The 1995-96 soccer season begins in earnest this weekend with a full slate of matches at both senior and junior levels.

No doubt the focus will be on tomorrow's five First Division and four Second Division matches, as Boulevard officially begin the defence of their league title.

One competition -- the Martonmere Cup -- has already started title, with defending champions Vasco having their opening match against North Village in Group B abandoned after 70 minutes because of light failure. They were leading the Red Devils 3-0.

Vasco have already been in action twice, beating Boulevard 2-0 in the Charity Cup on Tuesday night and tomorrow they travel to Southampton Oval to meet last season's Second Division champions Southampton Rangers.

The last time Rangers were in the First Division, two seasons ago, they survived just one season so their main priority no doubt will be to survive that first year back in the top flight and then build from there.

Their squad has been boosted by the signings of brothers Larry, Randy and Kelly Simmons as well as Kwame Tucker to add to their scoring power. Alfred Wolffe was Rangers' top scorer last season with 14 goals while others helping the cause include Jason Raynor (8) and Craig Darrell (7). Garry Williams and Irvin Trott both scored five goals to help Rangers to the promotion and Shield double.

Vasco have already shown they will not have too many problems in the goal scoring department as Irving Burgess, Dwight Basden and Corey Hill form a formidable front line.

And even though Donovan Livingston (retired) and Paul Towlson have been missing from their defence, Vasco still look solid at the back with Shawn Smith and Kentoine Jennings linking up in the middle and Derek Stapley and Earl Richardson on the flanks. In Timmy Figureido, Vasco have one of the best young goalkeepers.

Somerset Eagles, the other promoted team, should be confident of at least a point away to Devonshire Colts at Frog Lane. Colts have lost a host of players during the Summer and it will be a big test for new coach Vic Ball to try to keep Colts from slipping back after some progress has been made in the last few seasons.

The BFA confirmed yesterday that the three Colts players, Antoine Lightbourne, Derek Wright and Leonard Hypolite have been cleared to join their new clubs without compensation to Colts who had objected to the transfers.

Lightbourne will join Dandy Town, Wright is now with St. George's and Hypolite is likely to be in Boulevard's squad tomorrow.

Eagles have also lost a key player, with last season's captain Terrence Christopher deciding to stay in the Second Division with Paget.

Christopher was Eagles' top scorer last season with 17 goals, the main reason the team was able to return to the First Division. His departure means that Everett Wellman will be their most experienced front man.

Eagles have signed a few players from neighbours Somerset Trojans, namely Vernal Cann, Ricardo Tucker, Dion Minors and Stephen Burrows and the first few weeks of the new season will be crucial for them as they seek to get off to a good start.

Two teams who did not enjoy a good first outing of the season, champions Boulevard and Somerset, will be looking for an improvement tomorrow when they take on North Village and PHC respectively.

Boulevard looked suspect in defence with veterans Wayne (Bigga) Richardson and Dean Boyles out of their back line for the Charity Cup match against Vasco, while Somerset looked only a shadow of the former Trojans as St. George's beat them on their Martonmere Cup debut on Thursday night.

Boulevard's home match with North Village could go either way while PHC should be slight favourites over the Trojans. The Zebras will likely link up Dennis Robinson with Shawn Simons and Winston Trott in their front line. Trott was the team's top scorer last season with eight goals while Simons netted five.

In the other match Dandy Town, one of the pre-season title tips, are at home to St. George's. The east enders will have their defence tested by the strike pair of Darron Simons and Carlos Smith who netted 30 goals between them last season, with Simons going on to land the MVP award.

In Clay Smith, Jerry Laws and Ricky Hill, St. George's have their own potential match winners, so Town will have to watch their opponents closely.

The Second Division looks difficult to predict as relegated Devonshire Cougars and BAA have lost a number of players. In Philip Clarke and Clevie Campbell, Cougars have players capable of finding the net but whether they will get the service from the rest of the team remains to be seen.

Cougars and BAA entertain the bottom teams in the division last season, Paget and Hamilton Parish, as rejuvenated Paget travel to Devonshire Rec. to meet the Cougars. Paget have picked up Cougars trio Dale Russell, Curtis Azhar and Troy Burgess as well as Eagles pair Christopher and Sam Maybury.

St. David's have added to their squad and should be one of the teams battling for promotion. Tomorrow they travel to Police Field to meet Prospect.

Coach Andrew Bascome will be playing for St. David's this season and he has lured youngster Sergio Goater from North Village while Marlon Lindsay has returned to Wolves, who play Social Club.

DWIGHT WARREN