A new campaign. Another footballing chapter in the career of Pearl Slattery.
At 36, you may think that her journey is nearing its destination. Far from it.
The Shelbourne skipper is relishing the start of the new SSE Airtricity Women's Premier Division.
The anticipation was all-too evident when she spoke to RTÉ Sport's Raf Diallo at the season launch in Whelan's Bar in Dublin.
"It's my 11th season and I still love it," she revealed. "I love been around the club and playing with the girls.
"No one will tell me the body clock is up. I don't feel that way; others like Rachel (Graham) don't feel that way, we've done a lot of hard work in the off-season and now feel good in the pre-season.
"There is only a period in your life that you will be playing. I've got advice from family and good football people who tell me to play as long as you can because nothing matches it. And I plan on doing that as long as the body allows it."
"I still have that fire in my belly, still love going out to train"
Age, as they say, is just a number, and that maxim certainly holds true for Slattery, when adding: "I don't really look at the age thing any more.
"I'm probably saying since I turned 30 that this is my final year, and then you realise that you are not always going to play, you will miss it for many, may years.
"I work hard. Everybody sees you on the Saturday but they don't realise the work you put in week to week to ensure you can compete. I think once you're dedicated and put in the hard work age is just a number.
"The league is very young but I don't think it's anything without the experienced players, the people who have been there and done that. I still love it. I still have that fire in my belly, still love going out to train.
"Shels have been part of my identity for over a decade and I said captaining the club will be the biggest thing I've ever done. When your time will come it will come."
The Premier Division campaign kicks off on 14 March, with Shelbourne who were second to Athlone Town last year, looking to go one better.
Reflecting on 2025, Slattery was in no doubt that "Athlone were deserving champions", while rueing that in "some of the bigger games we didn't get that goal to kill it off".
While not wanting to make excuses, she also highlighted injuries to key players and then two of the squad - Aoibheann Clancy & Noelle Murray - both having to deal with a loss of a parent.
"The girls were grieving and it did affect the group," Slattery recalled.
"Losing a parent is one of the hardest things you will go through. But two days later they were back, wanting to wear the jersey and fight for the crest. That was the proudest I've felt as captain of the club. Then you're hoping to win something for them."
The off-season saw the arrival of former Treaty United boss Seán Russell.
Russell, who took over from Eoin Wearen, helped Treaty to their strongest ever season in the top flight in 2025, while also guiding them to the semi-finals of the FAI Cup.
An appointment that so far has had a positive effect, with the skipper saying: "Women's football is small, so I knew a lot of people that worked with him and they've been impressed. The last two or three weeks with him have been brilliant. He has his own style, his own approach. I think we'll look different this year.
"He has been great around the group and has kept Rory (Kirk, assistant) and has a good Cork coaching group behind him. Excited to play under him, a new approach. We're learning a lot from him. You never stop learning and that's a compliment to him.
"We have a few hard weeks coming up, got everybody through injury-free and then you're raring to go."
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