HUNTLEY'S inability to restore their status as a Northern Senior League club has been eating away and annoying club officials for the best part of the last 10 years.
Now they hope to put things right.
The North Gloucester Premier League side have been knocking on the door for promotion almost every year – but never quite make it.
Secretary Peter Antill explained: "We've been very close but the NGL Premier League is always competitive. We were in with a chance last season but tailed off towards the end and missed out by a couple of places.
"This season we have a stronger squad. Some of the younger players like Liam Morgan and John Robinson are looking quite promising while we can always rely on the old guard like Kevin Vanston and Paul Davis who have been with us for years."
Antill says manager Marcus Anderson has the Northern Senior League as his number one target.
"We have been perpetual runners-up. You can't go on what happened last season and it is always difficult to guage the strengths of other teams until you have played everyone once, but I hope we can press our claims this time," he said.
New signings include Nathan Lewis, a Gloucester lad who has been very sharp in early matches. The club also hopes to make more use of the young but experienced Mark Matthews who has now returned to the area after university and will play when work allows.
Last season Huntley won the junior section of the Charities and reached the semi-finals of the Hospital Cup.
Leading scorer was John Matthews and the striker was again on target against Newnham – he netted a hat-trick, including a goal scored from a smartly taken overhead kick.
Newnham and Huntley have enjoyed some good tussles over the years and this Charities game was no exception. "They didn't deserve to lose so heavily, but we took our chances well," said Antill.
Newnham had started strongly but by half-time Huntley had the game won. Matthews had hit his hat-trick and Nathan Lewis also netted.
Newnham tightened up considerably in the second-half and finished strongly, but it was Huntley's night and they won through to play Worrall Hill in the next round this week.