Club name: Bray Wanderers
Stadium: Carlisle Grounds
Manager: Pat Devlin
Founded: 1942
Finished last season: 9th
Players in: Robert Egan (Tullamore Town); Conor Earley (Shamrock Rovers); Dan McGuinness (Shamrock Rovers); Stephen Last (Cardiff City)
Players out: None.
Bray Wanderers don’t make life easy for their fans. After finishing in a lowly ninth position last year and losing out to Galway in the playoff semis, it took 210 minutes of football and a whole lot of penalties before the Seagulls finally saw off Monaghan United and preserved their Premier League status.
So can Wanderers fans expect more of the same this time around? Probably not.
For the first time in a long time, Bray have assembled a squad which should allow them to look down on at least a few of their divisional rivals. Striker Jake Kelly is one of the most exciting young players in the league, while there are still enough “older hands” within the side to ensure a nice blend of youth and experience.
There is no room for complacency though, a fact which manager Pat Devlin will have drilled into his squad. The narrow confines of the Carlisle Ground make it a difficult place to travel to – just ask champions Shamrock Rovers who could only manage two draws there last season.
If Bray can get results against the teams around them and take a few big scalps by the sea, then they should be able to avoid yet another relegation scrap.
If they were a TD, they’d be? Brian Lenihan. Happy just to be involved for another term.
The Score’s verdict: eighth.
View from the terrace
Patrick Fleming, Bray Wanderers fan
Where will you finish this season? Seventh but another playoff appearance is possible if not probable.
How will you do on opening weekend? 2-2 with a last minute equaliser in typical Wanderers fashion.
Key man? Pat Devlin. He saved the team from certain relegation last season and will be crucial again this year in guiding this young team.
Weak link? Inexperience.
New signing you’re most looking forward to seeing? Conor Murphy could potentially bring some vibrancy and pop to the Bray attack.
League’s best player (outside your club)? Joseph Ndo. He’s got the coolest head in the whole league
League’s best gaffer (outside your club)? Paul Cook.
Easiest fixture? Drogheda in the Carlisle Grounds should be the easiest, but when you’re a side like Bray, every game is a test.
Toughest fixture? Conversely, when you’re a side like Bray every game has the potential to be an upset. Shamrock Rovers will be the toughest, but it will be no cake walk for Rovers either.
Best away atmosphere? The stadium in Tallaght is a true monument to the domestic game and now that it houses the reigning champions, it makes it all the more significant a place to visit.
Worst away atmosphere? Belfield Bowl. UCD would be our closest rivals, but it doesn’t change the fact that it is a bit of a ghost town there.
Favourite terrace chant? The refrain “We are staying up” has become a welcome sound over the last few seasons.
