THURROCK’S finest are gearing up for the new season this weekend, and all are hungry for the new campaign to get underway.

Grays Athletic and East Thurrock are both targeting play-off tilts this year in the Ryman Premier League, while Thurrock will be looking to go one better and win promotion after their Ryman One North play-off final defeat last May.

Aveley will be looking at a top five push while Tilbury look set for more progress under Gary Henty.

Grays enjoyed a sensational finish last season, missing out on a play-off spot by a single point. Rejuvenated under Mark Bentley, Grays are targeting promotion in the club’s 125th anniversary year, and their manager has been delighted with their preparation.

“In terms of the current squad and the new lads who have come in, I feel we are not too far away from being serious contenders for the league this year,” he said.

“Without looking into pre-season results too much I have been excited by how we have dominated against National League South sides.”

Grays host Hendon on Saturday in a repeat of last year’s final home match and the Ryman League Cup final, which Blues lost 3-2.

East Thurrock start their league campaign with a derby against rivals Billericay Town.

Rocks will be among those likely to challenge for a top five spot, having brought in Lithuanian under-21 goalkeeper Lukas Lidakevicius and former Fleet striker Harry Honesty.

And boss John Coventry says he has assembled his best ever squad.

“I go into this season with the strongest squad I have ever had.

“We have recruited well and it is a different story to this time last year when I didn’t feel we were ready.”

Thurrock’s 5-0 play-off final defeat will not be easy to forget, although manager Mark Stimson is staying put and he has added well, losing only one player.

Simon King has left but adding Danny Francis from Aveley and Ben Glasgow from Harlow, as well as three others, could be significant.

Aveley have been busy this summer, with eight players joining including last year’s profitable loanee Liam Nash plus Lee Weemes.

They have also lost six players, including several of last year’s star performers, and face a tough opener at Bury Town, who were relegated from the Ryman Premier League last year, with manager Justin Gardner looking to improve on last season’s ninth-placed finish.

Tilbury ended last season in 14th but will be looking for an improvement on that finish after bringing in a number of exciting players.

Concord Rangers’ Danny Glozier has made the step down, former players Conor Mead and Harry Cook have returned as well as former Thurrock man Kurt Smith.

See next week’s Gazette for all the action from the first weekend of the season.