The 2018/19 Clare Premier League kicks off this evening when we welcome current champions Newmarket Celtic to Sixmilebridge. 

We spoke with newly appointed manager Anton Mannering to get his thoughts in advance of this evenings game and the season ahead. 

"First of all I have to say what a pleasure it is to work for a real community club like Bridge Utd. I'm from a similar small town in Donegal and the lads don't know how lucky they are to play football for their home town. Most players never get to do that at a club that actually have some ambition.  

Having the champions on the first day is a bit of a baptism of fire for us. Newmarket are such a good team, talented committed and their record speaks for itself.  We have a very young squad and will be missing some more experienced players but this club has plenty of talent. Perhaps it is a little early in our development as a team to meet such a strong opponent, it would be better for us to meet them in October maybe, but the fixtures come out the way they do and we have to manage that. 

Obviously we don't intend to allow them to have things their own way and young as our squad might be, if they take us lightly they will regret it. 

I hope the community come out to support the lads at the start of my journey with them and stick with them through the season. We hope to give them some good football and goals to watch and God willing some success as well. 

I'm excited about the future and to work with these guys and help them develop over the coming seasons. Can't wait to get things started."

Kick off this evening is at 7pm and we wish the management and players the very best of luck for the season ahead.