BLACKFIELD & Langley are all set to make history on Saturday when they host their first ever Southern League game at Gang Warily.

The Watersiders, promoted as Sydenhams Premier champions, take their first step into the Evo-Stik South Division One with a visit from Slimbridge (3pm).

It hasn’t gone entirely to plan this summer with several key players – Sam Griffin and Franklyn Clarke (Poole Town), Craig McAllister (Gosport Borough), Lewis Tallack (Wimborne Town) and Sean Stewart (Dorchester Town) leaving for pastures new.

But Blackfield have welcomed in a handful of new recruits and, as always, will look to strengthen as the season unfolds.

“We didn’t have the same team at the start of last season as the one we finished with,” pointed out co-assistant boss Chris Farrell.

“Between the three of us on the management team, we’ve consistently chased players but, like Totton and Winchester, we’ve found that lots of them are reluctant to play in this league.

“We’re in the silly season at the moment where people are still deciding what to do. But we’ll keep looking and, if someone becomes available who Glenn (Howes, manager) believes will strengthen the squad, then we’ll be interested.

“From a club perspective, everyone’s excited about going into a new league and we’re aiming to be competitive. We don’t know a lot about the opposition, but then they don’t know us either.

“We’ve got new grounds and new opposition and, hopefully, some new friends to make. We’ll probably make a few enemies along the way too, but that’s football!”

Ex-Eastleigh goalkeeper Lewis Noice from AFC Portchester and defender Adam Tomasso from Winchester City feature among Blackfield’s new recruits.

They have also signed young midfielder Owen Fee from Lymington Town, defender Ade Olumuyiwa from Team Solent, attacker Charlie Urry from Newport IW, former Gosport defender Zak Sharp and ex-Fawley and AFC Totton targetman Dylan Knight.

On Tuesday night Blackfield play their first league away game at Fleet Town (7.45pm).