Source: West Briton LINK
THE new season is almost upon us with Truro City again preparing to embark on a new campaign in a new league.
Their debut in Blue Square South (Step 2 of non-league football) will see the club meeting many opponents for the first time, while also coming up against a few old rivals, but what are the key facts fans need to know about the upcoming season?
TOP TEAMS?
Woking: Favourites with many to take the title this year. The Surrey club finished fifth last season, but have managed to retain most of their star players, while adding to the squad in key areas.
Chelmsford City: fourth last year and third the year before that. No reason to think they won't be up there again come next spring. Truro's first game of the season is away to the Essex club, where they'll be looking to improve on their respectable 1-0 replay defeat in the 2009/10 FA Trophy campaign.
Dover Athletic: Seventh last year and second the year before that. A consistently strong team at this level. Also Truro's most distant away day (a 660-mile round trip).
FAMILIAR FOES
Farnborough: Rivals from the 09/10 season when they won the Southern Premier League. Finished second last year in Blue Square South, only to lose out on promotion in the play-off final. The recent resignation of their wealthy chairman could well hit their hopes.
Salisbury City: Came up with Truro through the play-offs despite a shaky end to the season (including a 6-0 home defeat to Truro). Salisbury have won promotion from this league before (06/07), before going on to enjoy a three year spell in the Blue Square Premier, where they'll be keen to return.
'LOCAL' DERBIES
Yet again, not really. Most of Truro's opponents are concentrated around the south east, with only Weston-super-Mare and Dorchester providing Truro's 'local' opposition (thus the back-to-back games against Weston over the Christmas period). Both clubs had unremarkable seasons in last year, finishing 12th and 17th respectively.
HOW HAVE PROMOTED TEAMS FARED?
The omens are good for Truro at this level. Champions from 2010 Farnborough finished second last year, with play-off winners Nuneaton finishing a respectable sixth in Blue Square North.
The 2009 champions, Corby Town are now well established in Blue Square North along with the play-off winners from that year, Gloucester City.
ANY NEW FACES AT TRURO?
Manager Lee Hodges has made some minor changes to the squad, with the most notable departures being those of goalkeeper Martin Rice, and defender Alex Jeannin. Experienced goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe has come in, along with Ed Palmer on loan from Torquay. There is of course still a chance we'll see more new faces at the club before the end of the month.
DEVELOPMENTS AT THE CLUB?
Playing in Blue Square South will require developments off the pitch, as well as on it. For example, at this level of the game the FA Ground Grading regulations require: at least six spectator entrances; between 6-8 toilets (not including those in the bar) and at least 250 covered seats in a single non-temporary stand, among other things. As such, there may well need to be some work at Treyew Road before the end of the season.
SO WHAT'S REALISTIC FOR TRURO?
The first priority has to be to avoid relegation – and past seasons suggest that 40 points should be enough to keep a team up.
Beyond that, a top ten finish is certainly realistic for a team who shouldn't fear anyone at this level.
That said, Truro can expect to see a step up in class this year as we'll see lot of players who have experience of both league and Blue Square Premier level competition.
'Cautious optimism' could prove the best approach.
What we can be sure of is, if Truro play like we know they can, then it certainly should be an exciting season.
THE new season is almost upon us with Truro City again preparing to embark on a new campaign in a new league.
Their debut in Blue Square South (Step 2 of non-league football) will see the club meeting many opponents for the first time, while also coming up against a few old rivals, but what are the key facts fans need to know about the upcoming season?
TOP TEAMS?
Woking: Favourites with many to take the title this year. The Surrey club finished fifth last season, but have managed to retain most of their star players, while adding to the squad in key areas.
Chelmsford City: fourth last year and third the year before that. No reason to think they won't be up there again come next spring. Truro's first game of the season is away to the Essex club, where they'll be looking to improve on their respectable 1-0 replay defeat in the 2009/10 FA Trophy campaign.
Dover Athletic: Seventh last year and second the year before that. A consistently strong team at this level. Also Truro's most distant away day (a 660-mile round trip).
FAMILIAR FOES
Farnborough: Rivals from the 09/10 season when they won the Southern Premier League. Finished second last year in Blue Square South, only to lose out on promotion in the play-off final. The recent resignation of their wealthy chairman could well hit their hopes.
Salisbury City: Came up with Truro through the play-offs despite a shaky end to the season (including a 6-0 home defeat to Truro). Salisbury have won promotion from this league before (06/07), before going on to enjoy a three year spell in the Blue Square Premier, where they'll be keen to return.
'LOCAL' DERBIES
Yet again, not really. Most of Truro's opponents are concentrated around the south east, with only Weston-super-Mare and Dorchester providing Truro's 'local' opposition (thus the back-to-back games against Weston over the Christmas period). Both clubs had unremarkable seasons in last year, finishing 12th and 17th respectively.
HOW HAVE PROMOTED TEAMS FARED?
The omens are good for Truro at this level. Champions from 2010 Farnborough finished second last year, with play-off winners Nuneaton finishing a respectable sixth in Blue Square North.
The 2009 champions, Corby Town are now well established in Blue Square North along with the play-off winners from that year, Gloucester City.
ANY NEW FACES AT TRURO?
Manager Lee Hodges has made some minor changes to the squad, with the most notable departures being those of goalkeeper Martin Rice, and defender Alex Jeannin. Experienced goalkeeper Tim Sandercombe has come in, along with Ed Palmer on loan from Torquay. There is of course still a chance we'll see more new faces at the club before the end of the month.
DEVELOPMENTS AT THE CLUB?
Playing in Blue Square South will require developments off the pitch, as well as on it. For example, at this level of the game the FA Ground Grading regulations require: at least six spectator entrances; between 6-8 toilets (not including those in the bar) and at least 250 covered seats in a single non-temporary stand, among other things. As such, there may well need to be some work at Treyew Road before the end of the season.
SO WHAT'S REALISTIC FOR TRURO?
The first priority has to be to avoid relegation – and past seasons suggest that 40 points should be enough to keep a team up.
Beyond that, a top ten finish is certainly realistic for a team who shouldn't fear anyone at this level.
That said, Truro can expect to see a step up in class this year as we'll see lot of players who have experience of both league and Blue Square Premier level competition.
'Cautious optimism' could prove the best approach.
What we can be sure of is, if Truro play like we know they can, then it certainly should be an exciting season.
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