Craven and District League 2004 preview

As the new 2004 season approaches, the league has suffered the loss of two teams in recent weeks.

Long Lee CC decided to disband and withdraw their third eleven a few weeks ago. However the league was dismayed to hear at Monday night's committee meeting that the once great Jimmy Nelson's were also withdrawing.

The latter have been members for 60 years and in the fifties and sixties their facilities were second to none.

Their groundsmen were employed by James Nelson's Mills and were always regarded as immaculate. In addition to cricket they had a football team as well as bowls and tennis sides.

In the fifties both their sides were virtually unbeatable as they won title after title, and until recently, they were the only side to have held all four trophies in one season.

The 2004 season starts on Saturday with a new format.

There are now five divisions by virtue of six new clubs joining this year.

They are Haworth Road Meths, Sandy Lane, Wilsden, Bingley Congs, Crossflatts and Riddlesden. The Pheonix Trophies Division Three will be very interesting with some first teams battling against the top six second teams from last season. Pick of the fixtures for the first Saturday sees Champions Embsay at newly promoted Foulridge, runners-up Oakworth at Long Lee and the other promoted side Sutton at Haworth.

In the second division Haworth Road make the journey to Pendle Forest and relegated Denholme entertain Glusburn. Third Division champions Oakworth entertain Riddlesden.

Embsay have been invited to enter the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions Trophy and they have been drawn at home to Aire-Wharfe champions Bilton. The game is scheduled to take place at Shires Lane on Sunday, May 2 with a 1-30pm start.

April 17 Fixtures:

Division One: Thornton v Bradley, Cowling v Cullingworth, Long Lee v Oakworth, Haworth v Sutton, Foulridge v Embsay, Barrowford v Haworth WE.

Division Two: Airedale v Chatburn, Bingley Congs v Cononley, Denholme v Glusburn, Ingrow St John's v Ingrow, Pendle Forest v Haworth Road, Wilsden v Skipton CI

Division Three: Crossflatts v Thornton II, Carleton v Cowling II, Oakworth II v Riddlesden, Gargrave v Ingrow St John's II, Sandy Lane v Barrowford, Embsay II - free week.

Division Four: Bradley II v Airedale II, Cullingworth II v Bingley Congs II, Glusburn II v Long Lee II, Ingrow II v Haworth II, Haworth Road II v Pendle Forest II, Skipton CI II v Wilsden II

Division Five: Chatburn II v Crossflatts II, Riddlesden II v Denholme II, Sutton II v Gargrave II, Pendle Forest III v Foulridge II, Keighley TC v Sandy Lane II, Cononley II - free week