Ross Juniors were defeated 3-1, on Saturday, away to Leominster Town in their debut match in the highest standard of football administered by the Herefordshire Football Association.

When Ross Town fell to a 4-2 defeat at home to Ewyas Harold on April 25th, 2009, and subsequently resigned from the Herefordshire Football League, it is doubtful that anyone would have anticipated a four year wait for the top standard of local football to return to Ross.

Ross should not be too downhearted about the defeat. Leominster Town have seen their own upheval in the closed season which resulted them moving down the football ladder, from the West Midlands Regional League's Premier Division, back to the Herefordshire Football League's Premier Division.Ross Juniors manager Dan Morris said: "I was part of the Ross Town team which folded and that was a real shame, so it's good to have a Ross team back in the Hereford Premier League."

Ross Juniors Chairman Jim Loftus has had a busy summer preparing all levels of the club for the new season. He said: "It's been a crazy summer. With people off, I've been sorting out kits and getting our new handbook ready. We really need more people, whether it be retired people or grandparents, to volunteer to help out at the club.

"Over the next year we will be looking to stablise ourselves in the Premier Division. We're also hoping that the Reserves will be better organised this season and they sneaked a 2-1 win over Kington Reserves on Saturday, so that was a good start.

For the full story please see this week's Ross Gazette.