Town travel around the M25 to Essex on Saturday to play last season's Ryman Division One (North) Champions Aveley FC. Rod Stringer's side won the league last year by just one point from local rivals East Thurrock United after beating them 3-2 away on the final day of the season in front of a crowd of over 800+.
The Millers have had a very busy pre-season in preparation for their Ryman Premier campaign with results as follows:
13/7 - Ebbsfleet (Home) Lost 0-1
15/7 - D&R Won 3-0
18/7 - Romford drew 1-1
22/7 - Gillingham won 1-0
25/7 - Bishops Stortford lost 1-2
28/7 - Basildon (away) won 2-0
28/7 - Great Wakering Rovers won 2-0
30/7 - Grays Athletic lost 0-2
01/8 - Thamesmead Town won 2-1
04/8 - Met Police drew 1-1
The champions start their premier season with a home game against Cray Wanderers and then face trips to Hastings United and Kingstonian.
Last year's home match against Aveley was played in the pouring rain. The Millers won 7-4 in an amazing game. Can anyone else remember a game where a hat-trick of hat-tricks was scored? Mitch Hahn scored three times for town (incidentally now playing for Aveley) with Petrit Elbi and TCE's best rated player in the Ryman North last year Joao Carlos getting three each for Aveley. Just 201 attended on 1st November 2008. The return game on 21st March saw Town go down 1-0 in front of 352 people.
The real season starts elsewhere
Grays Athletic V Chester City -25
All of the focus on the opening day of the Blue Square season will be on AFC Wimbledon V Luton Town. However, Just a short distance from Aveley at New Recreation Ground there is a very interesting match in prospect as Grays Atheltic take on Chester City.
The home side have now had over 10 managers in the last three years following Craig Edwards leaving the club earlier in the week along with his and ex Town assistant manager Steve Browne after only a few months in the job.
The Essex side announced the signing of Lee McEvilly, Adriano Rigoglioso, Fred Murray, Ronnie Bull, Sam Cutler, Preston Edwards, Ken Davies, Cameron Mawer, Billy Lumley and Billy Crowther in one day on the 5th August.
Ex Weymouth manager Alan Lewer has been brought in to assist Coach Gary Phillips.
Chester City fan's are just thankful they have a team to support following a summer of financial problems which culminated in the Conference allowing them to play this season with a hefty -25 pts start. Mick Wadsworth has put together a new squad from the team that was relegated from league football last year but looks to have his work cut out to stave off another demotion. Looking at the last three season's tables City would need to get 69 points (08/09), 67 pts (07/08) and a massive 77 pts (06/07) to prevent them slipping into the Blue Square North.
Other focus matches
Ex Redbridge manager Dean Holdsworth takes his fancied Newport County (8/1 for the title) side to Hertfordshire to play Bishops Stortford (20/1 for the title). The home side are 6/4 to win, with the away side slight favourites at 5/4. The draw being 13/5.
Corby Town who played against Enfield Town in the Southern League Eastern Division a few years back begin their Blue Sqaure North campaign by entertaining Harrogate Town. Corby are 11/10, the away win at 15/8 with 5/2 the draw.
In the Skilltraining Ltd Northern League Division One Norton and Stockton Ancients take a trip to Dunston UTS. This fixture is The Ancients first ever in Division One of the League having been founder members in 1982 in Division Two. They finally gained promotion after finishing second last year.
Also in the Northern League one of TCE's favourite named teams West Allotment Celtic visit West Auckland Town.
In the Eastern Counties League Team Bury who share Bury Town's ground and are managed by Dean Greygoose make their debut with a Division One trip to Saffron Walden Town.
TCE's favourite Bulmer's Cider Kent League's club Sporting Bengal United look to improve on last years 32 losses from 32 games with a trip to Tunbridge Wells.
In the Minerva Spartan South Midlands League fancied Brimsdown Rovers open with a home game versus Colney Heath. Broxbourne Borough face relegated Dunstable Town at home. Last season's 2nd placed (by goal difference) Harefield United travel to Leverstock Green. Hatfield Town newly promoted from Division One take on Chalfont St Peter.
The Football League also kicks off with new boy's Burton Albion facing a tough trip to Shrewsbury Town. Arguably the 'smallest' club in League One travel to the 'biggest' when Exeter City play Leeds United at Elland Road. Most non-league football fan's favourite league side (due to all the ex non-league players in their team) Peterborough United travel to Nigel Clough's Derby County in the Championship.
The Cold End liks a £1 bet on a Saturday and is going for the following speculative away 4-fold for fun:
Newport County to Bash Bishops Stortford @ 5/4
Ketttering Town to win at Forest Green Rovers @ 13/8
Dover Athletic to make a winning start in the BSS at Maidenhead United @ 6/5
Darlington to beat Aldershot Town @ 13/5
£1 stake pays £46.80.
All odds are at http://www.skybet.com/skybet?action=GoEvCoupon&id=10008198
Scottish League fixtures subjec to change???
The Cold End loves a bit of lower league Scottish action with favourite team Montrose in the Scottish Third Division. The Scottish club season has been put on stand-by for some clubs with Livingston being relegated to the Third due to their publicised financial difficulties therefore promoting Cowdenbeath and Airdrie United. The Scottish Leauge have set a deadline of sometime today for Livingston to appeal against the decision.
Livvy's enforced relegation to the bottom division has been sounded as the death of the club by supporters as the take-over was reportedly subject to the team playing in the higher division. The club formed when it was re-located to Livingston from Edinburgh based club Meadowbank Thistle in 1995. Fans in Scotland refer to them as 'Franchise FC' much like the MK Dons in the English League.
The Scottish Third fixtures scheduled for tommorrow are:
Berwick v Annan Athletic
East Stirling v Cowdenbeath (or Livvy)
Montrose v Elgin
Queens Park v Forfar
Stranraer v Albion
The Cold End predicts victorys for Montrose at home and Albion Rovers at Stranraer. Albion Rovers are listed at 2/1 for an away victory at Stair Park.
Albion have beaten Division One Ayr United away and troubled Livingston at home in the cup competitions in the last few weeks. Stranaer had a good win 4-2 at home to Berwick but were thrashed 5-0 at Dundee who are fancied to take the Division One title this year.
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