THERE'S no shortage of optimism at Birch Hall, where Darwen begin their Northern League campaign against Preston tomorrow.

With threats of defections to the put-on-hold Premier League having now abated, Darwen are hoping to make a significant impact on the league.

They have a new professional in 21-year-old all-rounder Keith Greenbank, of New South Wales, and have strengthened the amateur ranks.

Jeff Hacking has returned to the club after a year with Blackburn Northern in the Ribblesdale League and Nigel Robbins has also signed up from Pleckgate.

Robbins will make his debut against Preston and the team will start with a new skipper in Gareth Cordingley.

"I think we will have a much stronger side than last year," said Darwen chairman Peter Lamster.

"We have strengthened the batting and bowling and we are confident that we can have a good season. "The professional seems to have settled in well and although he is primarily a batsman, his bowling looks quite useful too."

Chorley, runners-up to St Anne's in the Northern League last season, hope to go one better this year.

The club have made a major signing in former Cambridge University captain Russell Cake, an outstanding opening bat who has a century to his name against the Australian tourists.

He will replace free-scoring former opening batsman Neil Bannister who has joined Bolton Association club Spring View as professional.

Skipper Roland Horridge also has high hopes of a young quick bowler Michael Morris.

The 17-year-old has progressed through the club's third and second teams and is likely to make his senior debut this weekend, when Chorley have two away matches.

Tomorrow, they open their Northern League programme at Fleetwood and, on Sunday, travel to North Lancashire League club Workington in the first round of the Abbot Ale Cup.

Apart from winning the league title, there is nothing that Horridge would like better than to lead his side out in the national knockout final at Lord's for a fourth successive year.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.