Even so, with the exception of Tyldesley and Kirkby Lonsdale, the majority of the clubs in the league have not crossed the Vale's path for quite a while.

Generalisations can be made about the opposition, perhaps even stereotypical images, but at the end of the day hard facts such as player's profiles, club structures and ambitions, will have to be put on hold until the season begins to gather pace.

Certainly the opening five games of the season should provide a litmus test for not just the Vale, but the 11 other clubs. History suggests that results after five fixtures provide a reasonable indicator of how a season might pan out.

Last season in North Two West after five games a pecking order had been already established. The top six clubs after the first week in October were: New Brighton, Stockport, Broughton Park, Lymm, Rochdale and Chester. At the end of the season the order was Chester, Stockport, Broughton Park, New Brighton, Sandbach and Rochdale.

In the bargain basement, during the same time span, where three clubs were to be relegated, the six clubs trying to fasten their life jackets, from the bottom upwards, were: Tyldesley, Leigh, Vale of Lune, Northwich, Sandbach and Winnington Park. After the guillotine had fallen the three in the basket were, Tyldesley, Winnington Park and the Vale of Lune.

Although the Vale's league status has changed the old weary league format of 12 clubs remains. That is despite all the efforts of Vale's fixture secretary, Fred Swarbrick and his trusty lieutenant, Reg Robinson, chairman and secretary of the highly popular Miller Homes Leagues and Bateman BMW Premier League respectively, to convince the powers-that-be that the current structure was causing a huge imbalance, leaving gaps in the fixture lists which had financial implications for the clubs.

So, again, clubs have only two fixtures in December, February and April. The last league game of 2008 is on December 20 before resuming on January 10. Is it any wonder that coaches and treasurers tear their hair out and players lose their competitive edge?

The Vale have been allocated a place in the Lancashire Trophy, a competition they won in 1995-96 and lost in the final the following season. The Vale will host Ruskin Park in the first round on or before, Sunday, August 31.

Confirmation of which of the RFU Cups the Vale will be playing in is still awaited.

The training programmes are gathering momentum at Powder House Lane on Tuesday and Thursdays as the coaching team and players – newcomers are always welcome – prepare to bounce straight back after the massive disappointments of last season.