THE depth of their squad was once again tested, but Boys’ Town Football Club showed fortitude when battling to avoid the drop zone in last season’s Red Stripe Premier League (RSPL) campaign.

Now, the ‘Red Brigade’ will be banking on their youthful exuberance for a positive start to the 2015/16 campaign while maintaining a high level of consistency throughout. However, the strength of their mettle will be put to an early test when they oppose four-time champions Harbour View FC today.

The Andrew Price-conditioned outfit marginally whipped themselves into shape as they wrapped up pre-season preparations with a 2-1 win over Manning Cup standouts St George’s College at Winchester Park recently.

Price was pleased with what he believes was a “smooth” pre-season, despite the absence of a few players who were off the island.

The Collie Smith Drive-based team will be without the experienced Hugh Evans, who, ironically, had transferred to today’s opponents. But they have secured the services of four promising young players in Lennox Cargill from York United, Rupert Murray from Sporting Central, Adrian King from New Raiders, and Davion Roberts from Cavalier SC.

Captain Kirk Porter, Pierre McPherson, Michael Campbell, Daemon Benjamin, Peter Keyes, Andre Dawson, Rafiek Thomas and Victor Thompson are among the senior players who will ensure that they are in contention for the title.

“We want to go into the Premier League season competitive, so we are just trying to get the squad to gel together. But I believe that we have a good combination of youth and experience, and I think it will serve us well throughout this long season,” Price told the Jamaica Observer.

“We are expecting a good challenge from Harbour View, as the ‘Stars of the East’ against the ‘Red Brigade’ is always a very competitive game no matter, and I don’t expect it to be any different. It’s the very first game of the season, so there is going to be a lot of jitters, there is not going to be optimum fitness, but we are going to have to play ourselves into shape as the season progresses,” he added.

After battling to avoid relegation, Boys’ Town finished eighth in the 12-team standings on 43 points, with a record of 12 wins, seven draws and 14 losses. Their 11-goal difference ranked them as the fourth-worst defensive team, with 47 goals being scored against them.

“I believe that with the investment that we have made with the youngsters, I believe they have come of age, and it is for them to now go out and show what they have learnt over the last two seasons.

“I believe we have a nice team that we can be competitive with this season. It is just for them to integrate with the senior players,” Price noted.

Having won the league in 1984, 1986 and 1988, Boys’ Town have not won since, which now leave them trying to break a 27-year title drought.

“We are going out there to be competitive; there is no reason why we are going to participate without challenging for the title, so we just want to go out there to take it one game at a time.

“We want to see if we can get off to a good start in the first round, and we are just going to take it from there,” he said.

— Sherdon Cowan