THURROCK'S four non-League sides start their Isthmian League campaigns on Saturday (14 August).

East Thurrock United are the borough's senior side, playing in the Premier Division but Rocks fans will be aware the club's position is precarious. In the past two Covid-curtailed seasons the Rookery Hill side were trapped in the relegation zone, seemingly destined for the drop before the campaigns ended.

East Thurrock's pre-season has not been without its troubles, with a couple of matches postponed, and Paul Martin's men will need to be at their best if they are to return from Saturday's opening encounter at Cheshunt with any points.

They went through three friendlies without a win, losing to Aveley, Harlow and Maidstone United but tonight (Tuesday, 10 August) enjoyed a morale-boosting 4-3 home win against Concord Rangers.

In the North Division Grays and Tilbury will both be at home, while Aveley make the trip to Suffolk and take on AFC Sudbury.

Grays' pre-season has also not been successful in terms of wins.

They have been victorious in just one of nine matches, albeit a bragging rights 2-1 victory against Tilbury to take the Stan Veness Trophy.

But there has been plenty of optimism for supporters, even in defeats against Cray Valley, Tonbridge Angels, Kingstonian, Ware, Hornchurch and last Saturday at Enfield Town as the club has struggled with injuries and drafted in a number of young players who have shown lots of potential.

They will begin the league season at home (at Aveley's Parkside ground) to Bury Town.

Aveley, who have enjoyed emphatic pre-season wins against East Thurrock and Redbridge (5-1) have also been found wanting against Dagenham and Redbridge and Lewes with defeats so they will travel to AFC Sudbury, who usually start a campaign among the favourites, with some trepidation - though manager Keith Rowland will be hoping the good starts that the Millers have made to he past two seasons will be repeated.

Tilbury have had something of a disjointed pre-season with games called off but they will be hopeful that an opening day home derby with Brentwood Town will be the platform for another positive campaign when they too contest the league's higher positions.

After the opening league weekend, the FA Cup will take the attention of Tilbury, Aveley and Grays, though all have been drawn away in the preliminary round on Saturday, 21 August, to North Greenford United, Maldon & Tiptree and Baldock Town respectively.