It's going to be a long Bradford League season according to the fixtures which are published today.

The season starts on Saturday, April 15, the week before Easter which is late this year, and ends on Saturday, September 16.

The decision at the annual meeting in November to admit a new club, Gomersal from the Central Yorkshire League, and to retain the two clubs who applied for re-election, Salts and Esholt, has given an odd number of clubs in the Second Division.

This means that one club has a vacant date every week, which is an unsatisfactory situation.

The election of extra clubs has also increased the number of Sunday fixtures for Division Two clubs.

There are six double weekends in the Second Division and two in the First Division.

Gomersal start life in the league with a home match against one of last season's relegated clubs, Undercliffe.

Of the other two relegated clubs, Bankfoot are away to last season's bottom team Salts, while Spen Victoria have an open date.

Second Division champions Yeadon have a tough start in the First Division with an away match against last season's runners-up Baildon.

Of the other promoted clubs, Drighlington face a stern test at Pudsey Congs while Lidget Green have an equally tough match at home to Priestley Cup holders East Bierley.

Top match of the opening day is at Hanging Heaton where the defending champions play Pudsey St Lawrence.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.