BENFLEET chairman Dan Wright says there has never been a more exciting time for the football club.

Benfleet will kick off their first ever Essex Senior League campaign against Woodford Town at their new Woodside Stadium base this weekend.

And Wright cannot wait to get underway.

“We’re so excited to get going now,” said Wright.

“We were excited just to be playing in non-league so to now be at Step 5, with a home FA Cup draw, and our new home ground signed off and ready for the start of the season is just amazing.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a more exciting time to be a part of this football club.”

Benfleet worked their way into the Essex Senior League after being crowned Thurlow Nunn League First Division South champions last season.

And the title winning squad will now look to impress at a higher level.

“We’ve actually kept our entire squad from last season which was our main priority,” said Wright.

“We’ve added a couple of new players but the most important thing was to keep the incredibly talented players that we have, and we’re so pleased to have done that.

“It might be stretching it to compare what we did last season to Leicester City winning the Premier League but it’s not a million miles off it.

“There were teams with big budgets and we’re all volunteers turning up for the love of it every week so to win it was incredible.”

“Now we can’t wait to get started again.”

However, Wright is fully aware how the step up in standard will make it tough going for Benfleet.

“Firstly we’d love to stay in the league,” said Wright.

That has to be a base level ambition for any club that’s just been promoted.

“But we saw with Sporting Bengal United last year that anything is possible.

“They managed to win the Essex Senior League play offs and achieve an incredible back-to-back promotion.

“I’m not saying we’ll do that of course but anything is possible.

“We’d be happy just to consolidate in the new league and maybe have a little run in the FA Vase.”

But Wright admitted that preparations for the forthcoming campaign have not been ideal.

“Pre-season has been a bit up and down mainly because the ground took longer to complete than expected,” said Wright.

“We ended up having to reverse some of the games and cancelled one too.

“It’s not been the ideal run up to a new season but we’re here and can’t wait to get going now”