THE new campaign starts on Saturday and we can’t wait to get out there.

Pre-season seems to have gone on forever and at last we’re onto the real stuff as we take on Peterborough at Roots Hall.

The aim is to better last year and that means we’re going for promotion. We were only two games away from doing it last year and we want to get this club back to where we belong – in the Championship.

I know we have a small squad and much has been made of that.

But the last time we were down to a squad of this size, in 2006, it brought us all closer together and we went on to win the league.

Something similar would be great this year too and we want to prove the experts, who have written us off, wrong again.

I’m also excited about going into the season as captain of Southend for the first time.

It’s something I enjoyed doing whenever Kevin Maher was unavailable and I do enjoy it.

It’s a real honour and I love leading out my hometown club.

It’s something I relish and I will be looking to do it my way a bit more this season.

While I expect us to do well, there are some good teams in League One.

Leicester and Leeds are the two sides I predict will be up there this season but I also think Peterborough will be strong.

They’ve spent a bit of money during the summer and one of the teams they came up with, MK Dons, could also be challenging because of the spending power they have.

Colchester have made some good signings too and, although I hate to say it, I think they will also have a good season.

But it’s bound to be close again like it always is in this league.

THE Olympic Games get underway tomorrow and, just like everyone else, I’m excited about watching it.

You find yourself getting into sports you would never normally follow and, being a keen sports fan, I will be tuning in at every possible opportunity.

Athletics is my favourite of the events and the final of the 100m and 200m are obvious highlights.

From a personal point of view I think it’s a shame Canvey’s Dean Macey isn’t taking part in the decathlon.

I always liked tracking how he was getting on, especially as he’s a local lad too.

I’ll be cheering on all the Brits who are there, though.

We have chances of medals in a lot of different sports.

It’s going to be great, but I must admit I am surprised it’s taking place in Beijing.

They have a lot of problems there, including pollution and political protests, so I was a little shocked when the vote went their way.

THERE haven’t been too many signings made ahead of the new season but those who have come in have settled in brilliantly.

The keepers in particular are already getting a lot of stick, with Steve Mildenhall’s clothes being mentioned quite regularly.

Ian Joyce gets the mickey taking out of him about his hair and the lads think he looks like Freddy Eastwood with a perm.

But Clark Masters gets more stick than anyone else. His new nickname is Trigger which he hates so it’s only fair I share it with the rest of you!

I WAS surprised to find out that I’m actually the longest serving player at the club now.

A lot of the old guard left during the summer with the likes of Kev Maher, Mark Gower, Darryl Flahavan, Che Wilson and Lewis Hunt all moving on.

That means I’ve been here longer than anyone else which is strange, but it also shows how much the side is changing.

We’re a young team now as well with only Steve Mildenhall and Paul Furlong above 30.

It means the boys are hungry for success.