THE football season is finally upon us.

The 2018/19 season kicks off this Saturday and all 72 EFL clubs start with a clean slate and fresh optimism for the new campaign.

Forest Green Rovers will start the new campaign how they finished the last - with a clash against Grimsby Town at Blundell Park

Mark Cooper begins the season with 12 new signings while 18 have departed the New Lawn.

FGR avoided relegation last year and Cooper's men will be hoping to continue their upward trajectory going into the 2018/19 season.

Here's an in-depth look into Rovers ahead of the Grimsby Town clash.

TEAM NEWS

Mark Cooper has no fresh injury concerns. Reece Brown limped off against Hereford in a friendly and the match at Wrexham but all will be available for selection.

Grimsby meanwhile are without Elliot Whitehouse who is expected to miss most of the season with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury.

New signing Jordan Cook has been ill and is facing a battle to be fit in time for the match.

FORM GUIDE

Rovers played a total of nine pre-season friendlies (if you include the one against Cirencester Town) and lost just once. They're unbeaten in five so take some momentum into the new campaign.

Grimsby have won their last two pre-season games, beating Gainsborough Trinity and Doncaster Rovers although they were beaten by Cleethorpes Town in their first friendly.

OPPOSITION

When Grimsby beat Forest Green early in December last season they were 11th and comfortable but then followed a 20 match winless run. Michael Jolley replaced Russell Slade in March and and after a shaky start, he managed to keep the Lincolnshire side up, collecting 10 points from their final four games which included a 3-0 win at the New Lawn on the final day.

Jolley has brought in 10 new players. One of those is former Forest Green keeper Sam Russell who made over 200 appearances over two spells for Rovers.

Other notable additions include 21-year-old forward Charles Vernam from Derby County after a successful loan spell, experienced midfielder John Welsh from Preston North End and Jake Hessenthaler from Gillingham.

The Mariners did lose exciting young forward Siriki Dembele to Peterborough United.

Players who could cause FGR problems are striker JJ Hooper, who netted a hat-trick against Rovers while Mitch Rose is an important player for them. He's a clever player who likes to control games from midfield. He also scored eight times last season.

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAID

Cooper: "I don't think you ever feel totally ready as a manager, as a coach, you always think you can improve but i think we go into in good shape, we look a goalscoring threat so we're looking forward to it.

"Off and on the pitch we're learning about league football and its important on both fronts you keep learning and keep improving.

"We want to be competitive again. There's a lot of big teams in the league, big fanbase's and big budgets and we have to compete with that. That doesn't guarantee you anything because you've still go to get results. We want to enjoy ourselves, be more defensively sound and I think we've got more quality so we want to be competitive."

Jolley: Town manager Michael Jolley said: "You never quite know how you are until the whistle blows in the season for real, but I think the boys are looking fit, they are looking organised.

"But we take nothing for granted. There are going to be 46 very, very difficult matches and we are going to have to be really competitive to do well in League Two.

"What’s pleasing for me is that there are more than 11 players that deserve to start the first game."

SNJ VERDICT

It's a new look Forest Green but what will delight Rovers fans is the fact striker Christian Doidge is still at the club. The 25 goal striker from last season has been subject of speculation linking him to a move away but it looks like, for now, he'll on the pitch at Blundell Park.

With the likes of Reuben Reid, Tahvon Campbell, Dayle Grubb and George Williams at his disposal, Cooper has plenty of attacking options.

Some of the new signings show a real statement of intent. Former captain of rivals Cheltenham Town Carl Winchester provides plenty of EFL experience in midfield while Lloyd James has reached two play-off finals with Exeter City prior to his switch to the New Lawn. Liam Shephard was also persuaded to drop down a division from League One Peterborough United.

A new look midfield trio of Winchester, James and Reece Brown in a deeper role has worked well so far in pre-season and could be an integral part to Rovers' chances this term.

Jolley has certainly changed the mentality at Grimsby and there'll be plenty of optimism across Blundell Park. They are a dangerous side, particularly at home. Rovers didn't travel well last term, having won just three on the road so it's going to be a difficult task for FGR.

Prediction: 1-1