HERE we go again folks, the new football season is nearly upon us.
The summer went really quickly and, even though it’s been a grind and a slog at times, pre-season has flown by too and we’re only a week away from the big kick-off.
It doesn’t seem five minutes since we were dancing around Wembley with the Conference play-off trophy and here we are on the brink of life back in the Football League.
That sounds good, doesn’t it?
There is always excitement and optimism at the start of the season when the sun is shining but this year is extra special after what we achieved last season and what we’ve got to look forward to over the next nine months.
We’ve kept the core of the squad from last season so most of us are familiar with each other and the gaffer has brought in some quality signings as well in Jamie Stephens, Harry Worley, Adam Chapman and Chris Zebroski.
That will only add to the competition for every place and means we all have to work incredibly hard to stand a chance of starting against Accrington Stanley in seven days.
At the moment I’m not sure if I’m going to make that game because of a slight hamstring strain I picked up in the friendly with Reading on Tuesday.
I felt a twinge when I tried to sprint into the corner for a ball so it’s my fault – I should know by now to limit my sprinting at my age!
It’s a bit frustrating but fingers crossed it’s not torn and I’m available next week.
Other than that I’ve kept myself in shape and I’m feeling good and hopefully I’m fit enough to recover quickly and have another positive season.
I think all the boys will tell you that pre-season training was a killer, especially in the tropical heat of South Wales!
While the rest of you were lounging on beaches or sunbathing in the park we were being run into the ground in baking sun but it’s done us good.
The first 10 days we loaded the work and the gaffer, Jimmy Dack and Wayne Hatswell really put us through it.
But I think that’s good because my mentality is that if we can do that then we can do anything during the season.
It was hard but we’re all reaping the benefits of it now, especially myself.
I’m feeling fitter than I have in a good few years and hopefully once I shake off this injury I can hit the ground running.
This time last year I was behind most of the lads because I only signed towards the end of July so I didn’t have a proper pre-season and it took me a while to get up to speed.
This year I’m feeling great and I’m raring to go.
It’s been tough and it does get harder as you get older.
It takes longer to recover but I’ve been keeping up with the youngsters – apart from Christian Jolley and Robbie Willmott.
Those two are absolutely flying. The rest of us have been trailing in their wake but we know that you don’t get anywhere without hard work.
Robbie picked up an injury against Reading as well, which is a real shame because he’s been superb in pre-season.
Luckily it looks as if that isn’t as bad as first thought and he has a chance of playing next week.
Rodney Parade is looking good and the pitch is improving every day.
Hopefully the weather will be better this year and with the new drainage system it should hold up better than it did last season.
There should be a decent crowd for the Aston Villa game tomorrow and I can’t wait to taste the atmosphere again.
It was superb in the play-off semi-final against Grimsby and the excitement is building again now.
The fans will be feeling that too and I want to say thank you again for your support last season.
You really helped us through the tough months and it was worth it to see so many happy faces at Wembley in May and on the open-top bus parade around the city afterwards.
Hopefully we can do the same this season and repay the faith you’ve shown in us.
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