OK, so I'll get it going this year. This looks set to be the toughest Div 1 season in a long time with more teams challenging at the top and less cannon fodder at the bottom. 2-3 years ago there seemed like only 1-2 teams who would challenge at the top but last season saw 5 teams in with a chance. So in alphabetical order I shall review the teams

Bristol Sanctuary XI
Finished the season very strongly once they got their injured players back and gave us a good hiding on the last game of the season so it looks like they have got the bit back between the teeth. Rumour has it they have made a couple of signings including Judas Critchlow which will make them stronger. Start the season as title favourites to many despite not having won any silverware last year but injuries again to key players could see them struggle again. Prediction 2nd

Christchurch
Started the season with much promise and the only side to give us a good hiding (other than the last game v BS XI which didn't count anyway ) but struggled to get that sort of side out consistently. I expect a more solid mid table finish. Prediction 6th

Counterslip
Potentially weaker than last season with no Turps or Ashton but Nathan has been scouring the lower leagues for fresh blood. Afraid they might be at the wrong end of the table whilst transitioning and bringing in new blood. Prediction 9th

Hilfields Park Baptist
The new boys alongside Nailsea and keen to make their mark on the top division. I think they have lost a key defender so life at the top could well be difficult. Prediction 10th (sorry Rich)

Nailsea
Bounced straight back up and now have a new way of playing the game. Gone are the days of the 1-0 victory. This has re-energised the Brick and they look as if they could stay up this time. Prediction 8th

Pip n Jay
More escapes than Steve McQueen, the Pips may be disappointed that I haven't tipped them for relegation this season unlike the past 2-3 years. Somehow they keep on surviving. Prediction 7th

SAS United
Very much looked the part last season until the last few games when their title challenge faltered. Will they suffer 2nd season syndrome like we did a few years back? Nath's young side will have had another year playing together behind them and I see them as title challengers again. Prediction 3rd

VCF Santos
There or thereabouts last year without quite looking title favourites they will always be hard to beat. Rumour has it Sparky is moving away from Bristol at some stage in the season (not sure where I heard that from so I could be wrong!) so goals could be a problem. Prediction 5th

Widcombe Wanderers
Title challengers again until April and they maintained that despite having Keith out for a fair chunk of the season. Always strong with Keith and CBT around and I don't see that changing. Prediction 4th

Woodland Rangers
After back to back titles you would think we are favourites but the loss of key players in TNS and Dave Churchill sees us start the season with apprehension. Despite recruiting a couple of new players and having Firthy back from his travels, you could argue that our starting XI is slightly weaker due to the key losses. Currently without a first choice keeper which will be key to whether we can challenge for the title. Prediction 1st (Got to back my own boys haven't I!!)

Dan, I found it very hard to predict the bottom two teams. I'm sure I would have upset someone either way.

I'm in for this too, and I'll follow Eakes' lead.

Bristol Sanctuary XI
Undoubtedly title favourites for me. Franco is back in the fold, Ashton has been signed (although he's not lazy enough to play up front for BSXI, so presumably will be a winger), and I've heard that Andy Steward is back from travelling. If they can keep Jamie Collins fit for most of the season, I can't see anyone stopping them from taking the title.

Christchurch
Strange season for them last year. Started really well, but then tailed off badly. I've always looked at them as an ageing team, but they made some good young signings with Tim Buckeridge and Jamie Pocock. Neil Perrett remains important to them, and how well they do probably depends largely on how often he plays. I think they're one of 5 teams who could potentially go down.

Counterslip
It's going to be an interesting season for us. Last year I thought we started really well playing the best football we've ever played. We dropped a few points from late goals and not taking chances, but our mid-season was dreadful, and despite a bit of a recovery towards the end, we still didn't finish especially well. We've now lost Ashton and Birtle, who have been two big players for us over the years, and I think it could well be a hard season for us, especially given the start we have. I think we'd be foolish not to consider ourselves candidates for relegation.

Hilfields Park Baptist
New boys to Div 1. We played them in the cup prelim last season and won comfortably, although they've always given us a good game before then. With more or less the same squad of players, they won promotion, so presumably they gelled and grew in confidence after playing us. I still think they're prime candidates for a relegation battle though.

Nailsea
The Newcastle of the BCFA. Down and then straight back up with an impressive season that saw them score lots of goals. Despite that, my understanding is that their defence is still potentially weak if Mike Wood is not around, so again, I think they'll be in the relegation scrap.

Pip n Jay
You just know they'll be involved in the relegation fight. Will this be the year they finally cut it too close to survive?

SAS United
Excellent first season in Div 1. Don't know who/if they've recruited over the summer, but we finished 9th in our first season in Div 1, then 4th the following season with pretty much the same group of players. I expect them to be high up the table again this year.

VCF Santos
If they do lose Sparky, it will affect them a fair bit. I don't think they're good enough to challenge for the title even with him, but they're too good to go down.

Widcombe Wanderers
A fit Keith makes a big difference to them. They usually start well and then tail off. Probably the same again, but still an easy top half of the table finish for them.

Woodland Rangers
Double champs, but I don't think they'll do the three-peat. Despite losing a couple of players, they will still be strong, gaining Tom Firth back, a new Mitchell (so they really do have the Mitchell brothers playing now, not just lookalikes) and Jono (ex-Santos), who's a decent winger/striker. I don't think they'll be quite good enough to stop BSXI though.


Overall, it's tough to predict all positions until you've seen a few teams, especially the bottom half, as you don't know who has been signed or lost. I'll have a complete stab at.....

1 BSXI
2 Woodies
3 SAS
4 Widcombe
5 Santos
6 Christchurch
7 Nailsea
8 Slip
9 Pip n Jay
10 Hillfields (sorry Rich!)

I think Hilfields will definately ruffle a few feathers next season, a couple of cup wins and promotion should give them confidence and as long as they don't get over confident they could do well. They are a hard team to play against, they battle for one another and their home pitch is so small, teams will find it hard to play there.

As for Nailsea, I worry that strength in depth defensively may be an problem but nowadays we are better going forward and attack is the best form of defence. The lads coped well for 3/4 games at the end of last season without a keeper so we can adapt when required.

I am really looking forwarding so seeing how the lads have learnt from their previous stint in the first division and showing they are worthy of a prolonged stay in the top flight.

What's happened to the mighty Lumpar??

Gone back to Rock

Brickinho!

I think Hillfields are being underestimated.

Probably all depends on the quality of the 9 players (!!) they've taken on.

it will look grim for Nailsea until we get a keeper!! As for Hillfields they wont get relegated this year, i will place a bet on it to :)