"We aim to finish in the top three and believe we have the squad to do it," said Jockeys chairman Kevin Grainger.

"We have invested in experience with the average age of the side well up on last year and, with the back-up of a very strong Reserves squad, we are looking forward to the season," he added.

Newmarket entertain Diss at the Town Ground on Saturday in a match which will see two of their new signings playing their former team-mates.

Left-back Ricky Cornish and central midfielder Dale Vince are both veterans of the Norfolk side and, along with defenders Andy Eady and Colin Vowden, will bring a huge fund of tactical expertise as well as footballing skill to the Jockeys side.

Back at Newmarket after a couple of seasons at Haverhill is striker Paul Shaw who will join forces up front with ex-Royston player Dalton O'Brien and former-Soham and Mildenhall defender/midfielder Aaron Rutter.

The Jockeys have also signed Paul Miles from Mildenhall, much to the delight of Grainger who described Miles as "just about the best midfielder in the league".

Newmarket will be at home again on Tuesday when Saffron Walden visit.


ELY City manager Dennis Lightning is convinced his newly-promoted side will not be among the also-rans in the Premier Division.

His target is a top-ten finish or better and he believes a handful of new signings have helped strengthened last season's promotion-winning outfit.

Former Soham Town Rangers captain Peter Hinde and ex-Newmarket player Matt Lilley will be taking their places in midfield and Richard Chadwick, from Saffron Walden Town, joins the Robins strike force.

Only Dave Daniels, who has joined his home town team Biggleswade, has left Ely during the close season.

Lightning takes his side to Lowestoft Town for a tough opening fixture against last season's FA Vase finalists.

"Lowestoft usually play in front of a big crowd so it will be an interesting opener," said Lightning. "If we can get a result it would really set us up," he added.

Ely entertain King's Lynn Reserves at the Unwin Ground on Tuesday.


MILDENHALL Town open their campaign with a home game at Recreation Way against Premier Division new boys Whitton United and travel to Haverhill Rovers on Tuesday evening.

Managers Dave Pinkowski and Tony Lyes are looking to improve on last season's fifth-place finish with a new-look side including former Dereham striker Robbie Harris who has been scoring goals for fun in pre-season games.

His strike partner ex-AFC Sudbury forward Chris Bacon, plus Suffolk's under-18 captain Luke Bailey and former Diss left back Matt Ryland are also new faces at Recreation Way while Alan North and Niall Inman have both returned after spells away.

Sean Marshall continues in goal while Ben Nower fights to regain fitness after a cruciate ligament injury sustained at the end of last season.

"Whitton are an unknown quantity but we will be treating them with the respect they deserve," said Lyes."We have strengthened the side we inherited last season and are aiming for a top-three place and a decent run in the FA Vase."


SOHAM Town Rangers kick off their first season in the British Gas Southern League Midlands Division on August 16. See next week's Journal for preview.