I HAVE no doubt the professionals, players and supporters of Darwen CC and Chorley CC enjoyed Peter Oliver's preview of the season for both clubs (Let, April 21).

Unfortunately, that enjoyment ended after the penultimate paragraph when, for some reason and totally unconnected with his article, he decided to add that the Northern League's "line-up of professionals isn't a patch on the Lancashire League".

There are some excellent professionals in both leagues and while, on paper, the Lancashire League has several star names who should dominate games -- if that is what you want -- I am sure many Northern League professionals will also make significant contributions.

I am at a loss to understand why Mr Oliver found it necessary to insult the Northern League professionals en bloc before a ball had even been bowled in an article supposedly previewing the season for the two clubs in your circulation area when, surely, reference to the Lancashire League was irrelevant. I doubt whether Mr Oliver has seen many Northern League games, but I can assure him that the reason our league is not so pro dominated is that the general standard of amateurs is so high and, to borrow a phrase, perhaps the amateurs in the Lancashire League aren't a patch on those in the Northern League where residential qualification rules make it easy to attract top amateurs from a wide area (Mark Lomas playing for Blackpool).

I concede the professionals in our league will not in the main be a patch on the Lancashire League as regards cost and it is up to clubs to prioritise between vast sums of money being paid to one man or perhaps using part of that money to improve facilities for members who are there every year and, in particular, for junior facilities.

Our professional last year, Richard Petrie, was relatively cheap and not a household name, but I can assure you that his contribution to the club on and off the field was immense and I would not have swopped him for any other professional in either league.

I appreciate much of your summer circulation depends upon your columnists creating the impression that the Lancashire League is the best in the world.

They are free to do so, but do not denigrate other leagues in the process. It is amazing how many people have commented on Mr Oliver's article and I am expressing their disappointment and, indeed, anger.

PETER LAMSTER, Chairman Darwen Cricket Club