Matt Paine is confident it will be a successful campaign for him at his new club Stowmarket Town, but has warned his fellow players they must go out on the pitch and prove it.

The Old Gold and Blacks get their second season back in the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division under way by hosting Thetford Town at Greens Meadow today (3pm).

And Paine, one of eight new arrivals at Greens Meadow this summer, is hoping his experience of winning the treble with Billericay Town can provide a boost for Rick Andrews’ side.

“I’m looking forward to the season ahead,” the 30-year-old said. “From what I’ve heard it should be a successful season.

“But it’s easier to say it, we’ve got to go out there and prove it and go and get the silverware that the club, management and staff deserve.”

The central midfielder has dropped down two leagues to sign for Stow, and it will be his first season below Step Three, having previously played for the likes of Braintree Town, Boreham Wood and Thurrock.

“I could have stayed at that level or gone higher,” he said. “But this year with work commitments it meant I had to come to this level.

“After speaking to Rick and hearing his ambitions and the club’s ambitions, as a player that’s what you want to hear and play for.

“Hopefully once the season gets going we’ll be heading in the right direction. There’s a great group of guys here and they all want to achieve what the club wants to achieve.”

Stow enjoyed a memorable first campaign back in the Thurlow Nunn League’s top flight last term, racking up more than 100 goals and over a century of points on their way to finishing in third place.

With only the champions earning promotion from the Premier Division this time around, Stow will face tough competition in their bid to secure Bostik League football for the first time in the club’s 135-year history.

New signing Callum Robinson will make his competitive debut in-between the sticks this afternoon, while defender Tom Matthews is suspended.