And so after what seemed an age we are about to embark on another football season starting Tuesday for us away at Undy Athletic in the Gwent Senior Cup. I don't think we've played them since our Gwent Two days back in 2006 when as I recall we won 4 - 3 despite two goals from top striker Phil Tranter who came and did a grand job for us a few seasons later and remains one of our friends and, dare I say it, a bit of a club legend.

Dan Dominy got our late winner. The game should be every bit as interesting as we go into it with a familiar looking squad with a couple of new faces, the most remarkable being last season's Barry Town Dan Clare who's made a great impression since signing a few weeks ago. We also welcome Elliot Evans from Cardiff Met, another making an impression in pre season.

Watch out also for 18 year old Luke Cleaves who's been pulling up a few trees in pre season now he's been given his head so to speak. His dad tells me that it will be the 97th consecutive year that a member of theCleaves family has represented the Town. Benny can almost beat that on his own.

Indeed new manager Steve Jenkins wasted no time gaining the respect of the players with a no nonsense approach, banning beers (but not beards, unfortunately) and even weighing the players back in June with a clear message not to pile on the pounds at the summers barbeques. With the effervescent Andrew Smith back and firing on all giggle cylinders pre-season has been fun as well as tough with a defeat, some wins and some good games against varied opposition, mostly English.

The style of play hasn't changed much but there is a renewed energy about the place and we look capable of mixing it up if we need to. Time will tell of course. Our aim then is to win the Welsh League, have a good run in the Welsh Cup and get as far as we can and to win some more friends along the way. For what it's worth I'm thinking the same gang as last year will be the main challengers with Taffs Well seemingly strengthened over the summer and Haverfordwest also picking up one or two new players. I've only picked up rumours from West End losing players but given their catchment and pedigree they won't rest on their laurels. Neither will Cambrian and Clydach who will be playing on 3G this season but face ten away games to start it all off. AFC Porth will be tough to beat as usual while Aberdare's late run last season will give them some cause for optimism. New kids on the old block Pen Y Bont should have the best of both Bridgend-based worlds and will be confident of being in the mix come May, while new boys Goytre from over the hill made a splash last season and have been making some noise in the transfer market (if that is what it is at this level). Buds will also be hoping their return to Division One isn't too much of an ordeal. Caerau Ely remain a bit of an unknown as we've never played them at any level anywhere although I did fracture my skull at Cwrt y Ala many moons ago which ended by scuba diving career. (It's a long story). Goytre United however will be looking and expecting a huge improvement on last season and their performance against us at their place on a freezing March night will surely be a benchmark for this. At the risks of upsetting anyone I liked Pontardawe last time but they lack that little bit extra to challenge and Ton Pentre will also have to improve hugely to have sniff of silver - admittedly we played them at the end of last year when some of their players were thinking of sunnier climes.

It's such a tough division that that leaves me with Tata Steel and Cwmbran Celtic and both clubs will want to do a lot better than last time out as the Steelmen avoided relegation because of Barry's demise while Celtic just managed to stay out of the bottom three with some last ditch heroics - an unlikely 5 - 1 win against Haverfordwest.

So there you have it. Very tough. With the best players in South Wales going hammer and tongs every Saturday for eight months. Can't wait.

Monmouth Town are sponsored by WyeMedia and welcome Singleton Court and the Raduni as key partners for the season.

If you would like to sponsor the club or advertise in the programme or at the ground please contact Lee on 07967479484 for details.