Kick off in the new Priaulx League season

One piece of silverware is already in the cabinet this season and tonight St Martin’s start their defence of another – the most important in domestic club football.

Senior representatives of the seven Guernsey FNB Priaulx League clubs with the prize at stake ahead of the new season, which starts today. Alderney Nomads will also compete for the title. Left to right: Glenn Le Tissier (Vale Rec), James Ravenscroft (Sylvans), River Marsh (Northerners), Chris Le Noury (St Martin’s), Tobi Oluborode (Rovers), Steve Saunders (Belgrave Wanderers) and Joe Clatworthy (Rangers). (Picture by Andrew Le Poidevin, 31186038)

While it is always nice to lift a trophy as Saints did with the Martinez on Tuesday, the Priaulx Cup is the one they all want, as Leon Meakin emphasised yesterday in looking forward to their top-flight opener away to Northerners today.

‘We were not putting much importance on the Martinez or the Rawlinson in terms of winning – we viewed them very much as pre-season games for us and getting us ready for Friday,’ said the St Martin’s coach.

PODCAST: Hear from all eight coaches on our FNB Priaulx League season preview

‘We were kind of always gearing up for that game with our selections and the way we have played throughout the pre-season.

‘If we had lost all our games in the Rawlinson and the Martinez but picked up three points in that first league game, that would have been perfectly fine with us.’

However, Meakin added that he thought the Martinez, which Saints won 5-3 on penalties after the second of three matches against North in the space of 11 days ended 1-1, was a good advert for what could come tonight.

‘They look a good side and it was a really close game – a bit like basketball in the way it was end-to-end – and I thought both goalkeepers had really good games because it could have been 5-5 with the chances created,’ he said.

‘It was a really good run-out and we managed to get quite a few players their first game of pre-season. We had five players who had not played in the Rawlinson Cup games, so it was important they got minutes.’

Meakin reported that his squad came through Tuesday night unscathed and are all available for selection tonight, along with his returning talisman.

‘We have Dom Heaume to come back in. He has not been available for the last couple of games, but he is available on Friday, so it’s a really strong group,’ said the Saints coach.

North v. St Martin’s kicks off at 7.30pm at Northfield