BUCKLAND Athletic were embroiled in a hugely tense battle for playoff positions in the Western Football League last season.

Their total of 61 points was enough for sixth place, Barnstaple Town claiming the final playoff spot on 67 points. Perhaps deservedly, Falmouth Town gained promotion alongside Helston Athletic via the playoffs, after finishing second in the regular season.

One would assume that the aim is to go one better this time around for Buckland, a sentiment echoed by 1st XI manager Dan Hart.

“In my first season in charge we finished in 5th place, that would have been a playoff position if there were playoffs that year and then last year, I felt in a pretty tepid season, we finished in 6th place, so the goal for us is to better our finish from last season.”

“Every year is about improvement” in the words of Hart and he also said this: “I think we will be one of a cluster of clubs who believe we can go all the way and win the league this year and that has to be a realistic aim with the players that we have and the belief we have in ourselves as a coaching team and the backing that we get from the club.”

Winning 8-0 is one way to a new campaign underway following a “really positive pre-season” and yet Buckland weren’t the only side to win by that margin.

Welton Rovers were on the receiving end of this Athletic drubbing but the two subsequent results were a 5-0 friendly defeat versus Yeovil Town and a narrow 1-0 loss in the FA Cup at the hands of Wellington A.F.C.

Positivity is certainly the message from Hart as the fixtures come thick and fast already, pointing to “a good variation of [pre-season] games” and “Within the camp, we’re confident that we’ve got not just a solid squad of good players, athletic players, but a really good bunch of people as well that will hopefully continue to grow and morph and fight together this season.”

When it comes to the transfer dealings, Buckland lost “Club captain from last year Rob Farkins” amongst other key individuals with “Young players, experienced players and leaders from other clubs” coming through the door.

“The likes of Ryan Richards have been a great signing, Adam Hill also, a previous leader at his club.”

Finally, when it comes to how Dan and his coaching team view their squad: “We play attractive football and we play on the front foot, so to summarise that in three words, integrity, intensity and a team that has an identity.”