Our Opponents for Saturday - Chinnor RFC

Seconds out - here we go for season 4 in Nat 1! After a short hot summer, we're set to go for another 30 games of quality rugby. A few new faces have joined since the delayed end to the 2017/18 campaign, a few have moved on, but overall the core of the side is there to provide experience and continuity. It's been a good pre-season with two good wins and a very creditable loss to the Pirates last week. Hopefully, the injured list won't have to much influence on the early fixtures.

As Albion's season dragged on well into May, Hull Ionians, Old Albanian Fylde and were adapting to life in the Nat 2. Old friends Rotherham have joined the party after a torrid season in the Championship. (Their 2018/19 start is hardly brilliant as they are in dispute with the cricket club as to who can play today at Clifton Lane!) Up from Level 4 come Cinderford RFC (our "derby" game - only 153 miles!), Sale FC (Cheshire - 283 miles of M5/M6) and our opponents for today's opener, Chinnor RFC (E of Oxford, 223 miles).

Playing in black and white hoops and black shorts, "The Villagers" are a young club founded in 1962. They were champions of Nat 2 South and have enjoyed pretty rapid progress up the pyramid, reachng the National Leagues in 2006 and Nat 2 in 2012. Their home, Kingsey Road has a capacity of 2 000 and a couple of seasons back, they got a crowd of 1 600-odd playing Bishop's Stortford. They have a good reputation on the development side, boasting Tom Varndell (Tigers) and Tom Johnson (Chiefs) as old boys. The rumour mill has been buzzing over the summer with stories of major expenditure on the playing squad. Prop Ricky Cano, who was with us for a while is on their bench today.

Those adept at reading the tea leaves have Albion, DMP and Ampthill among the favourites for promotion this year. Our home form in Nat 1 has been pretty solid over the years, the away results less so. Travel over long distances on the day does us no favours, but there are only limited funds for overnight accommodation. We certainly aren't among the big spenders at this level, so we will have to rely heavily (again) on the young 'uns from Sandy Park when the going gets tough with injuries. Hopefully, there won't be a repetition of last year's meteorological extremes. Can we do it? We have the will, the coaches, the infrastructure and the raw material. The rest is in the hands of the Gods...

With new kit for the players and fans and a revamped catering set-up, there's plenty of interest at the Brickfields. Prices are unchanged and the lads will certainly be up for it. Get on down!