The new Cumbria Men’s League kicks off on Saturday, two weeks behind the reorganised Conference League programme.
Like the Regional Cumbria Conference, the county’s men’s league incorporates teams from the west and from the Barrow area.
There’s already been a resignation from Division One with Distington pulling out their A team.
It leaves Glasson Rangers without a fixture on opening day, a disappointment as they are particularly looking forward to the new season.
Chris Broadley has moved to the area from Askam and has joined the coaching group alongside Mattew Burns and Scott Burns.
He’s excited about the season ahead with good numbers at training and a desire to create some enjoyment for the players after a particularly difficult time of it last season in the Premier Division.
The big news is that Luke Johnson is back after a fair time out through injury and his experience will be invaluable.
Broadley said: “We want to be competitive in Division One and get some enjoyment for the players after a difficult time of it last season.
“We have a few new faces in the squad Nathan McNicholas, Lee Howard and Jayden Blair while Kieran Johnson has joined from Flimby and Owen Beattie has re-joined from Distington. Ryan Morris has left to join Maryport.
“The two pre-season friendlies against Hensingham and Flimby were both good tests and we used them as building blocks ahead of the new season.
“We were looking forward to the new season starting with Distington A but unfortunately they’ve pulled out and we will begin next week in the cup against Wath Brow A.”
Aspatria Hornets, fresh from their win in Harrogate, start with a home game against Dalton A while Hensingham A entertain Seaton Rangers A.
The Division One programme starts tomorrow night when Egremont Rangers A host Maryport A.
There are three games scheduled for the Premier Division on Saturday: Roose Pioneers v Cockermouth Titans; Lowca v Flimby and Kells A v Askam.
