A place in history awaits

BAMFORD Fieldhouse are gunning for an unprecedented fourth consecutive Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District League title when the 2010 season gets under way on Sunday.

And Paddy McKeown’s men are hot favourites to clinch the four-timer after the capture of all-rounder Simon Wright from Crompton and former Oldham professional Martin Smith.

Heyside and Shaw have strengthened their respected squads during the winter and will be going all out to beat the boys from Bamford. Here Oldham Evening Chronicle cricket writer KEVIN RICHARDSON takes you through the teams. 

AUSTERLANDS

Captain: K Du Feu.

Professional: S De Silva (Sri Lanka). Overseas amateur: N Athauda (Sri Lanka). Ins: S De Silva, N Athauda. Outs: J Khan, M Hayward, A Ettimadai.

AUSTERLANDS, under captain Kevin Du Feu, are turning to the club’s young guns in 2010.

Batsman Jack Stanton, wicketkeeper Joe Molloy and James Greenwood are expected to step up to the first-team scene, while Adam Sunderland will be another teenager looking to make his mark after he recovers from a knee operation.

The Nursery Fields outfit, who finished fourth last season, boast a new professional in all-rounder Sidney De Silva.

With previous experience playing for Tonge in the Bolton League, the Sri Lankan is following in the lively footsteps of Junaid Khan, who claimed 55 wickets at an average of 10.8 in his only season at Austerlands.

Du Feu can call upon a new overseas amateur in leg spinner Nuwantha Athauda. Also from Sri Lanka, he comes in for Mark Hayward, whose form tailed off after a promising start to 2009.


BAMFORD FIELDHOUSE

Captain: P McKeown.

Professional: S Parry (England). Overseas amateur: None. Ins: S Wright, M Smith, J Kelliher.Outs: L Roberts, L Garnett.

SIMON Wright will make his bow for Bamford Fieldhouse, who are chasing a fourth successive title.

The former Crompton skipper was all set to sign for Bamford in 2009, but instead stuck with the Glebe Street outfit, for whom he has played since he was a junior.

But Wright was unable to resist the offer to play at Bamford any longer and he joins other new boys Martin Smith and Jack Kelliher at Hollin Lane.

Smith is another familiar name from the CLL ranks. The South African-born faster bowler had a spell as Oldham’s overseas amateur and professional before joining Essex, where he played second-team cricket.

Kelliher arrives at Bamford on the recommendation of pro Stephen Barry.

An aggressive batsman and fine fielder, he will line up against his former club Bootle in the first round of the ECB National Knock-out.

Bamford, who completed the league and Tanner Cup double last year, will again be captained by Paddy McKeown.

He will have left-arm bowler Andy Smith-Butler fit and firing on all cylinders after he missed most of last season following a knee operation.


GREENFIELD

Captain: J Ainley.

Professional: K Hussain. Overseas amateur: None.Ins: K Hussain, M Bird. Outs: None

GREENFIELD have been boosted by the return to the league of Pakistan professional Kamran Hussain.

The classy all-rounder last appeared in the competition for Stayley in 2007 when he averaged just under 50 with the bat and took 58 wickets.

Hussain, who more recently played for Littleborough in the CLL, will complement a side which will again feature a clutch of talented youngsters.

They include Adam Hayes, wicketkeeper-batsman Chris Gill, Alex Peters and Ryan Fitton.

They have been joined by teenage all-rounder Michael Bird, who has made the short hop from Uppermill. Bird has represented the league’s Colts side in the last couple of years.

Greenfield also have experience in captain Jonathan Ainley and Peter Gill.

With Hussain in the XI, the Ladhill Lane outfit will be mightily disappointed if they can’t improve on last season’s 10th-place finish.



DROYLSDEN

Captain: M Schofield.

Professional: D Lees (England). Overseas amateur: None. Ins: M Shakir, W Quasim, S Ur Rehman. Outs: None

WITHOUT a league win in 2009, Droylsden’s number one priority is to get off the mark.

And, with a bowling line-up bolstered by the addition of three fresh faces, Michael Schofield’s side look well-equipped to do so.

Quick bowlers Saif Ur Rehman and Mohammed Shakir, plus medium-pacer Wasim Quasim, provide Droylsden with wicket-taking ability.

The new signings will be assisted by David Lees, who continues as professional.

DEBUT SEASON

Lees, formerly of Werneth, Ashton and Denton, took 29 wickets in his debut season at Oakfield.

Droylsden hope to have batsman Gareth Dent fit and firing again. He sustained a back injury last June and played little part in the rest of the season.

Club officials are also keeping their fingers crossed that drainage work carried out on the ground — they received a grant of £8,500 from the Tameside Trust — will enable more matches to go ahead.



FRIARMERE

Captain: A Walker.

Professional: J Butler (Australia). Overseas amateur: Z Iqbal (Pakistan). Ins: J Butler, J Allott, K Hussain. Outs: J Morris

ANDY Walker is in charge of Friarmere, four years after he last fulfilled the role.

The wicketkeeper/batsman (pictured) replaces Gary Kershaw, who picked up a knee injury last season.

Kershaw is unlikely to play again, but will continue to serve on the committee.

Walker will have a new professional at his disposal, teenager Joshua Butler, from Queensland, Australia.

The left-arm spinner has been in the country for a couple of weeks and played as a deputy pro in the Bolton League last weekend.

At 18 years of age, he is the youngest paid man in the Saddleworth League.

Asif Qayyum, who was pro 12 months ago, is eligible to play as an amateur. He showed signs of ability with the bat, and Walker is looking for him to step up.

Big things are also expected of young leg spinner Ben Ingham, who played the majority of matches last term.

Another fresh face is left-arm medium pace bowler James Allott, who was on the verge of the Crompton first team last season, while all-rounder Kamran Hussain, who was previously at Hollinwood, has also signed.


GLODWICK

Captain: N Stock.

Professional: I Aslam (Pakistan). Overseas amateur: None. Ins: None. Outs: W Ahmed

AFTER finishing 13th, seventh and sixth since they entered the league in 2007, Glodwick are looking to take another step in the right direction.

Much will depend on the form of Pakistan all-rounder Imran Aslam, who has proved an inspired pick as professional.

He has claimed 168 wickets in two years at Glodwick, and in 2009 he backed up his performances with the ball by averaging just under 50.

With a clear run — he was late arriving last term and was also banned for two games — Aslam is capable of taking 100 wickets in a season.

Apart from the departure of teenage opening batsman Waqas Ahmed, captain Nigel Stock will call upon the same group of players.


HEYSIDE

Captain: N Campbell.

Professional:R Hugo.Overseas amateur: None. Ins: J Selby, L Garnett, S Firth, J Davis. Outs: None

NICK Campbell takes charge of the strongest Heyside squad for many a year.

It’s the first taste of captaincy for the 29-year-old all-rounder, but he can fall back on a wealth of experience.

“I’ve never skippered a junior team or school team before, so this is all new, but there are plenty of people I can turn to for advice,” he said.

Mark Barnes is still on the scene after stepping down from the lead role at the end of last season — he is Campbell’s right-hand man — as well as South African pro Roelof Hugo, Stuart Moore and Tony Heaton, who was among the wickets in two warm-up games against Middleton and Royton.

Long-time Ashton opening batsman John Selby is a significant signing, so too medium-pace bowler Liam Garnett, from Bamford.

Aggressive batsman Steven Firth is back at Little Hey Street following a stint at Norden and James Davis is available again after taking time out to travel the world.


HOLLINWOOD

Captain: A Bashir.

Professional: A Bashir (Pakistan). Overseas amateur: None. Ins: None. Outs: M Butt, Z Ur Rehman

AAMIR Bashir, who had a successful bone marrow transplant before Christmas, is back at Hollinwood.

And for the first time in his long career at Lime Lane, the Pakistani will lead the side.

Bashir, who joined Hollinwood in 2001 after a two-year spell at Uppermill, was playing competitive cricket only weeks after receiving treatment in Lahore.

He didn’t play at all for the club in 2009 and made just 10 appearances in 2008, but is now back and raring to go.

Shahzad Sadaqat is again in the fold along with useful medium pace bowler Mohammed Shazad, but spinner Rashid Khan’s appearances will be limited as he is training to be an Imam.



MOORSIDE

Captain: L Kingston.

Professional: JP Lee (England). Overseas amateur: L Kingston (South Africa). Ins: D Anchor, A Barnes. Outs: None

NEW captain Lloyd Kingston wants to bring some pride back to Moorside.

The overseas amateur, from South Africa, takes charge of a team which underachieved by some way in 2009.

Only Droylsden finished below Moorside in the table, and Kingston is looking for a big improvement this time round.

He said: “We are playing for ourselves, but more importantly we are playing for the club.

“My job is to bring the guys together and help them fulfil their potential.

“We’ve all got to take responsibility, apply ourselves and try to make it work.”

One notable new face is Danny Anchor (pictured).

The opening batsman played a key role in Saddleworth’s success of a few years ago, and has since played for Micklehurst in the Huddersfield League.

Anchor also led the Saddleworth League to Inter-League final glory in 2005.

Another new signing is Aaron Barnes, from Stayley. The young bowler joins brother Miles at the club.


SADDLEWORTH

Captain: P Skuse.

Professional: P Skuse (Australia). Overseas amateur: M Diedrich (Australia). Ins: M Diedrich Outs: None.

APART from the signing of Australian overseas amateur Matt Diedrich — he misses matches in May because of commitments back home — it’s a case of as you were at Saddleworth.

Diedrich is a medium quick bowler who hails from the Gold Coast and is sure to enhance an attack which will again include Steve Holmes, Ryan McGrath, Ben Willis, Steve Taylor and Ben Pollard.

Skipper and professional Peter Skuse and opening batsman Steve Howard will also play a part with the ball.

Skuse was delighted with third place in 2009 and is quietly confident his side can progress again.

In a boost to the batting line-up, Neil Holt should be free to play on more occasions this season, while Ian Hague will again take his place in the middle order.


SHAW

Captain: S Whiston.

Professional: R Senior (England). Overseas amateur: A Milan (South Africa). Ins: R Senior, A Milan, A Young, F Sutherland, M Small. Outs: W Fynn, N Van den Bergh, A Good

IT’S all change at Shaw this season, with a new captain and a new professional as they seek a top-five finish.

Wicketkeeper Steve Whiston is in charge, replacing Rick Harrington, and Ryan Senior is the club’s paid man.

They also boast an overseas amateur in South African Andre Milan, while other new faces are Francis Sutherland, who quit as skipper of Moorside before the end of last season, and medium pace bowler Andy Young, from Austerlands.

Senior, a right-arm off-break bowler and left-handed batsman, played for Woodbank in the Lancashire County League last season.

All-rounder Milan hails from Pretoria and has represented South Africa Schools. He has come in for Nick Van den Bergh, who played first-class cricket in South Africa over the winter.

Batsman Mike Small is back in the Shaw ranks after taking a year off from cricket.



STAYLEY

Captain: S Downend.

Professional: U Mohammed (Pakistan). Overseas amateur: None. Ins: U Mohammed. Outs: A Barnes, O Simms

STAYLEY are looking to the club’s second teamers to step up to the plate.

The Millbrook outfit are turning to the likes of Mike Jones, Mark Stone, Stuart Mellor and Steve Bird to make an impact in the first XI.

Stone was the captain of the seconds in 2009, medium-pacer Mellor won the division two bowling averages, while Jones was a member of the league’s Colts side. Bird was a regular first-teamer until last season .

Lee Williams will take over the wicketkeeping duties from Oram Simms (pictured, right), who has left the club.

Stayley have a new paid man, Usman Mohammed. The Pakistani paceman replaces fellow countryman Rehan Rafiq.



UPPERMILL

Captain: A Griffiths.

Professional: TBC. Overseas amateur: None. Ins: TBC.. Outs: W Dornan, M Bird, Z Khan

UPPERMILL are facing a race against time to sign Chris Cooke as their professional for the start of the season.

The South African batsman was professional for Tamworth in the Birmingham League last year and also played three games for the Hampshire and Nottinghamshire second teams.

Uppermill are waiting to hear if Cooke (23) has accepted their offer, but he must be registered by the end of play today to be eligible for this season.

The Leafields club were dealt a huge blow earlier this month.

Despite their best efforts, overseas amateur Zeeshan Khan, last season’s leading run scorer in the league, was unable to obtain a visa to enter the country.

He scored 1,403 runs in 2009, an amateur batting record for the competition, and weighed in with 34 wickets.

Khan played a key role in Uppermill’s achievements in 2009 when they finished runners-up in the league — they were the only team to beat champions Bamford Fieldhouse — and were beaten finalists in both the Tanner Cup and Twenty20 Cup.

Wicketkeeper Alex Griffiths takes the reins in place of Matt Taylor, who will continue to play for the side.