VALE of Leven have returned to action with manager Hugh Hamill running the rule over a number of trialists in training. The team took part in their first training session last Monday, before another one on Wednesday and again on Saturday ahead of the club's first friendlies, against Drumchapel Amateurs on July 20 and St Patricks on July 24.

And manager Hamill has been impressed with what he has seen so far in the pre-season session, he said: "The first few sessions are always difficult with boys still away on holiday and things but the turnout we have been getting has been really good.

"We have a few of the boys from last season's under-21s who have stepped up and have been doing well.

"We have also had a trialists coming in and training with us, they have done well but it is too early to decide whether or not we'll be able to sign them." Looking ahead to the new season, Hamill is confident his team will better last term's performance, which saw the team finishing seventh in the league, he continued: "Last season was always going to be hard but this season the team will be better and we will do better.

"We will have Mark Pawsey available from the start of the season which is a huge boost and we will do better."