Neil Woods guided the young Mariners to their first ever youth team title in the 2018-19 campaign, as Lennon Stead scored a dramatic 94th-minute winner in the final game of the season against Lincoln City.

And they will now be looking to successfully defend their title in the upcoming season, starting with Saturday’s opener against Doncaster Rovers.

And, with last season’s second-year scholars moving on or making the step up to the first-team in the summer, there are a number of new recruits in the youth team this term.

Goalkeeper Patrick Boyes, and defenders Adam Blakely, Duncan Idehen, Harvey Drinkell, and Josh Smaller have all joined Neil Woods’s set-up.

Midfielders Evan Khouri, Jamie Potts, and Owen Davey are also new to the team, alongside forwards Aidan Walker and Luis Adlard.

Town have had a good summer of pre-season preparations, which included a 0-0 draw with Premier League side Norwich City’s youth academy, and other friendlies with Hull City and Preston North End.

And a number of the youth team players, including Joe Starbuck, Duncan Idehen, and Ayodeji Owoeye, have also featured in the first-team’s friendlies over the summer.

The young Mariners started the season in fine form last term, going unbeaten in their first four games, and they will be hoping to replicate that good start in the 2019-20 campaign.

Doncaster finished as runners-up to Town last season, on 44 points – two behind the Mariners.

And this weekend’s visitors, who missed out on the 2018-19 title after a final-day 2-1 defeat to Notts County, will be hoping to put down a marker on Saturday as they look to become champions in 2019-20.

The other games in Town’s league this weekend are: Bradford City v Huddersfield Town, Mansfield Town v Chesterfield, and Burton Albion v Lincoln City.

After this weekend’s clash with Doncaster Rovers, Town face Bradford City at Cheapside on Saturday, August 10 (11am).