SALTAIRE, who won Aire-Wharfe League Division One by 39 points last season, can expect a rougher ride this campaign, which starts tomorrow (April 16).

The Roberts Park club have lost Danish Hussain to Undercliffe and will be without Ali Ahmed for most of the season as he is studying in London.

However, they have signed his brother, Abdi, from Harrogate and have a new skipper in Sajad Ali, who has replaced Usman Munir.

Tong Park Esholt, who just missed out on promotion from Division Two, have signed five players - Lee Gordon, Mahir Ali and youngsters Joe Wallace, Abs Zubair and Toby Wheelhouse.

However, Imran Patel has left and Adi Taylor has stood down as first-XI keeper.

Calverley, promoted alongside them, have Lachlan Cork as their overseas player, but Vinnay Toor has left them for New Rover, who won Division Two in 2021.

Thackley, who were third in Division Three last season, 19 points behind Calverley, have been busy in the off-season, and now have a digital scorebox, push-on covers and have renovated their clubhouse interior.

Bolton Villas, who were seventh in Division Three, have retained Mahboob ‘Booby’ Hussain as skipper, who replaced Ollie Musgrove halfway through last season.

The latter has now gone to Ben Rhydding, with Ehsen Tanvir joining Windhill Daisy Hill, but vice-captain is the returning Joe Lawrence, who will keep wicket.

Top-order bat and off-spinner Hazrat Bilal Khan, a student at Leeds University, is Villas’ overseas player and hails from the Abbottabad region of Pakistan.

It has also been an energetic close season for Villas, who, via the expertise of Martin Binns, have refurbished their showers and changing-room toilets.

Meanwhile, the clubhouse has a rejigged bar area and digital sound system.

There is also a new umpires’ room.