This season is going to be very different for Shortwood United.

So says club official Jim Cunneen as he looks ahead to the new campaign in Southern League Division One South and West.

“There’s been a massive shakedown of players,” said Jim. “There aren’t many left from last season and it’s a complete rebuild.

“These things happen, unfortunately, but we’ve got healthy numbers coming for pre-season training.”

Paul Meredith is the new man at the helm having taken temporary charge following the departure of previous boss Alex Sykes just before the end of last season.

He will be assisted by former Cheltenham Town and Portsmouth player Chris Burns who has also had spells in charge at Gloucester City, Cinderford Town, Bishop’s Cleeve and Brockworth Albion.

The new management duo will be hoping to see the club continue to punch well above its weight in terms of its league standing.

Last season they finished in the top half of the table again and it’s less than four years since they reached the FA Cup first round proper for the only time in their history.

A crowd of almost 1,250 watched them put up a terrific fight against Port Vale before eventually going down 4-0 and while it may be difficult to match that achievement in club football’s premier cup competition, there is still no shortage of ambition at the club.

“We’re a stable club and we accept the birthright of the club which means we won’t be throwing money about,” Jim said.

“But we’ve got a good manager in Paul Meredith who is Shortwood through and through. He’s been connected to the club for quite a few years. We’re looking to attract more local footballers to the club, players who have got some connection with the area.

“It doesn’t matter what level they play at, if they are good enough they will be given a chance at pre-season training.”

Jim says that anyone who fancies having a go with the club can just turn up to a training session at Deer Park School in Cirencester on a Thursday at 6.30pm.

Key to anyone joining the club is that they buy into Shortwood’s culture.

“We like to play football on the floor,” Jim said. “Win, lose or draw we like to play the right way. We are not a kick and rush team. I’ve been involved with the club for 15 years and it’s been accepted that that is the type of football we play.

“Paul Meredith has been with Shortwood a long time. He was in charge of the reserve team for a few years and knows what is expected in terms of style.”

Staying in the division is, of course, very important.

While the club’s out-of-the-way location at Meadowbank, just a long goal-kick from Forest Green Rovers, adds greatly to their appeal, it can also have its downside as well.

“Our geographic position means we are never going to get crowds of more than 90 to 100,” admits Jim, “but there is so much to play for.

“The Southern League is a tremendous league. We love playing in it and the big advantage for us is that there are so many local clubs in our division such as Yate Town, Bishop’s Cleeve, Mangotsfield United and Bristol Manor Farm.

“There are far more local teams in the Southern League than in the Hellenic League. When we were in the Hellenic League our carbon footprint was huge – in the Southern League we do 1,500 miles fewer a season.”

There are big things planned for the Southern League at the end of the current campaign and Jim is anxious that Shortwood do not get left behind when the changes come into effect at the start of the 2018/19 season.

“There will be an extra division at level 3, which is the Southern League Premier Division’s level, and there will be another division at level 4 which is where we play,” he said.

So would he like to see Shortwood step up a level?

“Very much so,” he said without hesitation. “We are an ambitious club.”