In the nearly 250 columns that have run each Friday in this space since we first created this “Sideline Talk” weekly feature in November 2009, we’ve gotten some things right, and some things wrong.

Take for instance that very first column, from Nov. 20, 2009. Following a 37-point Marist College men’s basketball loss to Hartford, I preached to fans to be patient with head coach Chuck Martin’s second-year regime.

“It can’t get any worse than Wednesday night, right?”

Oops.

We’ve been wrong before. But, this time I’m sure we’re right to predict you’re going to love what the Journal has planned for this space in the future.

Next Friday, and every Friday throughout the fall season, you’ll be able to read “Soccer Corner,” a column devoted to high school soccer in the mid-Hudson Valley.

For that matter, every Monday throughout the fall season, beginning on Sept. 8, you’ll be able to read “Football Huddle,” a column devoted to high school football in the mid-Hudson Valley.

Interested? Then let me tell you more:

The top story lines in each sport will be discussed each week, taking simple game results one step further to analyze what the wins and losses mean to the big picture. The coming week’s top games will also be discussed, to prepare you with all you need to know.

And yes, we want you to be involved, too.

Each week the Journal will select three top athletes from football and soccer, with your help. Tweet to @PJSports with the hashtag “#PJTop3,” or email PJSports@poughkeepsiejournal.com to nominate athletes, and include your reasons for nominating. Your nominations may even be published with the column.

Each column will be written by the Journal Sports staff, with insight gained through conversations with coaches, athletes and fans, as well as watching live games.

While “Sideline Talk” is going away from its usual place in the Journal, where it’s never missed its weekly Friday appearance, it certainly isn’t going away altogether.

The Journal will continue to provide insightful local and national sports commentary whenever the opportunity arises, just as it currently does.

Besides, from time to time, we got a few right. On July 23, 2010, Dan Pietrafesa reported on John Jay High School graduate Joe Panik’s big league potential from the Cape Cod League. On Nov. 9, 2012, before Sydney Coffey played a collegiate game, I told you she had the chance to be one of the Marist women’s basketball all-time greats. Now one’s a San Francisco Giant, and the other is a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament Most Valuable Player.

In fact, after being so monumentally wrong in that first column on Nov. 20, 2009, it’s all been uphill. How could it get any worse?

But now, we turn the page. Be here next Friday for the inaugural trip to the “Soccer Corner,” and come back Sept. 8 to join the “Football Huddle.”

This time, we know we’re getting it right.

Sideline Talk, written by Poughkeepsie Journal sports writers, has discussed local and national issues for the last 249 Fridays. Mike Benischek: mbenisch@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-437-4722, Twitter: @BenischekPJ