THE Leeds League season gets underway on Saturday with a number of clubs embarking on their final season in the league.

It has been a turbulent winter for the Leeds League with seven clubs accepted into the new Airedale and Wharfedale League Third Division for the year 2000, among them local clubs Pool, Pool Mills and Otley Town.

Newly promoted Pool, who were unbeaten in Division Two last season, will hope to make their mark in the top flight before moving on.

Skipper Richard Carlton said: 'It will be a lot tougher than last season as we will face competitive games week in week out and I don't think anyone will run away with it.

'With it being our last season in the league we would obviously like to do well so we will be looking to enjoy ourselves by upsetting a few established teams.'

Pool will be without last season's overseas player Travis Rowe and do not yet know if their prolific 20 years-old batsman Paul Henry will be back from Australia.

The club have however signed a new overseas player in Kiwi all-rounder David Tidworth while the much travelled pace bowler Bruce Robertson joins the club.

Bruce has played for Yeadon, Bowling Old Lane and Crompark among others.

Also promoted to the top flight are Otley Town. Newcomers to the league are Ben Rhydding who have left the Bradford League after a number of unsuccessful seasons.

Ben Rhydding are looking forward to a new challenge.

l Pictured right Nat West Bank manager Janice Heslop gives the club a boost with a sponsorship cheque for £500. She is handing it to Chairman Charlie Jones and treasurer Steve Rae.

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