Club by club Airedale and Wharfedale League preview

Club prospects for the season are:

Division A

ADEL - Last year's overseas player, Chris Seisun, will not be returning. But the club has recruited the services of a 21-year-old, Brett Aldons. He is a top order batsman. Apart from this arrival there is very little other movement. No player is leaving the club but Richard Ewen, a slow left-armer, has joined from Cookridge. Simon Saxton is returning to the club from Otley and Richard Mousley returns after a two-year absence. The club also hopes to make a couple of other signings before the start of the season.

BECKWITHSHAW - The club reports that Jimmy Barns will join the club from Pannal, as will Rob McIntyre, while Simon Barker joins from Darley. Finally, John McDonald joins from Hull and the club's overseas player will be Matt Schmidt. Keith Hewson has left the club and Ryan Bradshaw has moved to Harrogate.

BILTON - The club reports that Robert Light, formerly of Pateley Bridge and Saltaire, has joined the club. Simon Taylor has been recruited from Staveley to open the bowling. Stephen Moore, from Collingham, will keep wicket in the First XI with Nigel Thompson keeping in the Second XI. Stuart Hudson (to Steeton) and Chris Leathley (to Methley) have left the club. The club has built a large extension to the clubhouse, and this will be fully operational by the start of the season.

BURLEY - The club will start its new season in Division 'A' with the same personnel that achieved promotion last year. The emergence of some talented Juniors will provide competition for places in all three senior teams and the policy of encouraging the juniors will be maintained. The club continue to have the services of Duncan Hurd who, in addition to playing, will take an active role in coaching. The club captains are unchanged, namely Richard Brook (First XI), Mark Dearden (Second XI) and Simon Richmond (Third XI). The club will also continue work to improve its facilities.

CALVERLEY - The club will have the services of Matthew Brooks from Queensland, an opening bowler and middle-order batsman. The First XI is to be led by Andy Carroll and the Second XI by Graham Grinstead.

Guiseley - The club has lost Mark Ross to Farsley CC but three new players have joined the club. Neil Allitt and Craig Chaplin both join from Horsforth and Barry McCormick moves from Alwoodley. One of the brightest young prospects around, Joe Sayers, will again figure prominently and the club hopes that prolific Glen Taylor will again be available after a serious injury last year. Andrew Paley and Nick Fraser continue to lead the First and Second XIs respectively.

HALL PARK - Andrew Doidge has moved to Farsley and Paul Huddlestone to East Bierley. Daniel Rueben, a wicket-keeper from New Rover, has joined and the club's overseas player will be Kenrick Marshall, from Barbados. Neil Cowgill will again be available in1999.

KNARESBOROUGH - There are few changes in personnel for the forthcoming season. Mike Stanford has returned to the Durham Senior League and Steven Walmsley has gone back to his first club, Dacre Banks. Last year's overseas player Brett Lunt is not available this year. At the moment, only one of these players has been replaced. It is anticipated that Damien Mealey, who was the club's overseas player in 1997, will be returning to that role in 1999. Steven Booth, Gareth Whiles and Chris Page continue as captains of the First, Second and Third XIs respectively. It is hopes tha there will be some renovation of the front of the scorebox before the season begins. This will include improved operation of the numbers and a slot to indicate the 75 per cent figure.

NORTH LEEDS - Two new recruits have been made for the coming season. Ben Mahoney, a left-arm quick opening bowler, and Glen Broughill from Alwoodley CC. He is expected to bolster the batting and add variety to the bowling attack. Two players have left the area, Steve West and Andy Ward while Paul Phillips and Nick Copley have indicated that they will not be available for selection this year. Dave Winter continues to captain the First XI and Peter Grady steps up to lead the Second XI. Armi Kundi again takes charge of the double-winning Third XI. Finally, it remains North Leeds policy to promote junior players to the senior XIs whenever possible.

Rawdon - The club report several changes in personnel for the coming season as both teams once again look to challenge for league and cup honours. Bruce Percy and Gary Walker will lead the First and Second XIs. Wicket-keeper Mark Pearson has retired to concentrate on his golf, Andy Bastow has moved out of the area but the club will mostly feel the loss of Darren Murray, who has moved to Yeadon. Chris Brown will be available again and Peter Smith, Gareth Proctor and John Statham all join from Horsforth. Ian Vinall has joined from Parkhead in the Yorkshire and Derbyshire League. David Wigley has moved from Ilkley and Allan Hall, a batter, moves from Yorkshire Bank. Finally, the club will be entering the League's Third XI competition in 1999, under the leadership of David Chapman. The purpose of this XI will be exclusively to develop the club's junior talent and prepare them for senior cricket.

Silsden - John Akrigg will again lead the First XI. The club have signed Shane Collins, an early order batter from Melbourne. David Short joins from Steeton but the rest of the squad is as last year's promotion-winning outfit, with the exception of Bruce Walker, who has left the club. The second XI will be led by Paul Tatterton and they will be looking to return to Division 'A' after relegation last year.

STEETON - Stuart Hudson returns to the club from Bilton and Alex Howarth joins from Upper Wharfedale CC. David Short has moved up the road to Silsden and Adrian Greenwood has left to join Carleton in the Craven League. Matthew Pinniger will return as the club's overseas player. Andrew Smith will lead the First XI with Robert Wynn as his deputy.

Division B

Addingham - Keith Wilkinson takes over as captain of the First XI. The ex-Worcester County player who captained Old Hill CC in the Birmingham League, will provide the side with the benefit of his vast experience. Also joining is Keith's son Matthew, who, at 19, shows high potential having played Worcester Second XI standard last season. Also joining is James Yeadon, a young fast bowler, and Craig Turner will return as the club's overseas player. Brad King returns after his university spell and Darren Jayes has left the club to re-join Ilkley CC.

ALWOODLEY - The club will be led by Paul Mercer this year and will look to former Caribbean players Garfield Yearwood and Simon Flowers to bring some experience to a young side. This year's overseas player is Troy Webster, who has played for Queensland Under-19s. The return of Ben Green from university will add some competition for places in the batting line-up and, after a winter in Australia David Watson should feature in the first XI this season.

COLLINGHAM AND LINTON - The club have the services of Craig Marshall, an all-rounder. Steven Moore, last year's Second XI 'keeper, has left to go to Bilton. Tony Bowry, Steve McLellan and Paul Cross all join the club. The Second XI will be led by Phil James, with Steve Marshall as First XI captain. Finally, the prolific David Holmes is available for the whole season.

FOLLIFOOT - The club report two changes for the coming season. The overseas player will be a South African, Michael Brendonkamp. He has been recommended by Victor Patrick, who was the club's overseas player in 1997. Paul Miller, a top-order batter, joins from Baildon. Paul Whitehead also joins the club. He was formerly with Beckwithshaw, but has not played for a season or two. The club also expects to lose a couple of players before the season starts. Paul Angove will lead the First XI and Simon Clark will be Second XI captain.

GREEN LANE - The club has signed several new players for the coming season. Garfield Williams (from Horsforth), Russell Beal (a wicket-keeper/batsman from Gildersome) and Ian Webster ( a middle-order batter from Saltaire) have all moved to Nunroyd Park. In addition, a new First XI captain is announced in Tony Pickersgill, who has moved from Central Lancashire League. The club is also pleased to announce that both Stuart and Steven Hargreaves are available for selection in 1999.

HORSFORTH - Several players have left the club. Gareth Proctor, John Statham and Peter Smith have all moved to Rawdon, Neil Allitt and Craig Chaplin transfer to Guiseley and Garfield Williams has returned to Green Lane. The club's overseas player will be Nishan Gonsalcorale, a batsman from New Zealand. The club will rely heavily on youth players for the coming season.

ILKLEY - Darren Jayes has re-joined the club from Addingham and Jonathan Hughes has re-joined from Yorkshire Bank. On the debit side David Wigley has moved to Rawdon.

ILLINGWORTH - Sam Smith is the new captain of the First XI with Richard Dixon as his deputy. Ben Johnson will be the club's overseas player for 1999. He hails from Perth, Western Australia. He is a left-handed opening bat from the same club as his predecessors, Corey Whisson and Mark Walsh. Apart from that, the club has the same players as last year, with the probable addition of Dale Priestley. The main rooms in the pavilion have been re-decorated and new window frames installed upstairs.

MENSTON - The club has little to report in terms of playing staff changes for 1999 with no new faces or departures. The First XI will be captained by all-rounder Richard Taylor, who replaces the previous captain, David Lester. The Second XI will be led by Richard Galling.

OTLEY - Andrew Mitchell will captain the First XI in 1999 with Matthew O'Grady his deputy. Steven Wood leads the Second XI. All-rounder James Prendergast, from Melbourne, will be the club's overseas player. Also joining are Andrew Magginson, from Whitby, and Gerald Kirby, from Ben Rhydding. Graham Dobson has left the club to join Idle and Raichard Machell has returned to Yeadon. The club hopes to see further improvement from the juniors. It is hoped that two or three will push for regular senior places.

SKIPTON - The club's main signing and one of the most exciting in the League is that of Chris Gott, who takes over as First XI captain. Brian Hodgson returns from Embsay and he will lead the Second XI. Shabir Hussein will be his deputy. Andrew Facey also returns to the club from Gargrave. Gareth Lee has left the club and the league to play with New Farnley in the Central Yorkshire League. Andy Roberts will also not be available due to work commitments. Finally, John Christie has finally retired and is now looking to don the umpire's coat.

TONG PARK - The club expects work to continue to improve road access to the ground and the club now has its own web site at http://www.tongpark.co.uk. Details of the club's history, fixtures and match results can be found there. On the playing front, New Zealander Shane Battock joins as the overseas player and he will lead the First XI with Chris Shepherd as his deputy. Dave Whitwham will lead the Second XI. The club again has a young side, with all except Shane Battock coming through the club's junior ranks.

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