Shepton Mallet AFC says it is entering a busy spell on and off the pitch as the club looks to build on a season of consolidation under returning first-team manager Craig Loxton.

Loxton returned to the club in mid-November 2025, with Shepton saying he took over at a difficult point with only six or seven players remaining. The club said the 2025-26 season was expected to be about stabilising the first team, fielding a competitive side and laying foundations for 2026-27.

Away from the first team, Shepton said its reserves are playing in Division Three of the Somerset County League after successive promotions and are on course for a mid-table finish. The club added that its under-18s are also continuing to improve.

The clubhouse remains busy beyond matchdays. The club says Shepton Mallet Darts Club uses the venue each week, several skittles teams play there, and more youth events are being introduced.

Attention is now turning to a packed events calendar.

The first team's final home match is due to be played against Street on Saturday, 25 April, with presentation night for the first team and reserves also being held that evening. The under-18s presentation night is set to follow on Tuesday, 5 May.

A charity football match is also planned for Sunday, 3 May, when Riders In The Sky will face the Shepton Allstars. The club says the day will include children's games and challenges, a bouncy castle, live music, food carts and an ice cream van, with money raised to be split between Riders In The Sky, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and Shepton Mallet AFC.

Gates are due to open at 12 pm, with kick-off at 2 pm.

advertisement

Other dates in the diary include bingo in the clubhouse on Friday, 22 May, and "Malletfest" on Saturday, 27 June, which is planned to run from 1.30 pm to 1.30 am and feature bands, soloists and DJs.

The club is also appealing for new and returning sponsors, saying support can come in different forms including raffle prizes, ball sponsorship, named seats in the main stand, pitchside advertising and player or match backing.

Shepton says sponsorship is vital and is also asking for more volunteers as work continues behind the scenes to restore the pitch, freshen paintwork, clean signage and carry out general maintenance.

Anyone wanting more information is asked to contact Graham Freestone on 07960 411810 or by email at [email protected].

More local stories

• Shepton Strawberry Line hopes hit by cash blow
• Priddy moorland blaze not believed to be deliberate

Subscribe to the free Shepton Mallet Nub News newsletter Get the biggest Shepton Mallet stories straight to your inbox.