Welcome back, my friends
To the show that never ends
We're so glad you could attend
Come inside! Come inside
There behind a glass
Stands a real blade of grass
Be careful as you pass
Move along! Move along
Come inside, the show's about to start
Guaranteed to blow your head apart
Rest assured you'll get your money's worth
The greatest show in Heaven, Hell, or Earth
It's August 14th today and the start of another National North League campaign for Hereford FC.
The season is due to end on May 7th but hopefully the Bulls will, at least, be in the play-offs by that date. If so then the season will end a couple of weeks later.
And should the club have a good run in the FA Trophy then the final is set for Sunday May 22nd.
But whatever happens let's hope that the season finishes with all clubs playing all their games. It's quite possible that Covid may mean some games are postponed from time to time. For example Chester's game against Curzon Ashton, set for this afternoon, has had to be called off because of the pandemic.
Back at Edgar Street and it's been a difficult two years both on and off the pitch. However both at board level and at management level there is the hope that the recent financial problems which have caused massive losses are now in the past.
That doesn't mean there's plenty of money to spend on the squad and the stadium, far from it, but with a degree of normality returning to the country there is the hope that supporters will return to their habit of watching football on a Saturday afternoon and a Tuesday evening and help swell Josh Gowling's football budget.
Whilst pre-season has not been easy for Gowling, especially when two of his signings have not been able to play for several weeks, there are signs that he has put together a useful squad.
In particular both James Vincent and Miles Storey stood out in the early friendlies and both have been missed recently. Let's hope they are available this afternoon.
However out of all the players who have turned out in the friendlies two have consistantly caught the eye.
Maziar Kouhyar and Ryan McLean are wingers who on their day should please the Meadow End with their pace and agility and both seem to know where the goal is.
Striker Joey Butlin scored twice in the friendly at Hednesford and will probably start this afternoon but he will need to finish off more chances if he is to become an automatic choice to lead the line.
In fact Gowling has a potentially difficult decision who to select in attack. It may be down to what formation he decides to use for any particular game.
As for the defence it looks like Brandon Hall in goal with Jared Hodgkiss, Luke Haines, Ben Pollock and Mitch Hancox the back four.
Assuming James Vincent is available, he will probaly be alongside Ryan Lloyd in midfield.
We'll find out an hour or so before kick-off who starts this afternoon.