The unmistakable smell of freshly cut grass and the sight of newly painted goalposts can only mean one thing ? another new football season.

Last season saw Dandy Town pull off the coveted Premier League and FA Cup double while North Village retained the Charity Cup and added the Martonmere Cup and Friendship Trophy to their impressive haul.

But while Hornets and Village basked in glory, the same could not be said for Devonshire Colts and Hamilton Parish, both relegated after struggling over the entire campaign.

First Division champions PHC Zebras and division runners-up and Shield winners Somerset Trojans rejoined the elite on the back of some dominant performances with the latter also appearing in an FA Cup semi-final against eventual champions Hornets.

This season will see a new-look First Division with Social Club rejoining the league after disbanding early last season while X-Roads Warriors have joined Bermuda Football Association?s ranks to take the overall tally in the division to ten.

And while the future leadership of the domestic game remains up in the air with the BFA still to hold their Annual General Meeting, the 2004-05 season shifts into high gear this weekend with a slate of intriguing league matches across the Island.

Devonshire Cougars and North Village will lock horns in the weekend?s top match at Bernard Park in the AT&T Wireless Premier Division while newcomers Somerset Trojans go up against neighbouring rivals Somerset Eagles in an all-West End contest at White Hill Field.

Other match-ups see promoted PHC Zebras being immediately put to the sword against defending league champions Dandy Town at Southampton Oval while Boulevard resume their search of a first win of the season against a depleted Southampton Rangers side at BAA Field.

In the First Division, Ireland Rangers take on St.George?s at Malabar in a potentially exciting clash, Hamilton Parish begin life in the lower division against Wolves at Lord?s, last season?s beaten Shield finalists Paget meet Prospect at White Hill Field, St.David?s tackle relegated Devonshire Colts at Lord?s and Social Club take on X-Roads at Bernard Park ? the venue where the former club were hammered 20-0 by Trojans last season.

Royal Gazette sports reporter Colin Thompson takes a brief look at each of the teams in Premier Division: