Bolton Villas have signed four players and invested £10,000 in a practice area in preparation for their first season in the new Aire-Wharfe Third Division.

The Bradford-based club decided to leave the Bradford Central League, and make their Aire-Wharfe debut on Saturday.

New players include: batsmen Chris Hizzett from Undercliffe, who scored 1,000 runs in the Bradford League's second teams competition two years ago; former Undercliffe and Windhill player Andrew Bottomley, Paul Cavender from Thackley and former Bingley Congs and Idle Upper Chapel all-rounder Paul Topham, who joins his brother Barrie at the club.

Steve Wilson will captain the first team and Martin Binns will lead the second team.

Secretary Martin Molyneux said: "We feel that the experience of Bradford League cricket of Chris Hizzett and Andrew Bottomley and, in particular, the 50-overs-a-side game will prove of great benefit to the team.

"Confidence is high throughout the club, pre-season nets have been well attended and their is a real buzz about the place as we enter a new and exciting phase in our history."

The club have received grants from the Millennium Sports for All awards scheme and the Bradford Council's North Area Panel to finance the new practice area, along with funds from members, friends, sponsors and money-raising events.

Steve Wilson has overseen the project and, as well as helping senior players, the club hope the new facility will boost their thriving junior section and enable them to develop further links with local schools in the North Bradford and Shipley area.

Thackley - the other club to leave the Bradford Central League for the expanded Aire-Wharfe League - welcome back Mick Kettlewell, the son of their secretary from Old Crossleyans in the Halifax League, and Tony Smith, who formerly played with Guiseley and Crossflatts.

Bowling Old Lane player Geoff Hanson has been handed a grant for £3,800 to revive cricket in West Bowling.

In a scheme targeted at eight to 14-year-olds, the money will provide equipment and qualified coaching in schools in a bid to spark renewed interest in the sport.

The cash injection into Hanson's 'Cricket in the Community' project has been provided by the Age Concern Millennium Awards

He said it was important to improve the game at a junior level. "Cricket is getting so far behind other sports because they don't teach it in schools, so the idea is to get people interested at a young age.

"Rugby and football both have youth development workers in Bradford, but as far as I'm aware we don't have one for cricket.

"I will be meeting with the West Bowling Youth Initiative to decide how the money will be distributed, but we are hoping to launch the scheme as soon as possible.

"As well as going into schools we will be holding events at Parkside Sports Centre as part of the course, which I hope to run for about 20-30 weeks this summer."

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