AS Worcester Warriors' supporters contemplate away visits to such famous venues as The Stoop, Kingsholm and Welford Road, spare a thought for City's loyal band of travelling fans.

Lonely footballing outposts such as Barrow, Whitby and possibly Blyth Spartans beckon on the heels of City's anticipated one-step promotion to the Conference North.

It's unchartered territory for most connected with the club but on the bright side, the hospitality up north is second to none and the beer is cheaper too!

One person who is definitely looking forward to next season is Mark Owen who was in optimistic mood this week after putting pen to paper on a new one-year deal at St George's Lane.

"It's going to be an exciting season, a new challenge and should be enjoyable," he said.

"You can get tired always going to the same grounds, playing the same old faces so I think both the supporters and players will enjoy it. With a couple more signings in the summer I think we can be a force next season and hopefully there will be a real buzz around the club."

Owen's new contract is a perfect tonic for the striker who admitted to doubts over whether he would ever recapture his best form following a serious injury in 2001.

"I think you always have doubts in your mind but that run of games when I got back in the side in November showed me I could get back to what I was," he said.

"I felt I was getting close to my best and I was just unfortunate to pick up a little injury and lose my place again."

Along with Leon Kelly and Adam Webster, Owen believes the club is well-blessed with attacking options.

"We've got three decent striker and whoever starts we know we'll have a strong pairing," said Owen.

"In years gone by there's only been me but now we've got goals throughout the team and we're not relying on one striker. Adam Wilde and Adam Webster have got 10 goals each, I've got 12 and Leon's got 17 so it's more spread out."

Owen began his football career at Molineux as a Wolves YTS trainee before drifting into Sunday football and then Willenhall.

Ex-City boss George Rooney snapped him up from Willenhall in March 1998. Owen has scored 119 goals (reaching 100 in less than 200 games) and stands fifth in City's all-time scoring charts.

With a new role as assistant youth development officer, alongside Ray Woods in City's youth academy, the future is looking bright for the striker who takes his UEFA B coaching badge in the summer.

More importantly though he has a future in John Barton's team when two-and-a-half years ago injury threatened his St George's Lane career.