The new season starts this coming weekend with a full programme of Senior Division matches (Division 1 starts on Aug 16th) and we will all be curious to see how everyone shapes up. 

Liss Athletic had a great end to the season, finishing runners-up and winning the George Mason Memorial Shield. Pre-season, they have already won the Clanfield Cup, so they should be full of confidence. They open their campaign with a home game against Broughton, who also had a fantastic season - champions of Division One and winners of the North Hants Intermediate Cup - in what should be an interesting game.

Other teams that finished in the top five last season have tough-looking games for their season openers; Locks Heath, who finished third, travel to Liphook United, who were seventh, and both teams will be looking forward to good campaigns.

Bishops Waltham Dynamos continued their great progress last season, finishing fourth, and they start with a tasty-looking home game against Andover Town, who ended up sixth and will surely be looking to challenge for a promotion place this time around.

Hedge End Rangers finished a commendable fifth in their return to the Senior Division and will be looking to build on that; they start with a tricky-looking trip to Meon Milton, who also had a solid season in their debut at this level. 

Two other teams new to the Senior Division who are fancied to do well are AFC Shirley, who won the Southampton League comfortably; they begin with a home game against Moneyfields Res, and Crofton Saints, promoted from Division 1, who also won the League Cup with an impressive performance against Colden Common. They face a trip to Whitehill & Bordon, never an easy place to go.

Two teams who will be looking to challenge after doing well last season and having had good pre-seasons are Hook and Southsea Sports (formerly Harvest), who face each other. Denmead host Stockbridge in a battle of two teams who had their moments last season.

There are six more games on the following Tuesday; there are two early local derbies as Liphook United host Whitehill & Bordon and a new one - Stockbridge are at home to Broughton. AFC Shirley v Hedge End Rangers could be another interesting match-up.