Cast off the dark of winter. Brace yourself against the gnawing cold. Wrap yourself in steel resolve. Yea, though we have walked through the tunnel of despair, there’s a flickering light. And it’s not a train coming the other way.

A month ago all was doom. Last season’s outstanding side was rent asunder in the shadow of cashflow crises, bitter tonguewagging in the press and the icy expectation that someone somewhere was about to step in and switch the machine off.

But what a difference a month makes.

The old names that we embraced like lovers now feel like guests who’ve finally departed after outstaying their welcome at a party that was great when it started, but ended in a melée of scrapping and puking.

Thankfully, Bobby Goulding arrived just in time to save our weary necks. Aided by the few who cared enough to stay and help tidy up the place - this new broom has swept through the club, adding a new coat of polish, a new air of expectation and the chance for all of us to stand proudly by when the new season comes home, smug in the knowledge that our ‘home’ actually feels like a better place than it did when it left.

And so it is that 'New Hornets' take the field against the old foe on Sunday. No baggage, no passengers, no hangover from the season before.

And, while Oldham are reduced to staving off torpor by snogging with our exes - Watson, Southern and Bunyan - we’re freed of the burden of expectation with nothing to lose and absolutely everything to look forward to. It’s a bright new day - liberating and rejuvenating.

As for the rest of our exes - we’ll see them occasionally, scuffing around with someone else. While they still look the same, but older and somehow less interesting - we can console ourselves that they still have all their old faults; that they really don’t look quite as good as they did when they were with us. And, while they’re busy snuggling up to their new beaus, they probably have one eye on the door.

Ultimately, all relationships that matter are fuelled by passion. So, let’s get to Boundary Park in good numbers. Let’s have a sing, have a laugh and renew old friendships.

More importantly, let’s show the lads with a desire to pull on the famous red, white and blue hoops just how much this great club means to us.

We love you, Hornets - we do..

No... we really do.

Onward Hornets Onward.

See you on Sunday.