TONGE are looking to shed their reputation as the whipping boys of the Bolton League this season.

The Crompton Way club are optimistic they have turned the corner after enduring some difficult years financially.

Without a win in 2015, they declined an offer from the league to just play friendlies at first team level and do without a second team last season.

The decision was a successful one as they built team spirit as improved performances ultimately resulted in their first victory in two years in their last game of the season.

The feelgood factor from the win against Standish has continued throughout the winter as they have retained most of last season's squad and added six more key players.

Sri Lankan left-arm spin Umega Chaturanga has signed as professional for next season.

The 32-year-old all-rounder took more than 90 wickets and almost 400 runs for Spring View in the Liverpool Competition four years ago and also had a spell as professional at Little Hulton in the Bolton Association.

Tonge have also brought in an overseas player in Australian Cameron Lucas, a 24-year-old medium-pace bowler.

Other recruits include four former Tonge players: Nigel Partington, whose role will predominantly be as coach, Craig Naylor, who has returned to the club after a season at Little Lever, Alex Rodzoch and Craig Buckley.

Captain Danny Delvard is still looking for more players but is thrilled by the progress his side has made.

"It was a great season last season funny as it sounds," he said.

"People will see that we only won one game but there was a lot more to it than that.

"We built a team spirit that you can't buy and that's carried on through the winter. We can't wait for the season to begin.

"Last season we tried to be competitive, this season we will be competitive.

"We've brought in six players who we think will help us be competitive this season and we're always looking for more.

"But it's not just about the first team at Tonge. We want a good second team and a good junior section.

"We've got under-nines, under-11s and under-13s and we want more young players to come and join us.

"Training is free throughout the winter and we've got six good coaches so we're really trying to push the junior section.

Any juniors who want to join the club or sample the training sessions can contact club chairman Paul Schofield on 07882 802754 for further information.

"What we'd say to juniors is if they're not getting a chance at their club they can come to us and they will get a chance.

"We want to make Tonge a club for the future and do it the right way with players who want to play for us.

"We're a good club run by good people and the atmosphere is second to none. We're getting thing right and we want people to come and join us and be a part of what we hope will be a successful future."

Tonge were in financial trouble a couple of years ago but, led by Mr Schofield and his wife Gillian, they have gradually worked their way out of danger.

They have had support from the league and from clubs and people within the league, but the reason they are beginning to emerge from the dark days towards a brighter future is the hard work and planning of the small band of people who run the club.

Bolton League legend Nigel Partington has joined as coach, although he may take to the field next season depending on his fitness, and he is optimistic the seeds are being sown for better times at the Castle Hill club.

"We don't want to say too much but we feel we'll be competitive this season," he said.

"We've got an 11 already and we're happy with what we've got although we wouldn't turn down anyone who wanted to play for us if they buy into what we're trying to do.

"We've got a tremendous spirit and that's what we're about. If we bring people in they've got to want to play for us, we don't want people who can't make their mind up whether they want to play for us or not.

"We're not saying we're going to win the league but we're not going to play ourselves down too much either. People within the league know what we're trying to do and know we've got decent players so there's no point trying to stay under the radar.

"If we finish mid-table we'll take that. We want to get back up into the top division but it might take a couple of years, we've certainly got the people at the club who can help us get there."