I cannot wait to see the Big Bank getting ready for take-off again

Anyone up for a trip to Lincoln? That’s where the squad will be heading for the first game of their League One season on Saturday, July 30. It’s a bit of a trip for the opening match, but it’s always good to get as many of those Northern fixtures out the way as possible before the winter, as I’m sure the media team will agree.

I don’t think they fancy a repeat of last season when they travelled all the way to Barrow for a match that was subsequently called off due to a frozen pitch. The 2022-23 fixtures were released at a special sponsors’ breakfast last week, when we also got a preview of the new kit, and very nice it looks too.

There are some big teams in this league and we’re expecting some large crowds at SJP. Portsmouth on Boxing Day should see a packed park and of course there are the home and away legs of the Devon derby to look forward to. The run-in looks pretty interesting as well with some big games to end the season – April sees Plymouth and Derby County at SJP, followed by Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town away, with the final game at home against Morecambe on May 6.

There’s lots to look forward to and I for one cannot wait to see the Big Bank getting ready for take-off again. There are a few pre-season matches coming up where we’ll get to see some favourite faces and, as Matt and his team’s recruitment ramps up, some new ones as well.

The first match is away at Tiverton tomorrow, followed by Weston-super-Mare, Taunton, Truro, Yeovil, Bristol City and Torquay in the weeks that follow. Truro and Bristol City will be played behind closed doors, so if you’re planning on heading to some pre-season games, don’t make the trip east or north for those games.

It’s been good to see the development work progressing