Westhoughton are confident that last year's Bolton League title win is only the start of things to come.

And they are equally assured that the players who brought them that success can deliver the goods again.

The champions start the new season with the same squad that triumphed last year, including popular pro Antonio Mayers. He jets in from the Caribbean, while captain Steve Parker leads a side made up mainly of local players who have come though the ranks, but who possess no shortage of talent.

Young players such as Adam Coates and Mubarek Patel underline the club's healthy future, and in Ian Pilkington they have one of the League's most prolific batsmen.

Westhoughton's main challenge for top spot will no doubt come from the usual quarters, and in particular, Walkden.

The former champions were upset not to take their title count to three in four seasons last year and that disappointment could be their spur over the next few months.

Their strength over the last few years has been the continuity that comes with a settled side, many of the players coming through the club's junior ranks.

Under the imaginitive captaincy of Mike Bennison, the side looks as strong as ever with brothers David and John Smith, Bernard Reidy, Phil Ingram and Tony Keays being bolstered by Jonathan Fearick from Heaton and Liam Jackson, who has moved from Lancashire league side Enfield.

They also have a new pro, but Jason Swift is no stranger to local cricket watchers having come over from Australia to play at Little Lever, Kearsley and Heaton, holding the amateur batting record at all three clubs.

Fearick is one of a number of players who have left Heaton. Captain Paul Rayment has moved to take up the same position with Bradshaw, along with Mike Ward. Also going to Bradshaw are Danny Partington, ex-Egerton, and former Indian Test player Rasheed Patel and new pro Amila Wettasinghe.

Simon Booth and Michael Dalwey have also left Heaton. They have gone to a Farnworth side who have made a number of interesting signings.

They have a new professional in West indian Brenton Parchment, while they also have the services of their former pro, Lee Childs, who was with Association side Atherton last year.

Greenmount can never be written out of the honours list and they should benefit from a second season from pro Nishit Shetty. He is joined by newcomers Peter Kay from Elton and Andy Kerr from Bradshaw who will link up with established stars Mark Fallon, Andy Bowker, Dave Morris and Ryan Senior.

Among the new professionals this season are Barbadian Kurt Wilkinson at Farnworth SC, where brothers Matt and David Parkinson team up again. Dheeraj Jadhav is at Egerton, Kearsley have Sherwin Ganga from the West Indies, and Little Lever look to Kamran Sajid of Pakistan.

That gives the League an international look with the only home professional being David White, who is at Horwich for a sixth season.