Darlington Under 23s start their Wearside League season on Saturday when they go to Coxhoe Athletic.

The Under 23s won promotion last season from the Wearside League second division into the first, and they're confident that they can do well again this season, although they will be up against tougher opposition.

Manager Grant Cuthbertson said: "We know that it's going to be a tougher season than last season, but we've still got a good mixture of experience and youthful exuberance. I believe that we will still be able to compete against all the teams in the league.The lads put in some great performances last season, and they're more than capable of doing the same again.

"This league is a little bit stronger than the Second Division, but we played a Premier Division team, West Auckland Reserves in a friendly and drew, but we should have won with the chances that we had, then we played another Premier Division team, and narrowly lost."

One difference from last season will be that they will be facing clubs who are paying their players, unlike Quakers who play for nothing.

"Yes, there are going to be more paid teams in the league, but some of our players have turned down the opportunity to move on because they enjoy playing for us. They enjoy the way that we want to play football and the coaching and facilities that we provide."

Grant has managed to keep nearly all of last season's team together with a couple of additions and he said; "The lads realise that if they perform, then they can catch people's eyes -- players Matty Kirokiro, Will Maddison and Jack Mortimer have all been in the first team squad and played in the pre-season friendlies."

The match at Coxhoe kicks off at 2pm on Saturday afternoon.