New Mills boss Dave Birch confident his side have he right ingredients for a successful season.

The Millers kick off their NWCFL First Division South campaign with a trip to Eccleshall at the weekend, before Wythenshawe Town visit Church Lane on Tuesday.

And Birch believes New Mills have got the necessary blend of talented youth and experience to give the season a good shot.

“We are confident in the group we have,” he said. “We have a good group of lads and good characters around the place.

“There is a good team spirit and we have some cracking young players here.

“We had to fight to keep a few of them as some teams came in. We tried to sell them a bit about what we are trying to do and to stick with us for another season.

“But it means we are doing something right if people are interested and it’s part of the territory.

“No one knows how it will go until it all starts. We think we have the right blend and we have confidence in our players - we just needed a bit of experience from last year.

“We are happy with what we have got and I'm confident we will do well, but until you kick a ball in anger you just never know.

“You have got to prepare right and do the right things and hopefully it all comes together.

“It will be great to have something on the game - an edge and pressure, that is what we are in football for.

“You can’t beat the first game of the season and I can't wait to get going.

“It is all new, we have worked hard and are feeling good. We are in a good place and I honestly cannot wait.”

New Mills head into the season in a confident mood following four pre-season wins in a row.

But Birch knows it will count for nothing if his side falls to defeat at Eccleshall.

“It's important we get off to a good start,” he added. “We have worked hard all pre-season and have done well.

“If we lose the first game all that means nothing. It is important to get the first points on the board.

“We will go to Eccleshall and I fully expect to win. We will have to be at our best, but we are going there to win.

“We have won four on the bounce and I believe in the lads. They were tough games and it’s very pleasing.

“Pre-season is pre-season and I’m aware of that. It is funny because if we win four people say ‘It’s only pre-season, don’t get carried away’ but if we lose they say how we are not doing very well.

“We grow a bond as a team by winning and doing well.”

New Mills failed to win any of their first seven games last season with fitness levels a massive concern for Birch when he came in to steady the ship.

But he is confident his players will face no such problems this time out.

“The lads have worked so hard and it's been tough and challenging,” said Birch. “We've tried to do things at the right time.

“The lads are looking fit and strong, we have got a young sde and a lot of the younger lads have taken it on themselves to get fit and strong.

“The one thing we lacked last year was fitness we came in, but that won't be the case this time.”