It is no exaggeration to say 2022 was one of the most turbulent and difficult years in the history of Ottery St Mary Football Club. 

Travel back just over 12 months to Christmas 2021, and the Otters were rocked by the departure of manager Billy Rouse and several of the squad that had steered the club from the Devon & Exeter League to the South-West Peninsula League, two steps higher in the football pyramid. 

Rouse said in his statement: “It is with deep sadness that I am resigning as First Team Manager of Ottery St Mary. Despite our success, I feel that my position at the club has become untenable.” 

Chairman Mikey Ringer also left Washbrook Meadows and the Ottery Committee had a major rebuild on their hands, starting with the appointment of Rikki Pitter and Adam Carpenter to look after football affairs, with Pat Curtis joining the first-team staff later in 2022. 

Charlotte Guyan stepped up as Chairperson and, along with the Committee, helped to stabilise the club after such a tumultuous period. Guyan’s impact was hugely impressive and there was great pride across the Meadows when she was named Grassroots Volunteer of the Year by Devon FA. 

Ottery announced that Charlotte is moving on from the role of Chairperson earlier this week, with Mark Isaacs taking on the role of Interim Chairman, and a statement from the club said: “It will never be forgotten that Charlotte turned the club around during one of the darker times in its recent history.” 

Everyone in East Devon football congratulates Charlotte for her tremendous impact at Ottery, the club is in a far better place than 12 months ago. 

On the pitch, Ottery have stabilised in the Devon Football League and they kicked off 2023 with arguably the best result of the season so far, with Seb Copp banging in a superb hat-trick to secure a 3-2 win at North Molton on Saturday, inflicting a first defeat of the season on the North Devon club. 

Ottery host Appledore on Saturday and then a massive game for Ottery Ladies on Sunday, as they taken on Juventus Devon in the County Cup semi-final at Washbrook Meadows, kick-off 2pm. Things are looking a lot brighter in 2023 for Otter St Mary AFC.