THE Bradford & District Evening League has a new sponsor, it was announced at the league’s pre-season meeting at Undercliffe Cricket Club.

It is Leeds-based GL Langton Ltd, a fabricated metal producer, whose director Graham Langton is also the league’s vice-chairman and disciplinary officer.

The league have, like pretty much every other league in the area, postponed their first week’s fixtures due to wet weather, moving the Division One games from Wednesday, May 1 to Wednesday, August 7 - the week after the league fixtures should have finished.

Both divisions will now start on Wednesday, May 8.

Although Shelf Northowram Hedge Top, Bradshaw and Drighlington have dropped out since the end of last season, they have been replaced by the Adil Rashid Academy, Great Horton Park Chapel and Undercliffe, meaning that Division One will now have eight teams and Division Two six as compared to seven and seven in 2023.

The Division Two programme will finish on Wednesday, July 10.

Meanwhile, Undercliffe have agreed to stage the finals day on August Bank Holiday Monday (August 26).

The league have decided to trial match cards this season.

League chairman Brian Lymbery said: “It is disappointing that five clubs have missed the pre-season meeting, but weather permitting we hope that you all have an enjoyable but competitive season.”