North Village on October 8 while promoted Southampton Rangers and Somerset Eagles take on Vasco and Devonshire Colts in their first matches back in the top flight.

Boulevard, who won their second championship by goal difference over Dandy Town, will be one of the teams to watch this season, as should the Red Devils.

Both teams have picked up some key players in the transfer market with Boulevard getting Clinton Caisey back from Vasco, Andre Thompson from relegated BAA and also Leonard Hypolite from Devonshire Colts.

Hypolite is one of four players whose clubs are objecting to their transfers on their grounds that they came through their clubs' ranks. The others from Devonshire Colts are Antoine Lightbourne who wants to join Dandy Town and Derek Wright who is seeking to move to St. George's.

The fourth player is Steven Arorash of Somerset who is trying to join Vasco.

Those transfers are not yet finalised because appeals from the players' clubs are still to be heard.

North Village, while losing striker Dennis Robinson after one season to PHC, have re-signed goalkeeper Dwayne (Streaker) Adams and defenders Treadwell Walker and Troy Harvey from relegated BAA, alongwith Larance Durham from Vasco. Damon Wade, having finished college, is also expected to be a part of Village's plans this season.

Like BAA a year ago, promoted Southampton Rangers have been busy in the transfer market during the summer, making some key signings with brothers Randy, Kelly and Larry Simmons joining them from Somerset Trojans alongwith Kwame Tucker.

Somerset Eagles have lost two players from last season's promotion team, captain Terrence Christopher and Sam Maybury, who have joined Second Division Paget alongwith Dale Russell, Curtis Azhar and Troy Burgess of relegated Devonshire Cougars.

Joining Eagles from neighbours Somerset Trojans are Vernal Cann, Ricardo Tucker, Dion Minors, Rodre Wilson and Stephen Burrows.

The first match of the new season will be this Saturday's Charity Cup between Boulevard and FA Cup champions Vasco at PHC Stadium.

The quest for the Martonmere Cup, presently held by Vasco, begins on October 3 with two matches at Devonshire Rec. PHC meet North Village in the first match while St. George's play their first ever match in the competition against Somerset in the nightcap.

Other Martonmere Cup dates are October 10 at Somerset (Boulevard v St.

George's and Dandy Town v PHC) and October 17 at PHC Stadium when Boulevard meet Somerset and Dandy Town take on North Village. The semi-finals take place on October 31 at BAA Field.

The FA Cup begins its path towards the April 14 final on October 22 with the elimination round involving the Commercial and Second Division teams, while the midweek Friendship and Shell competitions kick off on November 21 at Devonshire Rec. when BAA meet Prospect and Vasco take on St. George's.

Dandy Town are the Friendship Trophy champions while Southampton Rangers won the Shield last season to go with the Second Division title.

Leonard Hypolite