12 months ago the then-new management pairing of Tommy Brookbanks and Mark Harvey made it clear to their supporters that the league title was the aim. If no-one else was listening at the start of the year ears were soon pricked up as the Millers kicked off with four straight wins and spent five autumnal weeks at the top of the table.

By the time the season was curtailed in March Carlton were in the play offs with two straight 4-0 home wins behind them and games in hand. No one will ever know if they would have made the playoffs but they were certainly one of the best five teams last season.

This year the element of surprise, if there was one, has long gone and the players have the task of demonstrating that last year was not a one-off.

On their side is a year of experience; against them is the opposition awareness of just how good they are.

Looking around the division, we can expect stiff competition from the usual suspects such as Leek, Belper, Stamford, Cleethorpes and Sheffield.

Sutton Coldfield had a fine second half to last season and have recent experience of the Premier Division whilst Worksop will undoubtedly expect to improve on last season’s showing.

Ilkeston Town have been busy in the off-season and, given the players at their disposal, including ex-Carlton captain Alex Troke, expectations at the New Manor Ground will be sky-high.

As for Carlton, no players departed in the extended summer break and popular centre-half Lawrence Gorman returned to Stoke Lane. No other major signings have arrived, but the club have signed a number of promising trialists / academy players following the summer friendlies.

Competition for places is always essential at any successful club and one of the key issues for Brookbanks and Harvey will be ensuring last season’s success does not make the squad complacent. Quite simply, they have to do it all again and better!

In defence, goalkeeper Jack Steggles will be looking to improve on last year’s impressive clean sheet ratio. Martin Ball and Toby Moore now have Gorman competing for a place, while veteran full back Daniel Fletcher has not only Tyler Johal and Dan Brown but Patrick Quinn looking for a place in the team.

In midfield Niall Davie, Eli Bako and Danny Elliott will be expected to add to the overall goal tally – only Oliver Clark scored regularly from the middle of the park last year if you ignore Tom Maddison’s penalties – and up front the supporters’ player of the year Aaron Opoku will be looking to regain his top scorer crown from sharp shooter Tyler Blake.

Steggles, Ball, Maddison, Clark and Opoku gave the team a strong spine last year but our opponents are now wise to that. The challenge for the Millers this year will be to overcome that knowledge by simply being better than the teams we play.

This is undoubtedly a squad that can compete at the higher echelons of step 4 and, with arguably the largest regular group of supporters ever behind a Carlton Town team, the challenge for the team and the coaching staff is to finish the job started so well last year and achieve promotion to step 3.

We will all be behind them as they look to make history. Let’s hope the season not only starts but finishes and the Millers prove just how good they are.

Come on the Mighty Millers!