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Ashford Victoria get the new season underway for real this Sunday against newly promoted side Bliby Reserves at their new ground at Courtside. Victoria will be looking to improve on last seasons fifth-placed finish in Division Three and will also be hoping to challenge for promotion and various cup honours over the next nine months.

"Last season was a step into the unknown for us after our own promotion, we didn't know a great deal about the majority of the teams in the division and now after a years experience at this level, we should be better equipped to challenge for both promotion and the league title" said Vics boss Ryan Mills.

"We've built on last seasons side and added some fantastic and exciting new players this summer, and the squad has already started to gel over the pre-season friendlies. Although it was more important to learn to play together and build up match fitness over the summer, the added bonus of going six games unbeaten in the warm up games is an added bonus and will give us some added confidence going into the first four league fixtures".

"We know a lot about the teams we will face this season, having either played them last year or back in our Division Four days, so we know what to expect and who to look out for. It's now up to me to make sure we've got the correct players on the pitch, get the team playing the right way, and for the boys out there to perform and do the job we know we can do" added a confident Mills.

First up for the Vics are Bliby Reserves this weekend. Bliby were promoted from Division Four last season after finishing in third place behind champions Ashford Cavaliers and runners-up Park Farm Rangers. Despite a slow start in their debut season, Bliby climbed the league table thanks to some inspired form after the Christmas period and even handed out a 5-1 thrashing to Victoria in the second round of the Sheber Trophy back in March.

"We totally underestimated Bliby last season" admits Mills. "We went there in the Sheber Trophy thinking we would be in for an easy ride, and were guilty of taking our foot off the gas before the game even kicked off. I decided to change the team a little and rest a few players and the decision spectacularly backfired on us and we won't be making that mistake again".

"They have got some very good players in their squad, and I'm sure one or two players will drop down from the first team for the game too, so we've got to prepare for the game in the correct way. Jason Foster was a handful in midfield last time out, and Lee Simmons and Dan Doherty caused us all sorts of problems with their pace and strength too. I'm sure they've got a few new faces too, so I expect Sunday's game to be a very tricky encounter" added Mills.

Victoria will have to do without Darryl George and Mark Rutland this Sunday, as both are still out injured. George has been sidelined since April with a serious knee injury and isn't expected to return this side of Christmas, while Rutland has been nursing a bad ankle injury all pre-season and is not expected to return for at least a month. Defender Ryan Martin will also be missing from the squad but should be available for the second league game away at Ashford Eagles.

Matt Deeble should return to the side after missing last weekends 2-2 draw with Prince Albert, but all time club record goal scorer Jack Bundock misses the big kick off due to work commitments. That leaves manager Ryan Mills with a major selection headache when it comes to picking his first team of the season, and admits he will probably decided on his final eleven as late as Sunday morning.

"We've got a much bigger squad than last season, and we needed a bigger panel of players to choose from due to all the injuries and players with other commitments last term. But when everyone is available it's going to be very difficult to leave players out, and they must understand that it is a squad game now days" said Mills.

"Hopefully any players that find themselves missing out will react in the right way and look to improve and fight for a place in the team, instead of moaning and sulking. I really don't see that happening as I think everyone is excited about the new players we have brought in this summer, even if those players are an immediate threat to their own first team place, and the extra competition for places must be seen as something good for the team".

Meanwhile, Bromley Green manager Steve Mailey has warned his first team players not to underestimate the Vics when the two sides meet in the first round of the Ashford Charity Trophy on 4th October. The Green boss starts his first full season in charge of the famous local club and wants his side to avoid a potential banana skin when Bromley Green visit Courtside to face Victoria for the very first time.

"We've got a week off, then we travel to face Ashford Victoria in the Ashford Charity Trophy. The division 3 side will be well up for this and will see us as the perfect scalp, so attitude will need to be right or we'll be out" said Mailey speaking exclusively to the Bromley Green website at the weekend.

Squad to face Bliby Reserves (Sunday 6 September 2009)?

1- Mark Bennett, 2- Luke Hendry, 3- Tony Mason, 4- Luke Stafford, 5- Danny Bushell, 7- Shane Jupp, 8- Gary Foreman, 9- Matthew Deeble, 10- Wayne Cleave, 11- Joey Mort, 12- Sam Burgess, 14- Josh Hatcher, 15- Darren Patterson, 16- Andy Jones, 17- Darren Banks.