Manager John Aspinall is looking to build on a solid, if unremarkable, first season in charge which saw the team finish 9th. He said, "The lads are really up for starting the season in the right way. We had some great results against teams who finished in the top three so it's not a question of quality. It's about consistency. If we can find a way of taking that way of playing into all our games we will have a much better season."

They will be without their cat between the sticks however, as Joe Molloy serves the first game of a 2 match ban - which he probably got because those players in front of him weren't doing what they should!

Reserve team captain Dean Walker has made the most of an unexpected weekend off in August and committed to something which, when it looked like a game against Bacup was going to be inserted in for this weekend, he can't get out of. Whatever it is Deanio, enjoy it.

International business executive Rhys Mazey has taken over the reins as A team captain this season and flew in late last night to be ready for a much shorter journey than he's used to for work. Bolton Wyresdale is the destination for him and his charges, ironically with a few question marks over the whereabouts of stalwarts of last season's campaign which saw them only just avoid relegation in their first season in Division 4.

It's believed that Gaughy still hasn't made it to Parrswood Celtic for the pre-season game on Thursday night. Fellow centre half Mackey was last heard from when stuck with an ear infection in Nice, wife and children packed off on the plane and him ready to run the gauntlet at Calais to get back into the country. If he can successfully battle through security guards there, the strikers he'll face this season will be meat and drink to him.

Good luck to all playing this weekend.