Like the majority of football fans Carlton Cole is already looking forward to the beginning of the 2014/15 campaign, just days after West Ham United's final game of the Barclays Premier League season against Manchester City.
The striker weighed in with six goals after re-joining the Hammers in October 2013 to help the Club finish 13th in the table, thus securing another season of top flight football at the Boleyn Ground.
Cole was a free agent last summer but is pleased to know where his future lies as he heads into the off season. The frontman also told West Ham TV of his desire to hit the ground running when the players return for pre-season training.
Carlton, looking back on the season as a whole, how would you sum it up from a team perspective as well as a personal point of view?
"From a West Ham view we didn't start too well, had some bad injuries and obviously got hit up front with Andy Carroll. Modibo Maiga tried his best to fill the gap but needed reinforcements going forward. We defended really well but just wasn't capitalising on finishing games off so that did hamper our season up until Christmas. We started winning a few more games that should have been in the bag and we went through a good period and a good patch which the boys put a lot of effort into. It's been kind of topsy turvy.
"When we got some of our so called first team players back we started getting a bit of momentum and then it just didn't go the way it was supposed to go. You can never fault anyone because everyone did try their hardest to get the results, but sometimes we didn't get the rub of the green. For me personally, I was happy that I came back obviously. I notched a few goals and if I'd had a few more minutes I probably could have got top goalscorer again but it didn't work out that way. I knew what my role was when I came back, but hopefully next season I will get more chances because I really do want to play and score goals."
This season you came into it late, but do you feel that with a full pre-season under your belt next season you'll be able to hit the ground running?
"We're going to start next season with at least two fit strikers. Obviously we need reinforcements and we've got Modibo coming back as well, so we'll see how that goes with everyone getting a good pre-season under their belts and trying to perform to the best of their abilities. We should be, from an attacking point of view, all guns blazing. We've got to play to the manager's style of play and capitalise on any challenges he puts in front of us. If we get things right before then and the preparation that should be good, hopefully we can do better next season."
You've been at the Club for a long time now, does it feel good to be at a Club where you feel special?
"It will be my eighth season. I don't want to be feeling like part of the furniture, I still want to improve. I still want to improve, score goals and achieve more with the Club. That's what my main goal is, to help out in any way possible like I did when I came back this season. I tried to help get our best form back and I think I was in the team when we had our best run of form. Because I know the place and I know I fit in easily which is a bonus point for the Club and myself."
What will you be getting up to on your holidays?
"I've got some plans for next season regarding my charities and a few bits and bobs I've been doing off the field. I'm going to be relaxing, but I've got to keep ticking over through the summer, stay under weight and then come back next season raring to go."
How excited are you by the prospect of heading to New Zealand in pre-season?
"New Zealand's going to be a really exciting tour and hopefully we can give them a good show and give a good account of ourselves. You never know how many people out there love football and they'll want to see some entertaining stuff. They all look at the Premier League so it will be good for the people out there who like football to see us in the flesh."