Click here to listen to an interview with Glenn after Thursday’s training session...

...or here for the offerings of Chairman Mansell Wallace ahead of the Truro game.

City Manager Glenn Pennyfather paid tribute to his new and improved squad having completed the final preparations before Saturday’s Blue Square Bet South opener against Truro City, kick-off 3:00pm at Melbourne, and insisted: “We’ve paid our dues – this time it’s our turn!”

The Clarets have been losing play-off semi-finalists for three years on the trot and Pennyfather is desperate not to miss out on promotion again, planning another assault on the title with a team he feels has been enhanced in key areas. Newcomers Truro, promoted from the Zamaretto Southern League as champions last season, provide the first hurdle but the City boss can’t wait to see his new charges in action.

“The strength in depth is a major factor,” Glenn explained. “In previous years we’ve had a good first eleven but then had a little bit of a soft underbelly. This year I’m looking around my team, in the performances in pre-season and from training, and all these boys have got a good case to start the season. It’s my job to pick the winning formula.”

Included in his first calculations will be three more new players in goalkeepers Stuart Searle and Joe Woolley, plus winger-cum-striker Warren Whitely. Searle arrives with a superb pedigree as a ‘keeper coach recently with Chelsea, MK Dons and Watford, Woolley was Thurrock’s first choice between the sticks last season and Whitely impressed quickly in his two outings during pre-season.

After Thursday night’s training session, Glenn added: “I’m extremely pleased, not only in the numbers but in the quality and we’ve added a lot more strength and pace to the side. At the photo shoot for the Media Evening we had 5’10” players sitting at the front! We’re far better equipped this year to deal with the rigours of the full season.”

The first tests of that squad environment include coping with the long-term injuries to midfielders Anthony Cook and Craig Parker, who will be missing until later in the year. Of more recent concern is a muscle strain for defender Justin Miller and the Truro match has arrived “just a week too early for him” according to his boss. Winger Greg Morgan will be missing due to family commitments but Mark Haines returns in defence.

The last time the sides met was in a knockout double-header in December 2009, Truro taking a draw away from Melbourne in an FA Trophy tie before the Clarets made the lengthy midweek journey to Cornwall to sneak the replay. The clubs forged the kind of relationship which non-league football prides itself on during that short time and Clarets Chairman Mansell Wallace is looking forward to offering an Essex welcome.

He said: “They really looked after us down there and laid on a set fee for beer for all the supporters who made the trip and they gave us all Cornish pasties free of charge! We’ll reciprocate for their supporters coming up from Cornwall. We’ll be laying on some hot food for them before their return journey. We know what it’s like – we never got back until quarter past six in the morning ourselves!”

Truro City: Address: Treyew Road, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 2TH. Phone: (01872) 225400. Position Last Season: 1st in the Zamaretto Southern League Premier Division. Miles from Chelmsford: 341. Approx. Journey Time: 6 hours, 10 minutes. Nickname: City. Team Colours: All White. Official Website: www.trurocityfc.co.uk.

Weather Forecast: Light Rain. 21 degrees Celsius. Wind 11 mph.

Blue Square Bet Odds: Chelmsford City 4/5, Draw 13/5, Truro City 11/4. Do you fancy a flutter? Then visit www.bluesq.com/chelmsford where you can register to earn money for the Clarets when you open a brand new Blue Square account.

Coming Soon - Follow the Clarets Online! Stay up-to-date with all the latest Clarets news, results, offers and information through the brand new official Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/OfficialClarets or search for, and follow, ‘OfficialClarets’. This new service will run in conjunction with the existing unofficial feed from ‘CCFCUpdates’ which is also a useful source of updated scores and match details.

Season Ticket and Cro-Ro News: Season Tickets are now available and ready for collection from the office at the Clubhouse. If you can’t pick yours up until the day of the game, please use the designated turnstile to enter this Saturday. Meanwhile, help is needed today (Friday) at 5:00pm to assist with the erection of the covered roll-on, roll-off terracing behind the far goal and any assistance would be appreciated.

Build-Up to Kick-Off in Style! Three-course meals can be booked before every home game, with a two-course service and soft drink provided in place of a starter for midweek matches. The package includes express gate entry, access to the Don Walker Suite bar, reserved Main Stand seats, half time refreshments, a programme and the chance to meet the players after the game. The price is £35 per person, with a discount for 10 or more guests. Drinks at the bar are not included. To book, contact Bev on (01245) 290959.