The Big Kick-Off Arrives at Park Hall Tonight
The New Saints v Prestatyn Town
Park Hall, 7:45, Tonight
The waiting is over...After the re-structure of the Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League, the new twelve-team League kicks-off this evening at Park Hall.
We've enjoyed a summer of European success with Bangor City and TNS, we've got an extended and improved Principality Sponsorship deal, we've got more live games and almost every Saturday Fans can enjoy a live match and we've seen some high-profile arrivals in the League, including two manager changes. And now it's down to business...
Champions THE NEW SAINTS, perhaps fittingly, kick-off the new season on their home soil at Park Hall on the same pitch that they triumphed 4-0 over the Irish Champions Bohemians last month.
The Saints beat Prestatyn Town at home in the Season's opener last term 5-0, but with the advent of the twelve team league, the Denbighshire outfit's boss Neil Gibson has been able to strengthen his squad over the summer. New arrivals Ross Stephens (from Newtown), Lee Hunt (Bangor) and loanee Kai Edwards (Wrexham) will all make their competitive debuts this evening for the visitors to improve a squad which finished eighth last year.
The Saints have played four competitive European matches already against the Champions of Ireland and Belgium, so pre-season's don't come better than that, but their success on the European stage has led rookie boss Mike Davies to be cautiously optimistic for another successful season in the Principality Welsh Premier.
"I'm not confident that we can win the title again because teams have strengthened very well before the start of this season," he said.
This new slimmed down division is exciting, different and a new challenge for us...It will be very interesting to see what happens over the course of this season
"We do, however, have confidence in ourselves and the way we play, but it will be more difficult than ever.
"This new slimmed down division is exciting, different and a new challenge for us.
"It will be very interesting to see what happens over the course of this season."
Davies took over from Andy Cale after the Saints lifted the Title last season and his five competitive matches in charge have seen him guide his team to the Loosemores Cup Title and the four matches in the Champions League. That is a Baptism of Fire for the former UWIC sports student who has completed his UEFA 'A' Licence and the 30 year old added;
"My team is in good shape for the kick-off but we have to be wary of European fatigue...We are taking each game as it comes and are only focused on Prestatyn."
Defender Chris Marriott is out for up to three months following a serious knee injury against Anderlecht and midfielder Aeron Edwards is also out. However, the Saints have arguably the strongest squad in the League and will name a very strong sixteen for the clash, which kicks-off at 7:45 in Oswestry this evening.
