So here we are... the new season is within our grasp and there has been alot of movements all over the place. It's been a while since we all met so let's cast our minds back over the close season and bring everyone up to date in Blogland!

It seems forever ago that we attended the end of season dinner. With Jonno looking resplendant in what we all assume was one of Simon's action man safari suits, we settled for a nice meal and a lot of football chat.

Praise was heaped where praise was due and I can only guess that the following day Shaun Harper was queuing up at B&Q to buy shelving to house his trophies!

Ground improvements started the day after the Sussex cup final and working parties came, saw and dug holes! Under the watchful eye of Sir Len of the Lane, Mick Syndercombe performed what can only be called Mini Digger ballet, weaving his merry way along the main stand filling barrow after barrow of soil and rubble.

At one point, I wanted to call in Channel 4's Time Team to carry out carbon dating on a cup but it was agreed that it was of modern design and polystyrene.

With angle grinders cutting, and drills a spinning, the front edge of the Main Stand soon began to take its new shape with extra seating planned.

Many of us came away with proud battle scars for our toils as we discovered that mobile phones act as very good deflectors for grinding wheels but ankles and bare skin don't!!! (memo to Elf and Safety, this is a work of fiction) The news of the collapse of Setanta hit hard. Budgets having been set suddenly had to be reviewed. So distressed was Sir Len that while, holidaying in Spain, he vented his frustrations on a poor defenceless train. Reports filtered back that the train won but our esteemed chairman, walking aided by sticks, claimed a victory for Sussex, saying "If you think I look bad, you should see the train!"

Several supporters have been having active holidays. Dan "Fingers" Ward took his bike to Land's End and pedalled north to John O'Groats. Was it the Setanta news that made Dan attack an innocent caravan?? The mobile home most definately won that skirmish with Fingers taking a unscheduled rest in a hedge!

Matt Barraclough went of to the far side of the globe and thrilled his facebook buddies with tales of Canada... The only thing he didnt report back on was his rendition of "I'm a lumberjack" I am sure he looked very fetching in his rugged checked shirt!!!

I ended up with a very bald head, as a group of us had our locks removed in aid of MacMillan Nurses. A huge thank you to all that pledged and donated.

So we now find ourselves on the day of the first pre season friendly, over at St Francis Rangers. I for one will be there to see the new squad for the first time and cast an eye over the new incumbents of the Boro red... although we may be in our new blue away shirts!!

It's great to be back.... here is to another fun filled nine months!!!