Bradford & Bingley have been admitted as new members of the Upper Airedale Junior Cricket League (UAJCL), while Bolton Abbey have been re-admitted after a year’s absence.

And, continuing the league’s onward and upward trend, there will provisionally be 25 clubs taking part in 2010 (an increase of two) and 81 teams (seven up on 2009).

In the south of the patch, both Wilsden and Cullingworth have new teams in addition to the entry from Bradford & Bingley.

In the Keighley area, Ingrow will be offering more places for a second successive year, while in south Craven, Glusburn and Bradley will provide increased opportunities.

Skipton and Bolton Abbey plan more teams in the Dales while, across the border, Pendle Forest continue their impressive rise.

Entries will be finalised at the league’s March 4 meeting, when full registration details will be required.

League secretary Derek Hurren said that 418 fixtures were played in the league in 2009 - more than double the figure from 2001 and the second-highest ever, despite a third summer of persistent downpours.

Fixtures secretary Terry Thompson said 94 matches had been abandoned due to rain, with only 19 being replayed.

The worst hit was the normally dry Haworth West End, and league chairman Rummy Smith hoped for better weather this year.

And league treasurer David Allen reported a return to profit after last year’s exceptional expenditure on trophies and PA equipment.

Chris Kimberley of Skipton was confirmed as the league’s new under-12 ‘Test’ team manager, and his track record at Skipton in recent years gives confidence that he can continue the excellent results of the last two years.

There were a number of rule revisions adopted. Many related to formal uptake of the ECB Play-Cricket computer system, which was trialled in 2009.

Clubs with two teams in the same age-group will henceforth be required to keep their playing squads entirely separate.

Under-11 matches where only nine players are present will have new rules governing final-pair selection.

The two Grand Cup Final days will be hosted in 2010 by Silsden (July 4) and, for the first time, Oxenhope (July 18).

Team managers for the Lord’s Taverners and Joe Lumb Competition will be seeking nominations from clubs for the coming season, and a pro-forma is to be made available to all club representatives and managers.

Keighley’s Richard Robinson, one of the Bradford League’s best-ever players, will coach the under-17 squad, and the players will be encouraged to opt for representative matches when there is a club v representative conflict.