Onions look forward to new campaign
Flanagan’s Onions will enter their inaugural season in the Digicel Premier Division with last year’s side still intact as they look to survive the drop at the first time of asking.The newly promoted side beat Somerset Eagles 6-0 to confirm their top flight status for this term thanks to four goals from skipper Keston Lewis, with Peter Robey and Rich Cumbers completed the scoring for Onions as they joined Wolves in coming up.With the new campaign on the horizon and new adventures in front of the club, coach Michael Ward is happy to have not lost any of his key players while also adding depth to his ranks from the club’s Corona League squad. Flanagans open their season next Sunday with a home match against St. George’s Colts.“Regarding our transfers, we have picked up some quality players that were previously playing in the Corona League,” said Ward. “The main thing was to try and stick with the squad we had, but to also add quality to the squad so that we have good cover and not just numbers.“The squad is now bigger and better than last year, so we are looking forward to the coming season.”Onions were five points back of champions Wolves and three clear of BAA when the dust settled on last season’s standings, but this year won’t be about how many goals you can score against the like of Ireland Rangers and Paget, but rather getting points from the big boys, including tonight’s Charity Cup competitors.They won’t be walking into the top flight blind, however, with former PHC Zebras midfielder Keston Lewis spearheading their attack along with the likes of Darren Doolin and Kevin Ronaldson who will be relied on to put the ball in the back of the net.Onions will get a first hand look at their rivals this year when the Charity Cup kicks off the season tonight at the newly named Goose Gosling Field, formerly BAA Field, with the first piece of silverware up for grabs between Dandy Town and North Village.While the Charity Cup takes place tonight, First Division action kicks off the tomorrow with a full slate of games on tap on opening day.Promotion favourites BAA and Devonshire Colts tackle each other at Police Field as both look to get their respective campaigns off to a winning start, while newcomers Boulevard and St David’s lock horns at Goose Gosling Field.Ireland Rangers welcome another side looking to push for promotion, X-Roads, to Malabar, and a double header takes centre stage at White Hill Field when Paget hosts Prospect in the first match and Somerset Eagles entertain Hamilton Parish in the second match at 5pm.All First Division matches start at 3pm unless other stated.