It is often said that it is darkest before the dawn and this old adage seems eerily appropriate as the club moves from the depths of despair last week to a bright new beginning this Saturday with regards to availability.

There were actually more people at training on Tuesday night than were available to play for the club last Saturday and, following a week where we could barely muster a substitute for each team, this time round the third team have been able to indulge in the luxury of naming 15 players for the trip to Falcons – and even then, several players have had to be left on the sidelines!

The first team are at home to Cheltenham Civil Service in the Northern Senior League and they welcome back Steve Bermingham and Matt Holland, following injury, for the return of a match that they won 3-2 at Tewkesbury Road back in November. Frank Ashworth, Simon Delaney and Scott Saurin grabbed the goals on that occasion and they will be hoping for a repeat performance as the team aims for its second double of the season against a side that includes a former Eagle Star player, Mark Walsh, up front. Walsh played for the third team as a 17 year old the last time it gained promotion from Cheltenham League Division Five and made a habit of never paying his match subs or for training, so should anyone be presented with the opportunity to recover this debt on Saturday, it should be grasped with both hands.

The Reserves will be hoping to return to winning ways as they return to slightly more familiar surroundings following last weekend’s drab "away" draw against AC Olympia. After weeks of being raided by the firsts, and consequently then having to go cap-in-hand to the thirds, the Reserve team expects to benefit from the inclusion of a number of first team squad players this week as it takes on a side one away from the bottom of Cheltenham League Division Two. Shaun Gluyas and Mike Thompson both return to offer strength in depth in midfield and the side will be keen to welcome back leading scorer Jamie Roberts following the side’s first blank game in three months last weekend. The away game with Bredon resulted in a 2-1 win with goals from John Marchant and James Mole and the least that the side will be hoping for will be a repeat performance.

The third team travel to Priors Farm to take on a Falcons’ Reserve side that they dispatched comfortably 6-0 at home before the turn of the year. The side that struggled in the jaws of a gale against Cheltenham Civil Service last weekend will be glad to accommodate the returning Rich Gill and Matt Harvey whilst Stefano Pucello and Martin Reid are also back in the fold following sterling service over the last couple of weeks with the Reserve team. Steve Paine remains injured but Andy Mole returns to a team that will also be missing regulars Graham Withers and Stuart Hurring.

All games now kick off at 3.00 pm because it is getting so spring like – hadn’t you noticed????