Wanganui Athletic begin their Western Premiership season today at home on Wembley Park's No2 pitch against the Banshees.
Athletic will be looking to this season to rebuild and solidify their foundations after making a wise choice to self-relegate from the Federation League, a similar move taken by Wanganui City last season which paid great dividends for them.
New first team coaches Peter Flood and Tim Hayes will be demanding a strong start and to put the uncertainty of the off-season behind them, as the new Athletic look to gel their rebuilt squad together and capture the winning style which saw the club win the Federation League last season, before bowing in the Central League promotion playoff.
Also in the Western Premiership, both of City's teams start their campaigns facing off against each other on Wembley's main ground at 12.30pm.
The City Renovators may still be smarting after the 4-2 loss to the Reserves last Monday, but you can guarantee they'll be out looking for revenge.
With an attractive and composed style of play, the Renovators will need to rein in their emotions and make the most of their possession if they are to break down their opponents today.
On the flip side, the Reserves will also be looking to remind the young development team of the pecking order in their club and repeat the efforts of the Easter Cup fixture.
Both teams will not only be hunting three points to kick-start their seasons, but will also be fighting for the bragging rights back in the clubrooms.
While premier football will be gracing the park this weekend, plenty of local footballers will be dusting off the boots, and giving them their yearly clean as the local senior men's and women's competitions get into swing.
The local women's league boasts 10 teams this season, with five of them coming from local schools.
This clearly shows the growth of the women's game in the region and should lead to plenty of interesting matchups throughout the year.
This weekend's fixtures see Wanganui Collegiate Girls 1st XI host the Wanganui High School Development XI at Collegiate, with the WHS 2nds facing the Clive Barritt Builders Marist women on the WHS grounds, both matches kicking off at 12.30pm.
At 2.30pm, the WHS 1sts go up against Girls College at the high school, while back over at Wembley, the City Women face off against the Castlecliff Saint and the Castlecliff Scrappers take on the Athletic Women.
In the men's competition, the season starts with a twist. The long-standing Charity competitions which run each year will be held during each of the school holiday breaks, culminating in play-off finals at the end of the regular season.
This year's Charity competition is split into two competitions for local teams, with the premier sides competing for the Charity Cup at the end of their season.
In the Charity Bowl competition, the Athletic Weekenders have a bye, while the City Thirties play the Athletic Cosmos at 12.30pm, and Castlecliff United go up against the Marist Casuals at 2.30pm.
The Charity Plate competition brings three games to Wembley today as the City Hammers play Castlecliff St Anthony's and Castlecliff Braves host Marist Celtic at 12.30pm, while Athletic Reserves face off against the Marist Bhoys at 2.30pm.
Plenty of action for the casual watcher this weekend, so if you're lost for something to do, and the grass is too wet to mow, go to Wembley Park and enjoy some free sporting entertainment.
