HERE we go again. Nine months of blood, sweat and beers, 46 league games and over 4,000 minutes of football between now and next May.

While we are at it, here's a few more numbers to mull over:

1) The number in the goals for column. Perhaps more than players in any other position, strikers thrive on confidence. Opening his account for the Clarets will do Gifton Noel-Williams a world of good.

2) The number in the goals against column. Sharper defending and closing down required.

3) The number, in pounds, of the punitive tax which those supporters who pay on the day rather than in advance will be hit with. Note to Messrs Kilby and Edmundson - stop hiding behind the Supporters Consultative Group and scrap the tax, or don't be surprised when four-figure gates become the norm at Turf Moor.

4) The number of debutants at Crewe, the pick of them being Wade Elliott - good pace, tricky feet and the ability to beat a man. Also deserving a mention are Gifton Noel-Williams, who won more than his fair share of aeriel duels, and Wayne Thomas whose physical presence places him second only to Ade Akinbiyi as the Burnley players you would least like to get on the wrong side of.

5) The numbers of players required to make it a squad worthy of the name. When Burnley needed to change it on Saturday, they looked to the bench and found a goalkeeper, a right back, two untried youngsters and the first team coach. Supporters were sold their season tickets on the back of the slogan "More than 90 minutes." It would appear that "less than 19 players" would have been more appropriate.

6) The number of different nationalities in the Clarets squad, reflecting the pleasingly cosmopolitan nature of English football in 2005. This point was entirely lost on the racist moron in Crewe's Air Products Stand, who no doubt believes that abusing black players is all part of the game. Hats off to Steve Coterill for standing up for his players and taking a principled and public stand on this issue.

15) This writer's prediction of Burnley's final place in the 2005-06 Championship table.

Another 3) The number of points I'd like Burnley to have by around a quarter to ten this evening having beaten Sheffield United.

400) The word limit for this column.

Happy new football season.