The Stroud Football League is in rude health as the 2017/18 season kicks off.

A handful of clubs have already played their first games across the seven-division league which is home to 88 teams. More than 3,000 players are expected to be registered for the forthcoming campaign.

So who is going to win the Division One title – and with it promotion to the Northern Senior League – this season? The Local Answer’s ‘Man in the Know’ gives his verdict.

“There appears to be no outright favourite to win the division, but last season’s runners-up Old Richians must be in with a shout,” he said.

“Having finished in the top six for the past six seasons, the Elmbridge-based club have bolstered their squad this season and this should aid their consistency which has cost them in previous seasons. Always a tough team to beat, they might need a 20-goal striker to finish top of the league.

“Barnwood United, who ran last season’s champions Upton St Leonards close until a poor run April, should be strong once again and will be looking to return to the Northern Senior League after a five-year absence.

“Other contenders must surely include Tetbury Town, who won the GFA County Cup last season, plus the team they beat in the final, Charfield. Both teams have recent Northern Senior League pedigree and have the set-ups ready for a return.

“Another club ready to step up the football ladder should be Kings Stanley, who were a County League team until two seasons ago. However, they will have to start better than the last two seasons where poor early form has cost them despite excellent runs later on in the season.

“There are four County League clubs with reserve sides in the division – Frampton United, Hardwicke, Kingswood and Stonehouse Town. How well these teams fare in the Stroud League will depend upon the relative strengths of their senior sides.

“Wotton Rovers dropped out of the Northern Senior League at the end of last season after several seasons of struggle at that level. The question will be how this proud club reacts to relegation. This could decide whether they are to challenge for the title or scramble to avoid a further relegation, following the pattern set last season by Longford whose drop from the Northern Senior League was followed by a bottom-of-the-table finish and they now find themselves in Division Two.

“Tredworth Tigers and Stroud United stabilised their position in the division last season after promotion from Division Two in 2015-16, noting that the standard was significantly higher than they were used to. Both teams could be looking for a top half of the table this season with a view to possibly looking to push on the season after.

“Finally, Randwick, who have struggled for the past two seasons, have been rebuilding with a crop of young talented players who have largely come through their reserve team. Randwick have been in this division since 2009 and will be looking to stabilise in mid-table as a minimum and possibly have a run in the cup competitions.

With so much at stake, it is unlikely that a frontrunner will emerge until early October.

Coming soon: The Local Answer’s ‘Man in the Know’ gives his verdict on Division Two