By John Lyons

POSITIVE Aylestone Park boss James Dodd wants his side to lay down a marker when they kick off their United Counties Premier Division South campaign on Friday night.
The Leicester-based club have been handed the honour of launching the league’s 2024-25 season and will host Coventry United at Saffron Lane.
“It’s always nice to kick off first and, result dependent, it gives you a head start,” he told The NLP. “At my previous club we played the opening game last year (his Birstall United side won 5-1 at Saffron Dynamo in Division One).
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