When Chester FC open up their Football Conference campaign on Saturday afternoon at home to Barnet, there will be many people connected with the club that are only too aware as to how different the situation could be.
On the final day of last season, uncertainty took hold as the Blues were relegated down to the Conference North.
Earlier this summer, though, Hereford United's misfortune would be Chester's gain. The Bulls were expelled from the Conference for financial irregularities and following numerous meetings, Chester were reinstated back into the fifth tier of English football.
Manager Steve Burr has since moved to ensure that no such favours will be required next time around by bolstering his squad with a number of fresh faces, including Chris Iwelumo, Peter Winn and former Wales international Gareth Roberts.
As part of his role as a BT Sport pundit, former Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen recently spent a morning training with Burr's new-look squad and he was impressed with what he saw from them.
"They look to have some very good players. It's almost a new feel to the club. There are only four or five players that were there last year and the manager has made a number of alterations, so there's been a big turnaround. Everyone is in the dark as to how it's going to go, although pre-season results have suggested that they could get off to a decent start," the 34-year-old told Sports Mole.
To Owen, Chester is not just any club. He was born in the area and his father, Terry, spent seven largely successful years leading their attack.
He expressed on Twitter at the time his disappointment at seeing his hometown side relegated, but he is hopeful that they will now go on to make the most of the second chance that has been presented to them.
"It's my local club and I went a couple of times last season. My dad played for them in their glory years with the promotions and the League Cup semi-final. He always used to take me to Chester as a kid and I've continued to go throughout the years. I always take an interest in them," he said.
"This year after our stay of execution last year, if we can just finish mid-table and be quite comfortable, I think the fans will be happy with that."
There was even talk in March of last year that Chester were keen to coax Owen out of retirement, so much so that chief executive Pat Cluskey claimed that the number 10 shirt had been reserved for him.
So, having donned his boots once again in training, what are the chances of the 2001 Ballon d'Or winner ending his exile from the game to wear a blue and white-striped shirt over the next few months?
"It was good to get the competitive juices flowing again. Once you get the boots on and get in the competitive spirit, it's a great feeling. I thought I'd be going there to stand on the sidelines and give a bit of advice, but I ended up doing the full session," added Owen.
"I don't think I'll be taking it any further, though. You can always be fooled, can't you? You can have a kickabout and think you've done well, but I know what it's like to be training and playing every single day of the week. After doing that for 17 or 18 years, it can become a bit of a job. Now it's a bit of fun when I play the odd time, so I don't think you'll see me playing again."
Owen was speaking after he had trained with Chester City to launch BT Sport's exclusive live coverage of the Vanarama Conference which kicks off this weekend. BT Sport will show up to 30 exclusively live games from the Vanarama Conference this season including the Promotion Final at Wembley. BT Sport is free with BT broadband, to find out more visit www.btsport.com.
Liam Apicella
