League, with a 3rd-place finish.

The 2007–08 season saw the Club join the newly formed South West Peninsula League finishing the inaugural season as runners-up.[1] On 29 May 2013, Saltash announced Martin Burgess as team manager, succeeding Stuart Dudley who resigned at the end of the 2012–13 season. On 21 January 2015, Burgess stepped down as team manager with the Ashes only a point behind the League leaders citing player priorities and squad availability as the reasons for his resignation.

The 2015–16 season saw Matt Cusack appointed team manager alongside assistant Dane Bunney, both former Saltash players. Despite starting with only 8 registered players, they guided the Ashes to a sixth-place finish.[1][9] The Ashes started the 2016–17 season strongly under Cusack with the club breaking their record for most consecutive wins at the start of a season, beating St Blazey 5–0 on 27 August 2016. The following season, 2017–18, Saltash lifted the Cornwall Senior Cup for the first time in 25 years, having lost on their last five Senior Cup final appearances.[10]

As of 11 December 2020

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  ENG Ryan Rickard 2 DF  ENG David Barker (captain) 3 DF  ENG Callum Martindale 4 DF  ENG Sam Leary 5 DF  ENG Callum O'Brien 6 MF  ENG Neil Slateford 7 FW  ENG Jamie Simmonds 8 MF  ENG Sam Farrant 9 FW  ENG Sam Hughes 10 FW  ENG Mike Smith 11 DF  ENG Daniel Lewis

No. Pos. Nation Player 14 DF  ENG Charlie Elkington 15 FW  ENG Ben Holter 16 MF  ENG Henry Wilson 17 DF  ENG Chris Menhenick 18 FW  ENG Ryan Lucassi 19 MF  ENG Shaun Cleary 20 FW  ENG Ryan Smith 21 GK  ENG Shaun Hillier 22 FW  ENG Reece Thompson 26 MF  ENG Fletcher Williams

This list of former players includes those who received international caps while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.

First Team

Position	Name	Nationality
Manager:	Dane Bunney	English
Assistant Manager:	Paul Smith	English
First Team Coach:	Daniel Lewis	English
Head Physio:	Richard Haydon	English

Updated as of 26 December 2020. Only managers since joining the South West Peninsula League are shown.