I can't be at Annan today, but I'll be following from afar, wishing the gaffer, players, backroom staff and all travelling fans all the best. And I'm really looking forward to our first home game v Livi on Tuesday evening.
I'm cautious but quietly confident about the season ahead. By the end of last season, so many players had left it seemed like we could hardly put a team together, and our results got progressively worse as we barely stayed up. But we did stay up. And since then it's been a summer of professionalism and planning. New surface. Stadium improvements. New kits. Accies TV. And best of all, a series of what appear to be well-thought-through signings of decent quality.
We have what looks to be a strong squad, with depth of cover in every position. There's an air of confidence. The Board and management of the club seem determined to progress to the next level. What will that mean? I'm hoping it means we won't be in a relegation battle, and may even challenge for top six. That would represent unprecedented new heights for us, and if we just miss out and finish 7th or 8th I won't be disappointed. But expectations are certainly raised.
This is Accies. We've all been burned before. Many times. Nobody should get carried away. But there's a real sense that we're at the dawn of a new era.
Good luck, everyone.