That time already?

Yes, it certainly is. As per every summer, no sooner are we drawing the curtain on one Pembrokeshire Football League season, than the build up to another begins.

Here, Telegraph Sport looks ahead to the Division One campaign, with news of who will take charge of each of the 14 sides, the opening midweek fixtures, and some of the summer arrivals (and departures) at each club.

Of course, as you read this further transfers and different developments may be happening, but we have made contact with each club to try and gauge the state of play as best we can.

And if you're a player reading this and find out for the first time you have been transferred in or out then.....um, best speak to your manager!

To clarify, the first round of top flight fixtures take place Tuesday, August 21st, with the second lot seven days later on August 28th.

Enjoy......

Hakin United

Last season: League Champions and Senior Cup winners.

Opening fixtures: Milford United (h) and Herbrandston (a).

Two seasons ago, when manager Gary Dawes and host of players moved on for The Obs, a rebuilding job seemed on the cards.

Fast forward to now, and manager Kristan Bennett and assistant Stuart MacDonald are reflecting on back to back league titles, and a Senior Cup to boot.

Whether it be ability, mentality, or a combination of both, The Vikings have become the one team in Pembrokeshire you can guarantee to be in the title race year in, year out.

Their attacking play always poses serious threat, and last season was no different, but they still have areas to address. Defensively last season they were vulnerable at crosses, and sometimes their willingness to kill off opposition can backfire.

Haverfordwest signing talented youngsters Ben Fawcett and Jack Wilson are big blows while Jonty Bennett is going back to Herbie. But the returns of Nathan Banner and Mark Jones will bolster them at the back, and Ali Ouzman adds another option going forward.

Bear in mind also that Nicky Woodrow, Ben Steele, and Daniel Armstrong all endured long lay-offs last season. If all three can stay injury free for this campaign, along with the quality of the 2nds side who won the Division Two title last season, Bennett will have strength in depth aplenty.

From their opening two fixtures, they’ll expect six points.

Goodwick United

Last season: 2nd and West Wales Cup winners.

Opening fixtures: Clarbeston Road (a) and Merlins Bridge (h).

The Phoenix Boys are a different kettle of fish to Hakin.

Their style is more methodical and precise. They don’t attack with the same intensity as The Vikings, but their ability to manage games has helped yield two West Wales Cup wins in three years.

Wayne O’Sullivan is again in charge with Lee Hudgell taking over the player-coach role from Chris O’Sullivan, but their pre-season has not been entirely straight forward.

The latter remains out injured from that West Wales final in May, while left back Iestyn Evans faces a campaign on the sidelines. And as it stands – James Gwilt, Kieran O’Brien, Anthony Couzens, and Adam Raymond are all unavailable for varying reasons.

But talented midfielder Luke Raymond has come in from Narberth, along with Tom Glover from Clarbeston Road, and with Scott Delaney taking over the captaincy, Goodwick still have more than enough to challenge for trophies again. They also seem to have held on to Jordan Griffiths, already proven as a prolific goal scorer.

O’Sullivan would have wanted a more favourable start than Clarbie away and Bridge home, two fixtures in which Goodwick crucially dropped points last season, but one thing this side does have is a know how in big games.

Merlins Bridge

Last season: 3rd.

Opening fixtures: Herbrandston (h) and Goodwick United (a).

Although many look back on last season as a two horse race - it was anything but.

The Wizards were arguably in the driving seat before a turbulent 48 hours in early April saw them lose at Hakin, have six points deducted due to West Dragons folding, and then get beaten by Lamphey. In those 48 hours, three became two.

This season Matthew D’Ivry takes charge, with Marcus Taylor back in Pembrokeshire football as his assistant.

Over the past two seasons Nathan Thomas, who will now add experience to the Bridge midfield as he returns to playing regularly, has assembled a strong squad at The Racecourse. And D’Ivry has been able to add to it via Gethin Roberts, Jordan Thomas, and keeper Peter Blain, with Dan Bryce also set to sign back after a spell playing in Australia. Josh Thomas and Leon Pemberthy are promising youngsters who will also be in contention for places.

Perhaps the biggest capture though, is signing Joe Leahy on from the start of the season. His goals, along with fellow forward options Adam Hawkins, Nathan Greene, and Will Haworth, could prove critical.

One key loss is the return of Luke Hayward to Johnston. He can make a side tick and will not be an easy figure to replace.

But overall, The Wizards have no shortage of depth, although utilising that while keeping all players happy isn’t always easy. If D’Ivry and Taylor can manage it, their side can win the title.

Carew

Last season: 4th.

Opening fixtures: Monkton Swifts (a) and Lamphey (h).

The Rooks have been back in Division One three years – but last season was the one where they really announced their return as a top flight force.

The capture of the Christopher brothers paid dividends, with Sam always guaranteeing you goals - and the Welsh League experience and quality of Jack evident. But they merely added to an already young and promising squad, in which Scott Ferney was amongst a host of players to frequently impress.

But if they are to push on this season, they must get regular results against the bigger sides. Carew did brilliantly to reach both the Senior and West Wales Cup semi finals in 2017, but in both, they found themselves 3-0 down at half time, and effectively lost both games before they’d really began.

That’s why I think their win at The Obs towards the end of last season was so important. It proved they can perform and beat the league’s best, and it’s a belief they need to bring into this campaign.

Again Rob Scourfield will be manager, assisted by Jeremy Griffiths – and the pair will be happy with the addition of Scott Richards from Angle, while Ben Evans (Saundersfoot) and Gareth Lewis have also signed.

Their opening game at Monkton is a tough one, but if Carew start well, other sides will soon be wary.

Clarbeston Road

Last season: 5th.

Opening fixtures: Goodwick United (h) and Narberth (a).

Few teams became harder to predict last season than Clarbie Road – but a fifth placed finish and a second successive Senior Cup final again represented progress from Matthew Ellis and co.

They would have been disappointed with the manner of that final defeat, but their run to get there, including a win over Merlins Bridge in the semi finals, proved their capabilities again.

The goals of Jason Griffiths obviously stood out, but midfielder Tom Reubens was for me, one of the players of the league season. If a fully fit Richard Bevan can also come back, Clarbie won’t be short of threat.

And they’ve been further bolstered by signing Sean Seymour-Davies from St Clears, himself a handful going forward, and Charlie George has come on board from Letterston.

Losing Glover is a blow, but with the organization of Dan Rees instrumental at the back – Clarbie have harboured a well drilled squad and whenever their best XI is out, they will be tough to beat.

Ellis himself is again likely to form a midfield partnership with the influential Michael Turpin, with Matthew Fox also set to assist the player manager from the sidelines.

They don’t have the easiest of starts fixture wise, but they’ll be a danger to all.

Narberth

Last season: 6th.

Opening fixtures: St Clears (a) and Clarbeston Road (h).

Bearing in mind Narberth only discovered on the eve of last season they were still in Division One, their response to eventually finish sixth was superb.

Admittedly, games in hand for others meant they were never really in contention, but they actually spent several weeks at the top end of the table before fading in the latter half.

This season young Ifan Phillips, who last year helped with the seconds, will take over with Morgan Preece assisting him while also playing.

Losing Luke Raymond is a blow, but if The Bluebirds can get Dafydd Wright back in the kind of goal scoring form he showed in the first half of the last campaign, alongside the likes of Tony Evans and Chris Brown, there shouldn’t be any need to look over their shoulders.

News of incoming signings is quiet at the moment, but regardless, they have a tasty game first up at St Clears.

Monkton Swifts

Last season: 7th.

Opening fixtures: Carew (h) and Neyland (a).

The fact The Swifts were 7th with 31 points last season is a tad misleading, given they actually had six deducted.

Like Narberth, they too rose and spent a brief period in the top three and in James Russell, they had an out and out goal scorer who will again be crucial this time around.

Patrick McDonagh is another key man and their win at Goodwick in February was no fluke – but unfortunately it wasn’t the kind of form The Swifts were able to sustain throughout.

Joe Lewis will continue as manager and the club have signed Dylan and Rhodri Davies from Hundleton, as well as Chris Richards and Jake Seaton following Angle’s demise.

If Russell can repeat last season’s heroics, and Lewis can avoid his side dropping off in form, The Swifts are capable of improving vastly on last season.

This Thursday’s Weaver Callan Cup final with Pennar will be an interesting warm up.

Neyland

Last season: 8th.

Opening fixtures: Pennar (a) and Monkton (h).

The Nomads seem to have hit a plateau in recent seasons – never in relegation danger without seriously threatening at the top end either.

Last season they suffered by being unable to field a regular keeper, but one major plus point was the emergence of Geraint Rees, and it was his injury in the early part of the season that coincided with a down turn in form.

Wayne Parry continues to be so instrumental for them in midfield and Mike Chandler is always a threat – and via the likes of Sean Hannon at the back, there is no shortage of experience.

Dai Davies will lead the coaching with Andrew Kemp the first team manager, and as it stands there has been little news regarding players in or out.

Neyland will again be fine in terms of staying up, but I suspect Kemp will want to push for more than that.

Pennar Robins

Last season: 9th.

Opening fixtures: Neyland (h) and Milford United (a).

From 0 points from 15 to 16 from 18 – Pennar’s fightback from a nightmare start last season was some revival.

In the end they finished comfortably clear of any relegation dogfight, but Chris Lloyd will want to avoid a repeat of that start and hit the ground running with what The Robins will view as two winnable midweek games.

Top scorer Phil John has gone back to Pembroke Boro but as for new signings, Pennar have been busy with Marc Edwards and Jack Phillips in from Hundleton, and Thomas Grimwood, Ben Adams, and Josh Clark all signing from Angle. Nathan Patterson has seemingly been coaxed out of retirement and Josh Dearsley is also coming over from Lamphey. Lloyd will also have Mike Ryder, who made a difference when switching over from Manorbier in the last campaign, available from the off.

With the new additions, I suspect Pennar will be targeting a higher finish this time around.

Lamphey

Last season: 10th.

Opening fixtures: Saundersfoot (h) and Carew (a).

It wasn’t an easy campaign for Lamphey last time out, disrupted by the departure of Alan Kitts midway through the season as they won just six times in the league – most notably away to Bridge in April.

But now they will start afresh with Jonny Goodwick at the helm, and despite the loss of Dearsely to Pennar, the new boss says he does expect incoming signings to be confirmed later this week.

Jansen Parsley will also be helping out Goodrick with coaching and training sessions – and captain Dano Kitts will again be critical to The Stags in midfield, as will Billy and Mikey Davies.

You sense the first game is an important one to The Stags at home to Saundersfoot. They’ll see it as a chance to get an early three points on the board, but on the other hand, losing to the new boys will put the pressure on ahead of a trip to Carew.

Milford United

Last season: 12th.

Opening fixtures: Hakin (a) and Pennar (h).

They seemed certainties to go down all last season, but few could begrudge Milford’s reprieve after The Dragons withdrew.

Adrian Hutchings stuck to his guns with young players, and they rarely caved in during matches – but seemed to lack the firepower needed to move away from the bottom.

Hutchings has vowed to keep with the youngsters again for this campaign, but the loss of stalwart defender William Goodall for the early part of the season through injury will leave a big void.

But another good club man in Scott Griffths will take the captain’s armband, and striker Macauley Mckay has signed back on after helping The Robins to promotion two seasons ago.

Young keeper Jack Nicholas has also signed on despite interest from elsewhere – and while I suspect Milford will again be battling the drop (if there is one this year!), it won’t be for the want of effort.

Herbrandston

Last season: 13th.

Opening fixtures: Merlins Bridge (a) and Hakin (h).

It’s been a strange few months for Herbie.

Firstly, they appear unfairly relegated on the back of the late points adjustment, begin pre-season training and preparing for life in Division Two, only to then find they have not been relegated after all.

To avoid a similar scenario this season, they need to get their strongest side out regularly, but the departures of Mark Jones and Ali Ouzman back to Hakin will be big losses.

But it’s a void Jonty Bennett can help fill as he returns as player coach to assist new manager Sean Thomas, and Herbie have seemingly added to their squad with Andre Algieri and Andrew Mathias coming over from Tish.

Crucially, they also appear to have kept Scott Reid, and his goals will be pivotal if Herbie are to avoid another dogfight – although they could not have been given a tougher start with Bridge away followed by a visit from Hakin.

Anything from those games are perhaps a bonus, but after that, they’ll need to pick up points pronto to avoid early pressure.

St Clears

Last season: Promoted in 2nd from Division 2.

Opening fixtures: Narberth (h) and Saundersfoot (a)

I watched St Clears in their victorious Second Division Cup final last season, and my immediate thought was they would be ok in Division One.

But their hat trick hero that night, Sean Seymour-Davies, has left for Clarbie although keeper James Dickson has returned, with Kyran Lewis also signing from Pendine.

Players from elsewhere are also said to be training with The Saints, so further additions could be forthcoming for manager Scott Page.

Their club is well run and their squad organised, and they return to Division One with a host of players with previous experience in that league. It’s never easy coming up, but The Saints seem well equipped to avoid a quick return to the second tier.

Saundersfoot Sports

Last season: Promoted in 3rd from Division 2.

Opening fixtures: Lamphey (a) and St Clears (h)

Hakin 2nds winning the league meant promotion for Saundersfoot, despite finishing third in Division Two.

So far, they have kept together the core of the squad that took them up, and they will be managed by Sam Franklin, with assistance from Sam Coleman and Richard Cope.

Players like Geoff Marsh and Nick Cope will again be important to the form of the Sports, and their opening two midweek games appear vital.

They make a short trip to Lamphey before welcoming fellow new boys St Clears, and they are the sort of fixtures they will need to target to cement their place in Division One this season.

It’s often hard to gauge how newly promoted teams will do early in the season, but points on the board only serves to help confidence and belief – and Franklin will know the importance of those opening games.