A preview of the Airedale and Wharfedale Cricket League season

A number of clubs took advantage of Saturday's Nat West Cricket Force to spruce up their grounds for the start of the new campaign.

Guiseley and Rawdon will be looking to establish themselves back in Division A following their promotion.

David Pennett will continue to lead the Guiseley team and welcomes three new players. The overseas player, Dean Russ, is a top order bat from Melbourne while young all-rounder John Ormesher joins from Harrogate and Luke Stockham follows in his uncle Nigel Topham's footsteps as a Guiseley player. He looks an excellent middle order bat and more than useful medium quick bowler. Unfortunately they will be without Joe Davies who, after a successful winter in Australia, has decided to remain in view of the prospect of playing A Grade next year.

Rawdon will be looking to mount a serious challenge and to this end several new signings have been made to strengthen the side. All-rounder Andrew Doidge joins from Pudsey St Lawrence. Batsman Steve Simpson and wicketkeeper / batsman Matthew Green join from Farsley. Steven Duckworth, a fast bowler from Australia will be the overseas player. Stewart Smith will continue as captain.

Matthew Longley takes over as second team captain. His side will be strengthened by the return to second team ranks of Duncan Stow and John Hughes. Mix this with the promising younger players who started to make their mark in 2007 and the club looks forward to an exciting season. Ian Vinall stands down as captain but will continue as a player.

Burley CC look forward to the 2008 season with much optimism. After securing the Burmah Oil Trophy last season they are hopeful of another successful year and once again look to its band of home grown players to make their mark. Only last year's overseas player has left so playing strength remains unchanged with a large number of young players pushing for first X1 selection.

This season's pro will be 21 year-old Jason Wright, an all-rounder from Tasmania. He comes highly recommended from the club's links with Clarence CC in Hobart (Duncan Hurd, Ben Harris and Grant Costello).

Former skipper David Cooper has been installed as the club's first ever Club Coach. David will work with both senior and junior players as well as organise the club's coaching structure.

Further works to the interior of the club continue to prove Burley's ethos of building a sound future for cricket in the village.

With the departure of Barry McCormick, David Whittaker takes charge of Green Lane this year. The club has called on the services of Indian Vivek Mahajan. He had a great season last year, considering the weather, to scoring over 900 runs. A new face from Sandy Lane is Istikhar Hussain who will strengthen the bowling.

ADEL will seek to improve in 2008 but the loss of club captain Tim Grey to the Bradford League leaves a vacancy which Nick Sweetman has offered to fulfill. Andrew MacCammond returns for another season having just finished a winning season in the Victorian Premier League.

The new season at Otley sees all-rounder James Davies taking over as first XI captain. Joining his squad are two members of last year's successful White Rose team, Alex Bailey and Andrew Rhodes from Ilkley. Another former Ilkley player Anthony Giles has also signed along with Paul Wilkinson from Pool. The club's overseas player will be left arm bowler Adam Vale from Melbourne. The only notable departure is Paul Ridgway who has returned to Settle. Matthew O'Grady takes charge of the second XI.

After two successful seasons in Division A POOL are looking forward to defending their Waddilove Cup crown and improving on their consecutive fourth place finishes. James Ward takes over the captaincy from David Singleton. Kervon Christmas from the West Indies will replace the successful Atiba Allert as overseas player. Other signings include three 20 year-olds in: Scott Bent from Baildon, Adam Fox from Wrenthorpe and Sam Wilkinson from Guiseley. It is hoped that these talented young players will form an exciting blend with the experience already present at the club.

This season sees the implementation of a new junior coaching set up. Five level 2 coaches will combine with the team managers and junior coaching co-ordinator to provide a structured, high quality coaching environment for all junior members. A cricket week will be held for the first time starting on July 21. Off the field, this season will see the changing room extension completed along with a new glass balcony to the front of the clubhouse.

Beckwithshaw have a new overseas player in Alex Malcolm, who joins from the Subiaco-Floreat Club in Perth, Australia. The 22 year-old opening batsman and first change seam bowler will be looking to carry on the good work of his Subiaco teammates. The team will again be captained by wicketkeeper/batsman Charlie Lister.

Visitors to BILTON CC will see quite a change with work on the new nets which should be fully up and operational by the end of May. The overseas player is Cranbourne all-rounder Shane Murdoch from Melbourne. Also welcomed are Jamie Stockton from Garforth Parish Church CC and Karl Jankowicz from Newby Hall. They welcome back Andy Walker as well as Miles Corish.

Tim Hollis will again lead the COLLINGHAM first team as they set out to defend the title. There have been some changes with Eugene Burzler moving on to try his luck with Methley in the Central Yorkshire League. Matthew Cooke has announced his retirement. Toby Jacklin returns from a winter playing cricket in Australia while the club also hope to have his brother Ben available. The club has also engaged overseas batsman Simon Stolcman who has spent the two previous summers playing in Yorkshire.

The undulating outfield has been levelled and will hopefully become an excellent surface. The old scoreboard will be replaced with a new electronic version.

As Kirkstall Educational attempt to reclaim the A division championship Andrew Siddall has stepped down as first XI captain and has been replaced by the experienced Stuart Hudson who hopes that Andrew, free from the pressures of captaincy, will have a very successful season with both bat and ball. Due to work commitments, they will be without the services of both Mark Hodgson and last season's overseas player Alex Chapman. Stuart Cope has joined from Spen Victoria. He is a talented middle order batsman and opening / first change bowler. After 28 consecutive seasons at Kitkstall Jem Audsley has retired and will be sorely missed as will bowler Steve Bedford and wicketkeeper Tom Netwon who have both left the club.

At NORTH LEEDS Farhan Kahn returns after three years in the Bradford League to reinforce the bowling with Tim Cooper rejoining as captain. The emergence of key younger players - Tom Hudson and Tim Jackson particularly - is critical to their success.

DIVISION B At BARDSEY CC Gary Hopton remains as skipper and has put out the call for a big effort in 2008. Steve Hills carries on at the helm of the second XI. While 2007 never saw the team challenging for promotion it did see the development of some juniors into fully fledged senior cricketers - notably Matthew Wells and David Pettinger. They welcome Mitch Brown as overseas player joining from First Grade cricket with South Brisbane. Bilal Qazi joins from Sketty Church CC, Swansea.

Work on the outfield over the winter will help it to dry much faster. Planning for re-development of the clubhouse has also moved on several stages.

As CALVERLEY look forward to the 2008 season they have recruited Basil King and Shahid Bashir both top order batsmen from Esholt CC, Basil becoming captain. Imran Mirza has also joined as wicketkeeper from Bowling Old Lane. Xalverley welcome a young South African fast bowler in Jean Dixon. Last year's captain Paul Valkovics has left the country once again to work on the soccer World Cup in South Africa. The Club are on the way to Club Mark, are taking part in Cricket Force and plans have been submitted for a scorebox near the tennis courts.

COLTON, after a successful 2007, are looking to establish themselves in Division B. The first team will continue to be captained by Martin Stalgis and boosted by overseas player Rohit Ramanathan from Sydney. Paul Horsey has signed from Alwoodley and Richard Brook returns after a season at TABS.

FOLLIFOOT will be looking for a more solid and consistent performance after relegation. They have recruited an Australian as their overseas player. Paul Angove will be Captain. For the first time the club has entered a third XI. Other developments see the provision of two quality practice nets and the planning, enlargement and improvements to the pavilion.

HARDEN CC after comfortably securing Division B status for the 2008 are hoping for more of the same this year with a sprinkling of youth added to the first X1. Phil Leng will be captain assisted by vice-captain Anthony Bairstow. Richard Wear from Spen Victoria and Chris Luxton from Thackley have been signed. The overseas player is Lindsay Scown from North Melbourne. James Riley returns after a couple of years in the Bradford Central League. Chris Spivey, Dave Dawson and Chris Dawson have left the club.

At KNARESBOROUGH CC there is relatively little change in personnel. The new overseas player is a very promising youngster, Dale Tormey, who joins from the same Australian team as last year's overseas player Rhys Adams. Clyde Williams has joined from Bilton and will open the batting with new Captain Adam Pryor. Richard Tattersall has decided to retire and his successor as wicketkeeper will be his son James.

NEW ROVER are honoured to have been chosen for the first time to host the Waddilove Cup final this season. Having managed to finish 8th last year in their first season in Division Two they are hoping to build on that and there are a few new players who have been netting with the club.

OLICANIAN CC first team will be led by Jamie Hudson. The second team captain will be Giles Phillips with new recruit and experienced Roy Broadley captaining thethird team in their first season in league cricket. Ben Rhodes will captain the fourth senior team who will continue to play friendly fixtures.

Plans to extend the pavilion are well advanced and they hope to commence building in the autumn of 2008. They are also at an advanced stage in their application for Club Mark.

The junior section continues to flourish and expand and in 2008 will add an under-8, under -7 and a girls team. There will be in excess of 100 juniors together with 12 qualified junior coaches. Peter Blackwell continues as Director of Junior Cricket together with Dr Nick Driver as Child Welfare Officer.

They have recruited Chris Wheeler (Spen Victoria), Richard Machell (Yeadon) and Andy Bailey (Otley). The overseas player will be Nic Peterson from Richmond CC, Australia. Nic is 21 and is a left-handed early order batsman and occasional spin bowler.

SILSDEN CC have retained all of the squad from last season, including Zeshan Qasim and Yasser Ali. They have also engaged Australian Matt Pinninger as overseas player. Off the field they are still pursuing the possibility of redeveloping the clubhouse and changing rooms in conjunction with the football club.

STEETON CC reached the Waddilove Cup final last year, the second eleven won the A Division championship for the third successive time and the third eleven continued to perform well and under Alex Howarth bring through a crop of young talent. Off the field Steeton gained ClubMark accreditation. Jonathan Best is to replace Gary Boulton as first eleven captain. Steeton have secured the services of Ian Page from South Africa who is a top order batsman and spin bowler.

TONG PARK are determined to continue building on the improvements made in the 2007. Several new players have been at the winter nets. James Druce takes over as first X1 Captain with Phil Hanson as vice-captain. Ian Gilks takes over as second X1 Captain with Lee Burke as his vice captain. Numerous improvements have been made to the ground including a total refurbishment of the scorebox and toilet block.

UPPER WHARFEDALE CC have been very busy at Wood Lane as they prepare for 2008. New Captains and Vice Captains have been elected with James Freebury leading the first XI and Jago Bean the second XI. New faces have also been introduced none bigger than Ollie Uffindall with nearly 5,000 runs and 150 wickets in four years with his previous club. Also joining from the Nidderdale League is left arm spinner Chris Natress. Other introductions to the club include Ben Way from Melbourne who is a 6ft 6ins top order batsman and quick bowler. Off the field the club is developing a structure to accommodate the requirements for Club Mark.

DIVISION C DarrelL Robinson will captain ADDINGHAM first team as Phil Smith has retired. Oliver Dunn, an all- rounder, has joined from Thornton in the Halifax League and Simon Farrand has returned from Olicanians. They are hoping to sign an overseas player. Johnny Taylor, who is at Loughborough University, is going to play at Harrogate but they will have the services of Rick Atkins, James Kelly and Mark Taylor on their return from university in June.

ALWOODLEY will not be having an overseas player. Iain Taylor will captain the first X1. Paul Horsey is trying his luck with Colton. Geoff Weir will continue as skipper of the newly promoted second team. Joel Solts returns from Adel and Tim White is back after a few seasons away.

BEN RHYDDING continue with the development of players coming through the internal structure. There will not be an overseas player. Club facilities have been improved to provide a better vantage point from the clubhouse, complete with new furnishings BOLTON VILLAS welcome back Chris Spivey from Harden. They are hoping to sign an Indian all-rounder but ed tape' is holding up his Visa. Off the field a new double garage means the former garage has been renovated into an extra changing room for umpires.

HALL PARK, following last seasons disappointing relegation into the third tier for the first time, have made a number of new signings including new first XI Captain Amjid Hussain. Anthony Gilks has moved on. The club is sad to report the retirement of stalwart Phil Warburton. The club will make its inaugural appearance in the third XI competition.The dilapidated sight screens are being replaced.

HORSFORTH have appointed Ghulam Rafique as Club Coach instead of an overseas player. The role of club coach is aimed to bring focus on preparation and technical development for both junior and senior players alike. Mark Thomas returns to the fray as first XI skipper. Richard Spry has returned from New Rover as vice-captain, Matthew Bates moves from Bramhope and Lee Bailey joins from Woodhouse. Only Johnny Lindley has moved on, but we will no doubt see a few players. The club is also entering a team in the Whixley League. This will see the return of Thursday evening cricket after a gap of over ten years.

ILKLEY CC sees Nick Cockroft taking the reins from Chris Quaife. Evergreen Graham Storr maintains his grip on the second team and Paul Dawson continues to promote the efforts of the third team. The club has recruited Lee Saddique, former Waddilove Cup Final Player of the Match when at Burley, and Tas Malik from Gargrave, who in addition has additional qualities as a very involved member of the club's coaching team. During the close season three club members successfully undertook coaching qualifications one of whom, Lisa Newton, became the club's first female coach. She will support the strong link the club has with Sacred Heart School.

ILLINGWORTH are aiming for promotion with Richard Farrell-Smith continuing for a second season at the helm. The club have acquired two young signings from the Huddersfield League - Niall Lockley returns from Barkisland and wicket-keeper/batsman Chris Bishop joins from Golcar. Richard Dixon rejoins after five years but the club will miss Mark Fellows who is intending to move abroad. The overseas player is 20 year-old Pieter Venter from Gauteng, South Africa. Pieter helped Stirling County to win the Scottish National League Two last season with his right arm off-break bowling variations.

After a significantly improved showing in 2007 MENSTON CC look forward to 2008. The squad closely resembles the 2007 one. Abe Smith returns for another year after being so close to the double of 500 runs and 50 wickets in 2007. Rob Taylor again leads the fast bowling. Nick Thornton will again lead the first X1 with Paul Smith (the younger) taking over from Mike Pratt as second X1 skipper.

After two seasons of applying for re-election SKIPTON CC decided to engage the services of an overseas player for 2007 and with ongoing improvements from the younger players both teams finished in a respectable fifth position. Most players have been retained. Overseas player Ajay Rajput returns.

THACKLEY CC have again appointed Leon Harber as first team captain. He has recruited experienced Bradford League Cricketers Darren Drake from Yeadon, Kevin Dewhirst and Mick Birts from Idle and Martin Hanson from Brighouse. With only John Barton's expected return to the Bradford League there should be healthy competition for places.

Following last year's floods at WOODHOUSE CC the parts of the outfield, which were damaged by water and debris have been successfully repaired. The club has obtained a grant for a new boundary fence. It is hoped to gain further grants to prevent the beck overflowing during heavy rainstorms. The first XI Captain Jason Holmes has worked very hard to recruit players, among them Kundai Mhundwa, l7, from Moorlands, and Mohamed Shebaz, 19, a fast bowler. The overseas player will be Raheel Zahidi, another fast bowler.