A summer basking in title glory, a rash of new signings  and a pre-season full of optimism came to a close last week with a 0-0 draw at Gosport Borough.

Next on the agenda for Francis Vines’ Farnborough is the challenge of following up last season’s BGB Southern Division One South & West win with a second successive promotion, as the club begin the first step of their manager’s three-year plan to return to the top rung of non-league football.

Since his summer arrival, Vines has swiftly added to an already talented squad with some experienced players, as well as tying down last year’s stars to new deals.

The signings of Ryan Scott from neighbours Aldershot Town and the return to the club of Michael Charles and Steve Laidler has added undeniable quality to the side fashioned by Andy Clement last season, and on paper they should be more than capable of competing at the top of the Southern Premier table.

Coupled with Vines’ new-look squad is a new-look Cherrywood Road as well, with Boro’s home ground looking more impressive every week, and hopes surrounding their chances of another successful season are understandably high.

That hope is shared by the former Crawley Town and Basingstoke Town boss, and Vines told the News he was extremely confident about his side’s chances for the coming campaign.

“I think the aim has to be at least to make the play-offs,” he said. “We are not quite sure how strong the opposition in this league will be, so I’m not going to sit here and say that we are going to win the league easily.

“But we look at someone like Bashley last season, who came up and then finished fifth and making the play-offs, and we will look to emulate that.

“A play-off place would certainly be a success, but there will be plenty of competition for that. We have said all along that we want to get out of this league at the first time of asking. We want success and quickly, and I do believe we have the quality to do that.”

He added: “Everyone is raring to get on with the league. That has been clear from training this week — the boys are looking lively and they are all geared up for the start of the season.

“They are competitive players and they live for competitive football. It’s the same for me. I have been excited for the start of the season for the past two weeks. As a unit we are ready, make no mistake.”

Vines made a busy start to his Boro tenure, signing seven new players, and raiding his old club Basingstoke in the process.

The players arriving at Cherrywood Road all dropped down from higher leagues, with Laidler, Charles and young midfielder Connor Hamilton moving from the Camrose, and Scott from the Shots. David Ray also arrived from Blue Square South strugglers Bognor Regis Town.

The only disappointment is goalkeeper Chris Tardif, who had his two-year deal terminated last week after a change in job made it difficult for him to get to games.

Vines admitted that the squad was short of a keeper to challenge current number one Lyall Beazley, but insisted that he was pleased with the way his squad has shaped up.

“I’m very happy with what we have, although we would like to bring in another goalkeeper,” he said. “The quality of the squad is high, both with what we added over the summer and with the players we already had.

“The new boys have settled quickly, and gelled with the existing players, which is what you want.

“We tied down the key players from last year, and that was important for the squad. We made sure we kept the core of the players to keep that continuity and momentum that they got from winning the title going.

“With the likes of Steve Laidler, David Ray and Ryan Scott all coming in it gives us good experience of a higher level. These players have drop-ped down with the specific aim of going straight back up.

“They see what is going on at the club and they know we are going in the right direction.”

He added: “Pre-season went well and we put in a few good displays. We had a few wake up calls as well, and that is a good thing for any side. We are now totally focused on the start of the league.”

One player who has come to the fore under Vines’ guidance is striker Mark Gamble.

The flying frontman endured a torrid first year with the club, hampered by a string of injuries that limited him to just ten starts, and three goals.

Now back in perfect health, Gamble has scored four pre-season goals and been a constant menace whenever he gets the ball. He has added to his searing pace by bulking up physically as well, and should he stay fit, will be a real asset to Boro’s cause.

Vines said he was delighted with the form of the 21-year-old Northern Irish star.

“Mark Gamble is trying to show everyone exactly what they missed last year when he was injured,” he said. “He is so sharp at the moment and he has taken everything we have said on board.

“He is full of confidence and in training he is on fire — shooting from everywhere. Physically he is looking strong, and that is something he has worked on himself while he was injured.

“He has the ability to score a lot of goals, and in pre-season he has done that. He grabbed his chance in the friendlies and I’m excited for what he can achieve this year. In Gambo I have a forward on top of his game and if people give him a chance then he will take it.”

Halesowen are many people’s tip for the Southern Premier title this season, after losing out in the play-offs last time round, but Brackley Town, Corby Town and Cambridge City will all be strong sides as well, so Boro have a tough task if they are to win the back-to-back promotions they crave.

Vines said he was well aware that there is going to be plenty of sides pushing for the top five places, but he revealed that he expected his side to enjoy the pressure that comes with being labelled a ‘favourite’.

After all, it was a tag that certainly didn’t hinder their progress last year, as they smashed 120 goals on the way to securing the title with two games to spare.

“The likes of Halesowen, Corby, Brackley and Bashley will all be up there, and the pressure is on them as they have been in this league for a while,” he said. “We know we can compete with these sides, and are relishing the challenge.

“People refer to us as big spenders, but that is not really the case. There are other teams spending money too, but no-one wants to be considered a front runner because of the added pressure that brings. That’s not the case with us and we will thrive on it.

“What is clear is that the teams will be much tougher than last season, and we will have some formidable opponents.

“I have watched a few of the Southern Premier sides and there are some good teams in there, but we will be ready for them.

“It will be a tight division and you have to earn the right to win every game.”

So, the countdown begins. In 24 hours the new season kicks off at Cherrywood Road, with Rugby Town the first visitors.

Back in 2006 Rugby topped the Southern Premier table in November, only to fall away badly and end the season in 17th place.

The last campaign saw ‘The Valley’ improve slightly to finish 15th, but Vines was quick to point out that no-one in his side would be expecting an easy game.

“Rugby finished mid-table last season, but they will be a tough side for us first off,” he said. “We have had a few reports done on them, and the reports are that they are not a bad side.

“I think they will use a system that makes it difficult for us to break down. But we have pace in the side, and players that can go past players which creates a problem for any team.

“The key will be to get the first goal, because that will open the game up, but on the other hand if they score first it will be hard work for us, so we have to avoid that.

“We have to be more con-sistent as a team this season, as the teams are that much better than last season, but we can’t worry too much about other teams.

“If we play to our potential and do the things we do well, then we will be more than a match for any team. I’m totally confident of that.”

Vines has a fully fit squad to choose from, with competition for places in the centre of the park and central defence particularly fierce.

Leigh Rumbold, Laidler, Scott and Rob Saunders are all battling for a place in midfield. At the the back, Adam Doyle, Dave Woozley, Nick Burton and Luke Evans have all staked a claim, so Vines has some tough choices to make ahead of the big game.

Southern Premier title odds:
(taken from Stan James)
Halesowen Town 7/1
Corby Town 7/1
Cambridge City 7/1
Brackley Town 8/1
FARNBOROUGH 8/1