RELEGATED six times since the start of the 1990s and promoted five times, it is fair to say that Undercliffe are a yo-yo club in the All Rounder Cricket Bradford Premier League.

But the task facing skipper Michael Kelsey now is to add another promotion to their ledger.

They are handily placed in Championship A Division with 94 points, 16 behind leaders Batley with a game in hand, with Yeadon and Hunslet Nelson – who, like Undercliffe, have played seven matches – third and fourth on 83 and 82 respectively.

Kelsey said: "We have made six changes to our starting 11 since we were relegated last season but we have kept our off-spinner Amir Hussain.

"We have signed an experienced trio in wicketkeeper Johnny Barton, formerly of Bankfoot, Jonathan Hughes, who we brought in from Carlton, and Craig Wiseman, who joined us from Pudsey St Lawrence.

"In addition, we have also signed Jack Rich from Wrenthorpe, who is a left-arm spinner.

"We also have a crop of youngsters who are headed by Toby Thorpe, who we signed from Scholes. I heard nothing but good things about him from other people before he joined us and, having seen him, he is a quality cricketer."

Undercliffe, who won what was the First Division in 1986 and 1997, were relegated in 1991, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2012 and 2015 but promoted in 1993, 1995, 2000, 2009 and 2014.

So how does Kelsey think that this up-and-down existence can be halted in a positive fashion?

He said: "If we do go up this season, we have enough about us as a side to do well in the Premier Division – but we have a massive game a week tomorrow at home to Batley."

Of course, this is the first season of the merged leagues (Bradford League and Central Yorkshire League), but Kelsey was feeling a bit confused three matches in.

"Our opening matches were against Hunslet Nelson, Birstall and Ossett, who had all just joined the league, and it didn't feel like we were playing in the Bradford League," he said.

"But the new set-up is good. We have travelled to some really nice grounds and met some good lads and it can only do the league good overall to have that strength in depth, as Championship A and B Division are a good standard too."

It is Batley's free week tomorrow, while Undercliffe are at Liversedge, Yeadon travel to Keighley and Hunslet Nelson host Baildon.

There is little doubt as to the best fixture in Championship B Division as leaders Townville are at second-placed Wrenthorpe.

Top match in the Premier Division is the meeting of third-placed Farsley and Woodlands, who are fourth, at Red Lane, while runaway leaders Pudsey St Lawrence host third-bottom Morley.