Bradford Union captain Tim Wade believes the forthcoming campaign represents the best chance to win back-to-back titles for the first time during his 17-year reign.

Last year’s Yorkshire Inter-District League success, which came with a final-day victory in a winner-takes-all clash with defending champions East Riding, came ahead of schedule.

A year on, the squad looks even better on paper and sees Wade – a veteran of more than 130 league matches as skipper – in confident mood.

“This squad is as strong as we’ve had for a long, long time,” he said.

The last time Bradford lifted the league trophy in 2006, several key players dropped out of the squad the following year. But Wade expects to keep the same core this time round and strengthen his resources further.

With Northcliffe’s Rob Hillas regaining his amateur status and Darryl Berry back in the fray, Bradford have a wealth of experience. Fellow ex-professionals Peter Fenton, Terry Brushwood and Andy Town are also in the ranks.

Added to that mix are a number of talented youngsters who have become well acclimatised to senior inter-district golf over the last few years.

They include Nigel Colbeck and Matthew Atter, who won all his six singles matches in last year’s title success, while Yorkshire under-16 champion William Whiteoak is hoping to make the step up.

“I’m a lot more confident this year than last as we have a stronger squad, so in theory it should work out for us,” said Wade.

“But you can never tell. All it takes is to have a bad foursomes session or bad weather and you can slip up.”

Bradford face an extra trip on the road this year with games at York (Heworth), Teesside (Cleveland), Leeds (Horsforth) and Harrogate (Knaresborough).

But South Bradford member Wade believes this should not represent too much difficulty, saying: “We are familiar with the courses, other than Heworth, and we only have one long trip to Redcar when we play Teesside.”

Bradford kick-off their campaign against Halifax/Huddersfield at Shipley on Sunday. Their other home games are against Sheffield (at Bingley St Ives) and East Riding (at Skipton). Wade thinks Sheffield could be the main rivals to their crown.

“They have a lot of young lads,” said the skipper, who was a member at the now-defunct West Bowling Golf Club for 50 years, featuring in each of their five Yorkshire title successes during the 1970s and early 1980s.

“We always set Sheffield as being our marker, though I think others are starting to see Bradford as their marker.”

Former Yorkshire and England skipper Cec Bloice was appointed vice-captain last season and his contribution earned high praise from Wade.

The 67-year-old said: “Cec is vastly experienced and his input has been absolutely fabulous. We’ve been mates for 30-odd years and know how each other work.”

Together, the pair have drilled home the need to prepare correctly for matches and the importance of having the right attitude on match days.

Wade said: “Cec and I have been there, seen it, done it and got the t-shirt. We know all the excuses, so players shouldn’t come up with them.”

Bloice has initiated new coaching sessions for the team with former Bradford and England player Gareth Evans, who is now a professional at Diamond Golf Studio, based at Crow Nest Golf Club.

“The Bradford Union have provided junior coaching and some have gone on to Yorkshire coaching but this is new for us,” said Wade.

“It also acted as a good bonding exercise, with players competing against each other at the various skills and disciplines.

“The first one went very well and all the lads were keen to come back again. Even if they learn just one thing in four hours, they will remember it.”

Apart from a break between 2000 and 2004, Wade has held the Bradford captaincy since 1990 and his passion for the role still burns bright.

He said: “I am just as keen as ever. To see some of the lads go on to play for Yorkshire and England makes it all worthwhile.”

Wade was part of the successful Bradford side that played in the 1960s, when districts used to just play friendlies against each other before the Yorkshire League was set up.

“We had a team in which you could put any player in position one to position 12, we were so strong,” he recalled.

It remains to be seen whether the current squad can match up to that standard but Wade believes they could give some county sides a run for their money.

Having won the league title in 1996 as well as in 2006, Wade has also led Bradford to the six-man team championship (two-round medal competition) four times, the last triumph coming in 2007.

He would dearly love to win them both in the same year and is hoping the time is right for him to do it.

Bradford Union team (v Halifax/Huddersfield, at Shipley): Matthew Atter (Bradford), Dane Bairstow (Bingley St Ives), Darryl Berry (Bingley St Ives), Terry Brushwood (Bingley St Ives), Nigel Colbeck (Cleckheaton), Mark Evans (Hollins Hall), Peter Fenton (Cleckheaton), James Firth (Baildon), Andy Fitzpatrick (Keighley), Chris Howe (Hollins Hall), Matt Roche (Baildon), Andy Town (Bingley St Ives). Reserve: Jamie Mountain (Hollins Hall).