It should be an exciting season for Kent's non-league clubs - with five Blue Square South sides in the race for the Blue Square Bet Premier.
Dartford and Ebbsfleet United are the league new-boys - having experienced very different fortunes last season.
The Darts were promoted as Ryman League champions.
But for the Fleet it was a very different story - they were relegated after eight years of conference football.
Manager Liam Daish has had to build his squad from scratch again but is determined to get them back up at the first attempt.
Dover Athletic came within touching distance of a third straight promotion last season.
This term they have a new manager at the helm in Martin Hayes - and he will be looking to carry on their meteoric rise back up the non-league pyramid.
Pressure was not an issue for Welling United manager Jamie Day during the last campaign, as he only took over the reins at Park View Road in November.
But after coming close to the play-offs, expectations will no doubt be higher this season.
If they club can fend off their winding up order, then some good summer signings should see them reap the rewards.
Bromley hit the headlines last season when they reached the first round of the FA Cup.
They failed to pull off a giant killing - losing to Colchester. But their improvement in the league continued - and improvement remains the key aim again.
Who will win Kent's race to the Conference? Dover are many pundits' favourites - having reached the play-offs last year.
But it is probably too close to call. One thing is for sure - football fans in the county should enjoy some passionate Kent derbies this season.
EBBSFLEET UNITED
Daish has been at the Fleet since 2005
• Manager: Liam Daish
• Ground: Stonebridge Road
• League position last season: 22nd (Blue Square Premier) Relegated
• Top scorer 2009/10: Magno Vieira (15)
Predicted finish this season: "I'll be disappointed if we are not challenging for play-offs." - Liam Daish
Outs: Moses Askikodi, Stefan Bailey, Jordan Collins, Lance Cronin, Leon Crooks, Darius Charles, Gavin Heeroo, Peter Holmes, Will Salmon, Magno Vieira, Ishmael Welsh, Kane Wills
Local derbies: 24/08 H v Dover, 28/08 A v Dartford, 02/10 A v Bromley, 09/11 H v Welling, 28/12 H v Dartford, 22/01 H v Bromley, 29/01 A v Dover, 22/03 A v Welling
Liam Daish told BBC Radio Kent: "We aim to be really competitive this season, we want a good start, not like last year when the opening part of the season cost us.
"I've learnt a little bit from last year in building a team from nothing and with finances as they are you can put performance-related parts into contracts - I think a lot of clubs are doing that now.
"I don't know what people expect of us, but I know what my expectations are. It takes more than just the manager or players to get promoted, we need the community, the supporters and staff to get behind us too.
"I feel very bitter about what happened in the Conference last year, that might stay with me until the end of the season unless I turn the negative of promotion into a positive and we get it right."
DARTFORD
Tony Burman has earned Dartford two promotions
• Manager: Tony Burman
• Ground: Princes Park
• League position last season: Ryman League Champions
• Top scorer 2009/10: Lee Burns (22)
Predicted finish this season: "We've strengthened with experience, I don't know but the right end of the table, that's what we are all geared up to get to." - Tony Burman
One to watch: Elliot Bradbrook
Ins: Tom Champion, Paul Goodacre, Joe Bruce (all Braintree), Ollie Berquez (Chelmsford), Charlie Sheringham (Bishops Stortford), Tom Bonner
Outs: Adam Flanagan, Jamie Coyle, Rob Haworth, Allan Tait, Jay May, Danny Dafter, Ryan Johnson, John Beales
Local Derbies: 28/08 H v Ebbsfleet, 18/09 H v Bromley, 09/11 A v Dover, 26/12 H v Welling, 28/12 A v Ebbsfleet, 01/01 A v Welling, 23/04 A v Bromley, 25/04 H v Dover
Manager Tony Burman said: "We were by far the best side in the league last year when we got promoted, we had a good squad that wanted to work hard.
"That's what we will be stressing this season, you don't get anything out unless you put it in. It will be nice to get a good start, we will be coming up against some big and established clubs.
"We're the new kids on the block but we are going up to enjoy it, and we will be having a good go."
DOVER ATHLETIC
Martin Hayes previously managed Bishops Stortford in Blue Square South
• Manager: Martin Hayes
• Ground: Crabble
• League position last season: 2nd Blue Square South
• Top scorer 2009/10: Adam Birchall (15)
Predicted finish this season: Top six or seven
One to watch: Adam Birchall
Ins: Harry Baker, Rob Gillman, Luke I'Anson (both Bromley), Elliott Charles, Joe Tabiri (both Barnet), Jackson Ohakam, Ben Hunt, Sam Cutler (Welling), Tom Wynter (Gillingham)
Kent Derbies: 17/08 H v Welling, 24/08 A v Ebbsfleet, 09/11 H v Dartford, 26/12 A v Bromley, 01/01 H v Bromley, 22/01 A v Welling, 29/01 H v Ebbsfleet, 25/04 A v Dartford
Manager Martin Hayes told BBC Radio Kent: "The strong sides are coming up, Dartford have come up. You're finding the big clubs with good attendances are making their way through the leagues.
"I see six or seven sides apart from us challenging for the top four or five. I don't know if there is an out and out title favourite.
"The crowds have come and seen success over the last three years, they've been spoiled, and the expectations are to still have those days."
BROMLEY
Mark Goldberg previously owned Crystal Palace
• Manager: Mark Goldberg
• Ground: Hayes Lane
• League position last season: 12th
• Top scorer 2009/10: Warren McBean (16)
Predicted finish this season: "We will improve on last year. Wherever we finish - we'll make sure it is an improvement." - Mark Goldberg
One to watch: "It's all about the team. I don't want outstanding players, I want an outstanding team." - Mark Goldberg
Ins: Tony Finn, Leon McKenzie (Thurrock), Paul Vines (Tooting/Mitcham), Craig Holloway (Braintree)
Outs: Rob Gillman, Richard Butler, Luke I'Anson
Local Derbies: 28/08 H v Welling, 18/09 A v Dartford, 02/10 H v Ebbsfleet, 26/12 H v Dover, 28/12 A v Welling, 01/01 A v Dover, 22/01 A v Ebbsfleet, 23/04 H v Dartford
Bromley manager Mark Goldberg said: "We've made steady progress over the years and improved year on year, albeit only by one position last year, and we feel we are ready to start moving on as a club."
"I'm an ambitious person, Bromley is a great place to earn my stripes. We have been learning the level. We don't want to set expectations overly high but we want to just keep improving.
"It's an exciting league, there are more local derbies, the fact there are so many Kent derbies means it's an interesting year for everybody."
WELLING UNITED
Day is Welling's player manager
• Manager: Jamie Day
• Ground: Park View Road
• League position last season: 9th
Predicted finish this season: "We've got to look to better last year. We've got a decent squad and we want to do better than the 9th place last year." - Jamie Day
Ones to watch: Andy Pugh and Luis Cumbers
Ins: Andy Pugh (Gillingham), Luis Cumbers (Gillingham), Loick Pires (Leyton Orient), Jamie Coyle (Dartford), Jordan Johnson, Ben Billings
Local Derbies: 17/08 A v Dover, 28/08 A v Bromley, 09/11 A v Ebbsfleet, 26/12 A v Dartford, 28/12 H v Bromley, 01/01 H v Dartford, 22/01 H v Dover, 22/03 H v Ebbsfleet
Welling manager Jamie Day told BBC Radio Kent: "As soon as the season finished we were on the phone, we got the players we targeted. The sooner we got them in, it was only going to benefit us when we start.
"From top to bottom we just want to progress. If we can get into the play-offs we have done well.
"After the first month we will see where we are because we play five of the clubs who are going to be up there."
Ten Kent clubs begin a new season in the Ryman League hoping to do what Dartford and Folkestone did and win promotion. Five take up the challenge in the Ryman Premier - while the others fight it out in Ryman South.
Tonbridge Angels are fancied by many as the Kent side with the best chance of promotion from the Ryman Premier as they are on a much better financial footing than before and have impressed with their new signings.
Folkestone Invicta join the ranks of the Ryman Premier Division after their promotion via the play-offs last season.
Maidstone United hope for a season away from off-field problems. A takeover of the club could happen this season and off the pitch they still continue to fulfil their ambition to return to the county town.
Margate will be looking to make the most of a reprieve from relegation in Ryman Premier Division, while Cray Wanderers will aim to do more than make up the numbers in their 150th season.
For Faversham Town they celebrate last year's Kent league title with their first ever season in the Ryman League.
Ramsgate and Sittingbourne are both talking up chances of at least a play-off place in Ryman South, while Chatham Town, who at one stage looked like they would be marooned away from the rest of the Kent clubs in Ryman North, benefit from Ashford Town's withdrawal by taking their place in Ryman South.
Unlike last year Whitstable Town will be aiming to ensure their safety earlier than the final week of the season.
RYMAN PREMIER LEAGUE
Peter Nott has been with the Stones for eight years
MAIDSTONE UTD
Manager: Peter Nott
Ground: Homelands, Ashford
League position last season: 18th Ryman Premier
Top scorer 2009/10: James Pinnock (9)
Predicted finish this season: "Top half, we're not going to go through what we did last season with sleepless nights. We are too good for that" - Peter Nott.
One to watch: Tom Parkinson
Ins: Simon Glover (Chelmsford), Mark Cumberbatch (Tonbridge), Nick Davis (Tonbridge), Rob Carter (Thamesmead), Mark Clary (Grays), Simon Pettit (Ramsgate), Colin Richmond (Sittingbourne), Jake Hobbs (Welling).
Kent Derbies: 30/08 A v Margate, 05/10 A v Cray, 09/11 H v Cray, 04/12 H v Tonbridge, 27/12 A v Folkestone, 01/01 H v Margate, 12/03 A v Tonbridge, 25/11 H v Folkestone
Peter Nott is looking forward to his first full season in charge: "Last season was very traumatic to say the least. But this season will be different - it's my team this season. We've had a busy summer targeting the players that we wanted so we're really looking forward to the season and we're very positive.
We're not going to go through what we did last season with sleepless nights - because the team we've got are too good for that
Peter Nott, Maidstone manager
"A lot of stuff about the job is new. I've had eight years at Maidstone - four years with the reserve team. A lot of boys who have played for us have progressed to the first team so it's not so much unfamiliar territory because a lot of the boys have come through the system.
"We're not going to go through what we did last season with sleepless nights - because the team we've got are too good for that so I think realistically on the budget we've got a top half finish would be a good improvement on last year.
"The highest Maidstone have ever finished in the Ryman Premier is 17th so I will be firmly focused on a top half finish."
TONBRIDGE ANGELS
Tommy Warrilow is confident ahead of his third season at the helm
Manager: Tommy Warrilow
Ground: Longmead Stadium
League position last season: 8th Ryman Premier
Top scorer 2009/10: Paul Booth (14)
Predicted finish this season: "Play-offs at least" - Tommy Warrilow
One to watch: Danny Walder
Ins: Danny Walder, Peter Hawkins, Jacob Mingle, Frannie Collin, Jake Beecroft, Lee Browning, Lewis Taylor, Alex O'Brien
Kent Derbies: 30/11 A v Folkestone, 21/09 H v Cray, 05/10 A v Margate, 09/11 H v Margate, 23/11 A v Cray, 04/12 A v Maidstone, 01/01 H v Folkestone, 12/03 H v Maidstone
Manager Tommy Warrilow said: "We're trying to get out of this league. There have always been issues since I've been at the club - something has always happened. But we've always been there or there abouts and hopefully this year we can go that one step further.
"We're a lot more stable off the pitch. It's looking a lot better. If there are no incidents this year it will be nice.
"Everyone thinks we are throwing money around, we have to live with that. We just have to concentrate on ourselves. It won't be a stroll - I reckon there are eight or ten teams who can make a fist of it and we can be one of them.
"I think it'll be as frustrating as last year - the so-called easier games won't be easy and there are some good squads out there. My money would be on Sutton but we're up there with them."
MARGATE
Iain O'Connell is looking forward to his first full season in charge
Manager: Iain O'Connell
Ground: Hartsdown Park
League position last season: 19th Ryman Premier (reprieved from relegation)
Top scorer 2009/10: Lloyd Blackman
Predicted finish this season: "The chairman said as long as we improve on last year that's what we want" - O'Connell
One to watch: Laurence Ball
Ins: Craig Cloke, Laurence Ball, Jean Michel Sigere, Jim Sherman, Darren Marsden
Kent Derbies: 30/08 H v Maidstone, 21/09 A v Folkestone, 05/10 H v Tonbridge, 09/11 A v Tonbridge, 23/11 H v Folkestone, 27/12 H v Cray, 01/01 A v Maidstone, 25/11 A v Cray
Manager Iain O'Connell told BBC Radio Kent: "With the tax bill being paid, the club is debt free. It puts the club on a sound footing, everything's sorted behind the scenes, now it's down to us.
"When I took over Great Wakering we were bottom, we had 11 games, and we stayed up. The difference at Margate is we're a league higher - and with the players we brought in they did a job for me last year.
"I think this league is tougher than last year. Everyone beat everyone last year, we beat Dartford when we were bottom and they were top. I think it will be like that this year.
"It's more or less a new side - the only lads that remain are Aaron Lacey, Wayne Wilson, Curtis Robinson and Dean Grant but we haven't been disjointed at all."
FOLKESTONE INVICTA
Neil Cugley admits his side surpassed his own expectations last season
Manager: Neil Cugley
Ground: Cheriton Road
League position last season: Second in Ryman South (promoted through play-offs)
Top scorer 2009/10: James Everitt (10)
Predicted finish this season: "I feel like the Blackpool manager at the moment. I don't want to be negative but I would love to be in the league next year." - manager Neil Cugley.
One to watch: Josh Vincent
Ins: Rob Kember (Bromley), Paul Jones (Ashford)
Kent Derbies: 30/08 H v Tonbridge, 21/09 H v Margate, 09/10 A v Cray, 23/11 A v Margate, 27/12 H v Maidstone, 01/01 A v Tonbridge, 12/02 H v Cray, 25/04 A v Maidstone
Manager Neil Cugley told BBC Radio Kent: "At one stage there was talk about whether we would take promotion or not but I think at the end of the day we felt it was the right thing to do for the club. It wouldn't look right on the players or the fans not to take it.
"Our aim is to stay in the league and stay in there for a few years. I think Folkestone can play in the premier for a long time providing we get through the first season.
"Then any debt will have gone but the chairman wants the future to involve a lot of local players, which is fair enough. Eight or nine of the squad have come through our youth policy
"Consolidation is a key word for us," he said.
CRAY WANDERERS
Ian Jenkins hopes to mark Cray's 150th season in style
Manager: Ian Jenkins
Ground: Hayes Lane (Bromley)
League position last season: 15th Ryman Premier
Top scorer 2009/10: Leigh Bremner (12)
Predicted finish this season: "I'll be happy with top half, I want better than last year. That will be comfortable for me" - Jenkins
One to watch: Danny Phillips
Ins: Danny Phillips, Laurent Hamici, Dave King
Kent Derbies: 21/09 A v Tonbridge, 05/10 H v Maidstone, 09/10 H v Folkestone, 09/11 A v Maidstone, 23/11 H v Tonbridge, 27/12 A v Margate, 12/02 A v Folkestone, 25/04 H v Margate
Cray manager Ian Jenkins is expecting big things for the club's 150th season: "I don't think we punched above our weight last season. The first part of the season we were well below what we could have been but after Christmas we had a really good run and we were promotion material.
"If we can have a good start this year, we can touch for the play-offs or go higher than that.
"Last year we started the season slowly, we weren't fit enough, this year we got them in four times a week for training. We're looking fit if nothing else.
"The league will be as strong as last year but Dartford went out which will be a shame."
RYMAN ONE SOUTH
FAVERSHAM TOWN
Justin Luchford cannot wait to start life in the Ryman League
Manager: Justin Luchford
Ground: Salters Lane
League position last season: First in the Kent League (promoted)
Top scorer 2009/10: Michael Smissen/Lee Shearer (15)
Predicted finish this season: "It has to be safety. The sooner we reach 50 points the better" says manager Justin Luchford.
One to watch: Danny Hunt
Ins: Danny Hunt (Greenwich), Matt Bourne (Sittingbourne), Dave Bathgate (Deal)
Kent Derbies: 30/08 A v Whitstable, 28/09 A v Chatham, 06/11 A v Ramsgate, 09/11 H v Chatham, 27/12 A v Sittingbourne, 03/01 H v Whitstable, 19/02 H v Ramsgate, 25/04 H v Sittingbourne
Manager Justin Luchford told BBC Radio Kent: "It's very exciting, we have come a long way in a short space of time, not just me but the people before me. I managed to kick it on.
"I'm going into unknown territory but that is what I wanted. I have no intention of this being a hobby, I want to do this full-time.
"The target is 50 points, I think that will keep us safe and make sure we are playing Ryman football the following season. It will be a tragedy if we come down.
"I will be very proud to be leading the Faversham team out, but there are a lot of people in this town who have made this possible. I wouldn't have had the job if it wasn't for those people."
SITTINGBOURNE
Gary Abbott has the play-offs firmly in his sights this season.
Manager: Gary Abbott
Ground: Bourne Park
League position last season: 9th Ryman South
Top scorer 2009/10: Hitcham Akhazzan (17)
Predicted finish this season: "We're starting off to try and win it, play-offs minimum. But there's no reason why we can't go all the way," Gary Abbott.
One to watch: Rob Denness
Ins: Ryan Johnson, Rob Denness, Steven Marshall,
Kent Derbies: 07/09 H v Ramsgate, 21/09 H v Chatham, 28/09 A v Whitstable, 09/11 H v Whitstable, 23/11 A v Chatham, 27/12 H v Faversham, 16/04 A v Ramsgate, 25/04 A v Faversham
Manager Gary Abbott said: "Our main aim is play-offs. One on one we can beat anyone in this league. Hopefully it's third time lucky, and it would be nice to have a good cup run as well.
"We were ninth last year, sixth the year before, but the season finished on a high with the Kent Senior Cup, and we deserved that. It worked out a great season last year.
"Everyone knows we haven't got the best pitch but we are still going to get the ball down and play. But sometimes you have to go long and get round it."
CHATHAM TOWN
Paul Foley's side have taken Ashford's place in Ryman South
Manager: Paul Foley
Ground: Maidstone Road
League position last season: 17th Ryman South
Top scorer 2009/10: Brendan Cass (11)
Predicted finish this season: "We will be looking to improve on last years finish for Chatham Town," says manager Paul Foley.
One to watch: Nick Hegley
Ins: James Tedder, Kevin Watson, Jason Barton, David Hunt, Jon Hogg, George Mitchell, Gary Cook, Anthony Hogg, Callum O'Shea, Gary Ward, Lee Maskell, Joe Fuller, Uche Ibemere, Nick Hegley, Danny Penny, Kevin Winchcombe
Kent Derbies: 30/08 H v Ramsgate, 21/09 A v Sittingbourne, 28/09 H v Faversham, 09/11 A v Faversham, 23/11 H v Sittingbourne, 01/01 A v Ramsgate, 22/01 H v Whitstable, 09/04 A v Whitstable
Manager Paul Foley told BBC Radio Kent: "In my four seasons as a manager this is by far the strongest squad we have assembled with the key additions from last year's Chatham squad with Matt, Brad, Ryan and Ryan staying on and the 'new' signings of Jon, Joe, George and Adam teaming up with the bulk of last year's VCD squad that we brought with us.
"The club are looking to invest in the ground and improve the potential of the club which is extremely encouraging for a manager. As someone who works on developments in my day job I understand that the infrastructure has to be in place first to allow growth to occur and this was all made clear when I first met up with the chairman and committee.
"There are exciting times ahead for Chatham Town FC with the plans that are being progressed and hopefully we can support those times on the pitch too. There is no point having ambition without a plan on how to realise that ambition that's for sure."
WHITSTABLE TOWN
Whitstable Town FC
Manager: Mark Lane
Ground: The Belmont
League position last season: 18th Ryman South
Top scorer 2009/10: Stuart Vahid (11)
Predicted finish this season: "I certainly don't want to go through what we did last year. We don't want to be struggling this year," says manager Mark Lane.
One to watch: Dan Wisker
Ins: Ian Pullman (Ashford), John Neal, Lewis Smith (Margate), Dave Souton (Faversham)
Manager Mark Lane said: "It's been daunting over the close season, getting players in and letting people go. We certainly don't want to go through what we did last year.
"We tried to bring in players who enhance what we have got and we want to have a good season this year.
"We brought Ian Pullman back, Lewis Smith gives us something different at the back and Dave Souton's been around and gives us bite and height we lacked last year.
"We've been perennial slow starters so we have to start with three points on the board."
RAMSGATE
Ramsgate FC
Manager: Jim Ward
Ground: Southwood Stadium
League position last season: 14th Ryman South
Top scorer 2009/10: Gary Mickelborough/Warren Schultz (14)
Predicted finish this season: "Play offs at least," says manager Jim Ward.
One to watch: Aaron Beech
Ins: Aaron Beech, Mitchell Sherwood, Mark Lovell, Conor Quinn.
Manager Jim Ward told BBC Radio Kent: "It's taken me and Richard Lawson two years to get over the loss of players when we got relegated from Ryman Premier. But now we have a young squad with experienced players around them.
"These young lads have now played 40 to 50 games at this level and the penny's dropped for them.
"I think we'll be a dark horse in this division this year. Last year we were the relegated team, the rest were after us. I knew we weren't right. I'd like to think we're better than we have been for the last two seasons.
"We gnawed away at it, and we think we have built something and are ready to go again. If anyone takes us lightly they will get their fingers burned."
BBC Radio Kent will have website commentary of the majority of Dartford, Ebbsfleet and Dover's Saturday away games at bbc.co.uk/kent
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