It heralds the start of the most demanding schedule for Paul Jenkins's side. One that will see them play at least 35 games in five different competitions, often playing twice a week.





"There are some people who hold the view that Academy football isn't representative of a proper football season, well with the schedule that lies before us all I think that myth has been blown away," says Lead Coach Jenkins.





It is a season that will see Villarreal and Sparta Prague arrive on Teesside, as well as the first team of Shrewsbury to take on Boro's youngsters.





Before all that, their league season gets underway with the first of two games in eight days with Brighton making a 630-mile round trip to get the league season underway for a night that will see the new Riverside floodlights shine brightly for the first time.





It is a season that will bring many challenges as the age group compete in a re-branded league, Division 2 of Premier League 2, the Checkatrade Trophy (formerly the Johnstone's Paint Trophy), the Premier League Cup, the Premier League International Cup and later in the season the North Riding Senior Cup.





"Fitting everything in will be a challenge for everyone involved," says Jenkins. "It means that we will be playing pretty much every week, sometimes twice a week.





"We knew that when we applied to be involved in everything we could. Now the challenge is to make everything work.





"It's not just a challenge for the players, it is a challenge for us coaches. We felt the previous arrangements at this level were unrealistic. Last season we played three games in the opening two weeks of the league season, then nothing for three months, that can't be right."





Boro go in to the season in good shape having won six and lost one of their seven pre-season friendlies, including three games in the USA, with 13 different players on the scoresheet.





"We're looking forward to this," says Jenkins talking about the season ahead.





Kick-off is 7pm and admission is free to all Season Card holders and £3 everyone else. Admission is via turnstiles 14-17, tickets can be bought from the West Stand ticket office.





Car parking is £2 per car.



