THE Memorial Sunday Football League seemed to be playing the name game as the new season kicked off.

Yet another club has changed its name - Division Two side Blackburn Bull's Head will now be known as Knuzden Brook FC.

But the first results in Division One ran to form with Lord Nelson (ex-Swan Whalley) beating neighbours Judge Walmsley 3-1, Oaklea Alexandra (ex-Accrington Sports) winning 4-1 against Station Hotel, Helmshore, and newly-promoted Royal Hotel overcoming Brownhill Arms 4-3.

Division Two produced convincing victories for promoted sides, Alma 5-1 winners against the Woolpack, Brown Cow victors by 8-1 over Oswaldtwistle Rovers, and Duke of Wellington (ex Lomas) 13-0 over Crown Scaffold - the latter are now looking for new recruits after a number of players let the club down by giving last-minute backword, some as late as 5pm the previous evening!

Any players interested should contact David Dewhurst, telephone 01254 725416 or Harry Dewhurst on 01254 825081.

In Division Three, there are nine new clubs and it is still to be seen who are to be the prominent forces. There were wins for Accrington Clarets, Griffin's Head, and King's Arms - the biggest win of the day in their section 12-1 over established club LS Roofing.

Clitheroe's Low Moor were 3-2 winners over Knuzden, and Printers Arms just got the better of Wilpshire's Bull's Head 3-2.

Results - Division One: E H Football 2, Plough Inn 4; Judge Walmsley 1, Lord Nelson 3; Lower Darwen 3, Stanhill Lions 1; Oaklea Alexander 4, Station Hotel Helmshore 1; Royal Hotel 4, Brownhill Arms 3. Division Two: Alma Inn 5, Woolpack 1; Brown Cow 8, Oswaldtwistle Rovers 1; Calderstones Hospital 0, Ossy Hotspur 10; Cross Axes 5, Little Crown 1; Crown Scaffold 0, Duke of Wellington 13; Knuzden Brook 1, Oswaldtwistle Ref 3.

Division Three: Accrington Clarets 2, Woodnook 1; Griffins Head 6, Miners Arms 1; King's Arms 12, LS Roofing 1; Knuzden FC 2, Low Moor 3; Printers Arms 3, Wilpshire Bulls Head 2.

Fixtures for Sunday - Division One: Lord Nelson v Oaklea Alexandra (Wilsons) Plough Inn v Judge Walmsley (Wilsons); Rishton Arms v E H Football (Norden); Royal Hotel v De Lacy Arms (Marl Pits); Stanhill Lions v Brownhill Arms (Wilsons); Station Hotel Helmshore v Lower Darwen (Haslingden).

Division Two: Duke of Wellington v Alma Inn (Wilsons); Littl Crown v Crown Scaffold (Has); Ossy Hotspur v Cross Axes (Has); Oswaldtwistle Ref v Calderstones Hospital (Memorial); Oswaldtwistle Rovers v Knuzden Book FC; Woolpack FC v Brown Cow (Has).

Division Three: Low Moor v Accrington Clarets (Roefield); LS Roofing v Knuzden FC (Memorial); Miners Arms v King's Arms (Foxhill); Red Lion v Griffin's Head (Marl Pits); Wilpshire Bull's Head v Crown Veterans (Norden); Woodnook v Printers Arms (Memorial).

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