UNCERTAINTY and optimism are usually bedfellows when a new sporting season dawns and the resumption of Craven & District Football League action next week faithfully observes that tradition.

While some clubs look ahead with keen anticipation, others are struggling for players and unsure of how they will line-up with many players changing allegiance during the summer.

Even mighty Skipton Bulldogs, the most successful team in the league for many a long day, have not been immune to the fickle finger of footballing fate so far as player movement is concerned and they are also facing a minor crisis as another season dawns.

Unless the apparent exodus of players which has beset the club is reversed, finding a team of Premiership calibre may prove a headache. Finding a team capable of winning the title once again looks to be pie in the sky at this stage.

"This has happened once before," says stalwart Brian Rudden. "At one point in the Eighties, after another very good season, we suffered an unexpected loss of players and really had our work cut out to keep going.

"This season looks like being the same, with only a small nucleus of players remaining from last season's team."

Carleton have also been severely hit and they may have to drop a team this season, unless they can persuade new players to join them.

At present they have barely enough players to raise one team, which is sad for a club who were once a major force in Craven Football and wider circles.

That said, at this stage of the season, done deals often lack permanence and, as ever, much will depend on how things pan out in the early weeks of a new season for players who have elected to change.

Not every switch will bring instant success and some players may find themselves making the return trip to their former clubs in due course.

New additions to the League are Chatburn, who will contest Division Two, and Waddington Reserves, who have entered a second team for the first time, while it is pleasing that Keighley Lifts and Gargrave have revived their reserve sides.

League matches start on Tuesday (August 27), with the John Hindle Memorial Trophy match taking place at Cowling of Friday (August 30) between the Silentnight Premier Division Champions, Skipton Bulldogs, and Premier Division Cup Winners Oxenhope Recreation. All proceeds go to charity and last year the match raised £200.

The recent article appealing for referees again fell on stony ground, with a nil response, although two additional officials have come onto the list to bring numbers up to 19.

For the first time for many years, the League has no sponsor, although there are irons in the fire to attract one. However, the League Cup competitions are still sponsored by Devonshire Carpets of Keighley.

Fixtures:

Tuesday (Aug 27): Division One - Cowling v Oxenhope Rec Res.

Wednesday (Aug 28): Division Three - Earby T v Cononley Sp Res, Gargrave Res v Bradley Res, Hellifield Sp Res v Grassington Un Res, Waddington Res v Cowling Res.

Thursday (Aug 29): Division Two - Grindleton Res v Silsden Ath, Intake Res v Gargrave, Keighley Lifts Res v Cross Hills Res, McBrides v Ingleton, Skipton Bulldogs Res v Chatburn, Skipton LMS Res v Barrowford Un.

Friday (Aug 30): John Hindle Memorial Trophy at Cowling FC - Oxenhope Rec v Skipton Bulldogs.

West Riding County FA Challenge Cup:

Round One: Burley Trojans v Barnoldswick United, Marsden v Grindleton, Shelf United v Kelbrook, Bracked Hall v Skipton Bulldogs, Kirk Deighton Rovers v Skipton LMS, Keighley Lifts v Keighley Phoenix, Northowram v Bronte Wanderers.