Adlington

Captain: Jon Howells

Professional: Majid Majeed

In: Saj Kahn

Out: Jack Shovelton (Atherton)

Ten to tackle – Jon Howell, captain:

My tip for the title: It's difficult to say without knowing all the teams but from the old BDCA clubs it seems like Atherton have recruited well and could be in contention.

Predicted finish for my team: We're going to take each game in turn; but a top-half finish securing top division cricket the year after would be a good outcome.

Favourite ground in BCL: I'm looking forward to visiting all the new grounds as I haven't been to many in the BCL.

Best thing about local cricket: speaking to the old boys and hearing how much better everything was 30 years ago.

Worst thing about local cricket: The increasing expectation of anyone with decent ability or above that they might get paid to play Saturday cricket.

Five words that sum up my club: progressing steadily. Often underestimated.

My club’s unsung hero: There are a few but I think Kenny Hitchen, our head groundsman, deserves a mention. He has probably the biggest square in the league to manage, and had the ground in great nick last year. All voluntary and does much more too. He still sometimes turns out for the 2nd XI as well.

Are all local league restructurings good or bad for local cricket? I don't think you can brand all good or bad. What I think the local league administrators need to understand is that it's the clubs and players that will dictate the future, not the leagues themselves. They can vote with their feet and have done. I predict more significant shake-ups sooner rather than later.

Are you worried about effect on cricket of summer football? I think the two sports could co-exist successfully but only with both working together to ensure people who want to play both can.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: Moving them to somewhere with better weather isn't particularly realistic so how about all clubs getting roll-on covers if they haven't already.

Astley Bridge

Captain: Simon Entwistle

Professional: Syd de Silva

Ins: Rakeb Mahmood (Horwich), Nathan Felton (Farnworth Social Circle)

Out: Amal Athulathmudali

Ten to tackle – Simon Entwistle, captain:

My tip for the title: Farnworth.

Predicted finish for my team: Hope to finish in top half to ensure Division One place for following season.

Favourite ground in BCL: Bradshaw CC.

Best wicket in BCL: Astley Bridge for an all-round game.

Best thing about local cricket: Not much travel involved.

Favourite BCL team to play against: Was previously Egerton so looking forward to playing new teams.

How big a loss are Egerton and Greenmount?: Yes, it's a shame that the clubs have turned there back on Bolton League cricket after so many years.

My club’s unsung hero: Laura and Tony Hargraves. They do so much for the club all year round.

Worried about effect on cricket of summer football?: Not really its been the same for many years.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: All clubs to have roll on covers.

Atherton

Captain: Paul Walsh

Overseas: Brenton Parchment (Jamaica)

Ins: Jack Shovelton (Adlington), Brenton Parchment, Amar Ullah (Cherry Tree)

Outs: None

Ten to tackle – Paul Walsh, captain:

My tip for the title: Farnworth.

Favourite ground in BCL: Bradshaw, always wanted to play there for some reason.

Favourite BCL team to play against: Farnworth, will be good trying to get one over [Simon] Boothy.

Favourite other BCL club: Westhoughton.

Best current amateur in BCL: Chris Barrow.

Favourite other league: B&DCA, it's only suspended isn't it?!

How big a loss are Egerton and Greenmount? They would be a loss to any league, but everybody needs to move on, be proactive and concentrate on the future of the BCL and make it the league it should be.

Five words that sum up my club: family, local, passionate, development and social.

My club’s unsung hero: Gordon Wilcox.

Worried about effect on cricket of summer football? It is a worry, some common sense is required, but the question is do they want to u it for the benefit of both sports and more importantly the children who want to take part.

Blackrod

Captain: Chris Sanderson

Professional: Thushendra de Zoysa

Ins: Matthew Fanning (Westhoughton), Will Powell.

Outs: Paul Dickinson retired.

Bradshaw

Captain: Nick Lester

Professional: Shahzaib Ahmed

Ins: Chris Evans (Greenmount), Atiq-uz-Zaman (Bramhall).

Outs: Nigel Duxbury, Ryan Tierney (both Heaton).

Ten to tackle – Nick Lester, captain:

My tip for the title: One from Bradshaw, Farnworth, FSC, Westhoughton and Horwich.

Favourite ground in BCL: Bradshaw. No better place to play cricket when the sun's out.

Best wicket in BCL: Farnworth.

Favourite BCL team to play against: Westhoughton – always a good challenge.

Favourite other BCL club: Farnworth – good set of lads, tough to play on the pitch but always stick around for a beer afterwards.

Best current amateur in BCL: Will have to pick two as I can't separate Phil Ingram and Chris Barrow. Both very good bowlers and are capable of taking the match away from you in 10 overs with the bat.

How big a loss are Egerton and Greenmount? They are a loss as they are two of the clubs that have consistently challenged at the top end of the league in recent years. However the incoming clubs will provide a new challenge and shake things up a little.

My club’s unsung hero: Can't pick just one. The club wouldn’t be where it is now without the hard work of all the committee, members and volunteers. Bradshaw is a special club to be a part of.

Worried about effect on cricket of summer football? Not at all. Cricket will always be played in Bolton. I just hope that cricket gets a fair chance to voice its opinion when allowed as I don’t think that has happened so far.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: All clubs to have roll on covers or an alternative of similar quality.

Daisy Hill

Captain: Steven Chilton

Professional: Adnan Raees (Pakistan)

In: Amjid Khan.

Outs: Abid Younas, Naveed Yousaf, Daniel Robinson.

Ten to tackle – Steven Chilton, captain:

Best current amateur in BCL: Stephen Hodgkinson. Natural talent with bat and ball. Never has a bad game.

Favourite other league: Don't have one.

Five words that sum up my club: Compete on a small budget.

My club’s unsung hero: Neil Redford.

Are all the league restructurings good or bad for local cricket? Got to be good for cricket, strive to improve the standards.

Are you worried about effect on cricket of summer football? Definitely, unfortunately football is a lot more popular and everybody knows in the cricket world if the seasons run alongside each other youngsters will favour football.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: More readily-available funding from local councils or other sources of grant funding to improve facilities and grounds. That will help to attract youngsters – after all, they are the future of the game.

Darcy Lever

Captain: Jimmy Walsh-Hill

In: Cameron Murray (Australia)

Out: Michael Norris

Ten to tackle: Jimmy Walsh-Hill, captain:

My tip for the title: Farnworth Social Circle.

Favourite ground in BCL: Bradshaw.

Best wicket in BCL: Not played on a lot of the old BCL grounds for a while so going off recent experience Golborne.

Favourite BCL team to play against: Little Lever, should be a good local rivalry.

Best current amateur in BCL: Adil Nisar if you can call him an amateur.

How big a loss are Egerton and Greenmount?: Being a new member of the BCL I can't see this having any effect on us whatsoever (other than Egerton is close to my house).

Five words that sum up my club: Small club on Hacken Lane.

My club’s unsung hero: Wouldn't be fair to pick just one as there are a number of people who go out of their way to ensure the club keeps ticking over.

Are all local league restructurings good or bad for local cricket?: Good.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: Roll on covers.

Eagley

Captain: Danny Counsell

Professional: Agha Salman (Pakistan)

Ins: Michael Craig, Jason Craig, Hasib Patel (all from Tonge)

Outs: Mark Howarth, Andy Cumberbatch, Daniel Burke (all to Heaton), Saif Bhojani (to Walshaw)

Ten to tackle – David Miller, secretary, and Danny Counsell, captain:

Tip for the title: Eagley.

Favourite ground in BCL: Walkden.

Best wicket in BCL: Farnworth.

Best thing about local cricket: Cheap taxis.

Favourite BCL team to play against: Tonge.

Favourite other BCL club: Bradshaw.

Best current amateur in BCL: Phil Ingram.

Five words that sum up my club: No money and stolen equipment.

My club’s unsung hero: Hilary Gregory.

Are all local league restructurings good or bad for local cricket? Good.

Farnworth

Captain: Simon Booth

Professional: Dinuka Hettiarachchi

Ins: Imran Mirza (Heaton), Iain McLellan (Tonge), Jack Horrocks, Nakash Qamar, Lee Bridge (all Kearsley)

Outs: Curtis Anderson (Little Lever), Chris Baxendale (Kearsley)

Ten to tackle – Simon Booth, captain:

My tip for the title: Farnworth Social Circle or Bradshaw.

Predicted finish for my team: Top three.

Best wicket in BCL: Farnworth or Atherton.

Best thing about local cricket: Fiercely competitive.

Favourite BCL team to play against: Farnworth Social Circle.

Best current amateur in BCL: Chris Barrow or Imran Mirza.

Favourite other league: Northern League.

How big a loss are Egerton and Greenmount? Only time will tell, loved playing at Greenmount though, top club.

Are all local league restructurings good or bad for local cricket? Good absolutely, local cricket had been stale for quite some time, this has given everyone the kick they needed.

Worried about effect on cricket of summer football? Yes, of course, numbers of children playing cricket are already lower than years gone by. It will have a massive effect.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: League to make certain criteria mandatory i.e. double sight screens, roll on covers, better ground equipment.

Farnworth SC

Captain: Matt Parkinson

Overseas: Jake Scicluna (Australia)

Ins: Rick Hamblett (Kearsley), Ryan Ayres, Steven Edwards (both Walkden)

Out: Nathan Felton (Astley Bridge)

Ten to tackle – Matt Parkinson, captain:

My tip for the title: Been stung like this before, one of 20.

Predicted finish for my team: Somewhere in the top five.

Favourite ground in BCL: Was Greenmount, now probably Atherton.

Best wicket in BCL: Was Greenmount now depends on the weather. I always want to play on Astley Bridge on a good weekend, but always seem to play there when it's been nice for three weeks then rains which leaves it a load of fun. So probably Bradshaw.

Best thing about local cricket: Competitiveness. The banter and hard-fought games are a real plus.

Worst thing about local cricket: The wickets, and now lack of quality professionals.

Favourite BCL team to play against: Farnworth. Can't beat a good local derby. Their supporters are never short of a word or two.

Favourite other BCL club: Walkden, had many happy years there.

Best current amateur in BCL: Chris Barrow, bowls some quick left-arm to match up with his fast bat speed! Fun to watch.

Favourite other league: Liverpool Competition are one of the only other few who play hard cricket. Nothing wrong with that as long as you can have a beer afterwards. Win or lose they bring a jug of beer in to the changing rooms. It's a nice touch.

How big a loss are Egerton and Greenmount? We'll survive without them that's for sure, and it wouldn't surprise me if at some point one or both came back. Egerton will be missed on a nice Sunny day although it's not that great playing there in the cold windy drizzle. Greenmount I will miss, great atmosphere, lovely picturesque ground with good wickets and always competitive. How could they not be with Stewie [Mark Stewart] playing there?

Five words that sum up my club: Fantastic, need say no more.

Five words that sum up local cricket: Needs to keep moving forward.

My club’s unsung hero: John Barrow does so much it is unreal. John Hutchinson has pushed the junior cricket at the club for as long as I can remember and this is testament to the quality of the home-grown players we have. Nigel Howard keeps his club moving forward. Chris Walsh is rare in current cricket as being a one-club lad through good and bad times.

Are all local league restructurings good or bad for local cricket? After many years of no change and time will no doubt tell. The Bolton League needed change, the standard has most definitely slipped, but part of that was the change in the rules to not have overseas for many years (the worst decision ever made). The new format will spark a bit of life and hopefully during 2017 it can be two divisions. It would be nice to get a few more of the good local clubs joining. The likes of Flixton, Edgworth, Egerton and Greenmount would no doubt improve the league.

Worried about effect on cricket of summer football? It is a shame for those kids who want to play both because it will be difficult. The parents who try will also suffer by having very hectic summers. Will the standard drop, quite possibly, but it won't be seen for many years. You need to entice as many young people from an early age to get involved to have the best chance of success.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: A few could improve by having a bomb dropped on them. Without investment the clubs won't improve. The disappointing thing for many years is that some teams in the league have not had the balance right, some clubs who win trophies have invested vast amounts on players at the expense of improving their facilities and junior set-ups, and that, in the long run, is not a recipe which will work. Some other clubs have probably got it about right, but it isn't easy. Horwich, Westhoughton and ourselves have definitely got a good model. You will no doubt get some barren spells but you just have to stick with it.

Golborne

Captain: Tom Pantak

Professional: Muzzamil Nizam (Pakistan)

Ins: Chinthaka Mahadurage, Adil Saeed, Richard Weaver.

Outs: Rizwan Hussain, Waqas Tahir, Nasir Mahmood, James Carr (Astley & Tyldesley).

Ten to tackle – Tom Pantak, captain:

Predicted finish for my team: Mid-table. Hopefully in the top half for when the league splits into divisions.

Favourite ground in BCL: Haven’t been to them all but looking forward to Westhoughton and Bradshaw.

Best wicket in BCL: I’ve been told Farnworth have a very good wicket but on its day I’d have to favour my own ground.

Favourite other league: Liverpool and District Cricket Competition.

Best current amateur in BCL: I haven’t seen much of many BCL teams but I’ve heard big things about Adil Nisar and his stats seem to back that up!

Are all local league restructurings good or bad for local cricket?: It’ll be easier to answer this question in a year or two’s time. But it’s good that leagues are looking for changes to attract the clubs to those leagues.

One way clubs could improve their grounds? I’d say a few of the BDCA teams who are joining the BCL this season could do some work on their square, either drainage or covers. Often you end up playing on an incredibly green and soggy wicket.

Five words that sum up my club – hardworking, competitive, local, enthusiastic, underdogs.

Best thing about local cricket – Testing yourself against the best local amateurs in the area but also coming up against some top quality county and international standard professionals.

My club's unsung hero – Much like all the other clubs we have a few. I’d say our 2nd XI scorer Pat Aspinall as she scores senior and junior games, attends meetings and works tirelessly behind the scenes. Special mentions to chairman and groundsman Brian Simpson too.

Heaton

Captain: Gary Garner

Professional: Humayan Farhat (Pakistan)

Ins: Gary Garner, Ryan Tierney, Nigel Duxbury (all Bradshaw), Andrew Cumberbatch, Mark Howarth, Daniel Burke (all Eagley), George Holliday (Edgworth), Mustapha Bashir, Ahmed Matloob, Declan Dudley (Egerton).

Outs: Imran Mirza (Farnworth).

Horwich

Captain: David Morris

Professional: Brett Pelser

Ins: Brett Pelser (Rawtenstall), Liam Bones (Edenfield), Phil Ingram (Greenmount)

Outs: Raki Mahmood (Astley Bridge)

Ten to tackle – David Morris, captain:

My tip for the title: Farnworth Social Circle.

Predicted finish for my team: Top six .

Best wicket in BCL: Bradshaw (My dad does it).

Favourite BCL team to play against: Farnworth (easy points).

Best current amateur in BCL: Adil Nisar.

Favourite other league: Lancashire League, full of history.

How big a loss are Egerton and Greenmount? Massive, good grounds and good teams to play against.

Five words that sum up my club: Traditional values, investing in youth.

My club’s unsung hero: David Fairbrother.

Worried about effect on cricket of summer football? No.

Kearsley

Captain: Saeed Anwar Jnr

Professional: Saeed Anwar Jnr

Ins: Chris Baxendale (Farnworth), Mark Burns, Dave Morris, Faisal Zeeshan, Sam Crook

Outs: Jack Horrocks, Nakash Qamar, Lee Bridge (all Farnworth), Rick Hamblett (Farnworth Social Circle)

Ten to tackle – Darren Whittle, senior player:

My tip for the title: Farnworth Social Circle – settled team of players who know each other's game inside out. Two good signings in Rick Hamblett and Ryan Ayres.

Best Wicket in BCL: Farnworth.

Best thing about local cricket: Competitive cricket that should only get more competitive with the introduction of promotion and relegation.

Worst thing about local cricket: Fines. Fining clubs for trivial things is essentially fining the clubs' members and volunteers.

Favourite other BCL team to play against: Farnworth. Good team, usually a good game, good support and banter, good teas and always a good beer or two afterwards.

Best current amateur: Chris Barrow. Can bowl all day, just glad he doesn't bat all day. Usually because eight to 10 overs finishes a game.

My club's unsung hero: Shaun Lomax. The amount of time and effort he's put into junior cricket over the years is remarkable.

Are all local league restructurings good or bad for local cricket: Good. Promotion and relegation has been coming for years. Players wanted it.

Worried about the effect on cricket of summer football: Yes, although as manager of my son's under-11s football team I have seen both sides. This winter has been particularly poor for postponements. For the amount of money in football, the amount that finds its way to grassroots and decent facilities is embarrassing.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: Investment in facilities. Easier said than done, though, as most clubs are struggling financially.

Little Hulton

Captain: Neil Jarvis

Professional: Imran Butt (Pakistan)

Ins: Shoaib Muhammad (Austerlands), Jitu Singh

Outs: Hugh Husband, Mo Abid

Ten to tackle – Neil Jarvis, captain:

Predicted finish for my team: Top six.

Favourite ground in BCL: Little Hulton.

Best wicket in BCL: Not played on them all so cannot comment.

Best thing about local cricket: Good challenge every match.

Favourite BCL team to play against: Atherton, but only to play against!

Favourite other BCL club: None of them, just Little Hulton.

Favourite other league: Bolton Association.

Five words that sum up my club: Family, hard-working, stick together, and a great night after the match. Sorry that’s 11.

My club’s unsung hero: Brian Kelly.

Worried about the effect of summer football? It will be fine because most junior football games are usually on a Saturday. Maybe training might cause a problem but I’m sure they will sort it out.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: More help for the groundsmen with more people sticking their hand up and giving a helping hand.

Little Lever

Captain: Jon Kerrigan

Professional: Asif Zakir

Ins: Curtis Anderton (Farnworth), Craig Naylor, David Bath (both Tonge)

Outs: Awais Nadim (Tonge)

Ten to tackle – Jon Kerrigan, captain:

Prediction for title: Farnworth Social Circle.

Favourite Ground: Bradshaw.

Best wicket: Farnworth.

Best amateur: Imran Mirza.

Favourite other league: Lancashire League.

Favourite team to play against: Farnworth.

Best thing about the BCL: Competitive.

Worst thing about the BCL: Not enough juniors at some clubs and way to many at others. Need to increase participation and perhaps pool all juniors.

Favourite other team: Bradshaw.

My club's unsung hero: Brian Hardman plus our tea ladies and scorer. Great people.

Lostock

Captain: Geoff Earle

Overseas amateur: Jaydyn Simmons (Australia)

In: Oliver Turner (Westhoughton)

Out: Nick Bennett (Alford CC)

Ten to tackle – Geoff Earle, captain:

Tip for the title: Farnworth Social Circle.

Predicted finish for my team: Mid-table.

Favourite ground: Farnworth.

Best wicket: Westhoughton.

Best thing about local cricket: Probably the big derby games. It's been great being back in Bolton cricket over the last two seasons.

Worst thing about local cricket: Constant movement of amateurs around clubs which can have potential detrimental impact on clubs' longevity and the family feel. Successful clubs need long-term stability on and off the field. With constant change, potentially driven by money, makes that very difficult.

Best amateur: Depends on the weather. If we have a wet season then one of the leading bowlers, or if it's a dry and hot summer it could be a batsman. There is a lot of quality so it's hard to pick just one.

Five words that sum up my club: Loyal, competitive, ambitious, welcoming, social.

Club's unsung hero: Impossible to name one. The group of volunteers and players who have kept this club going over the last 10 years-plus could never get the recognition they deserve. It's been an incredible effort from everyone involved.

Is league restructuring good for local cricket? Change is constant, however positive change needs to have clubs', and critically players', full engagement. We want to not only create highly competitive cricket but to establish a platform where we are producing the best young cricketers around and, hopefully, see more and more wear the red rose and ideally the three lions.

Standish

Captain: Pankaj Tripathi

Overseas: Aaron Clarke

Ins: Aaron Clarke, Steve Wright, Shahrukh Khan

Outs: Sam Heeley, Ben Dowling, Israr Ul Haq, Luke Kennedy

Ten to tackle – Paul Hassan, vice-president:

Tip for Title: Horwich.

Predicted finish: No prediction, but a target to win six matches.

Favourite ground: Westhoughton.

Favourite Club: Adlington.

Favourite other league: Liverpool Competition.

Are Egerton and Greenmount are bigg loss? They are a sad loss, and would be a loss to any league.

Five words that sum up my club: A considerable work in progress.

Unsung hero: Bob and Barbara Haggerty.

Are all the league restructurings good or bad? It was clearly catastrophic for the BDCA, but a positive outcome for us is that our juniors can finally play in the Wigan League.

Are you worried about the effect of summer football? Of course, but we have been living with the challenge of summer rugby for a number of years in Wigan, so in some ways, this is nothing new.

Tonge

Professional: Unknown

Ins: Awais Nadim (Little Lever)

Outs: Iain McLellan (Farnworth), Craig Naylor, David Bath (both Little Lever).

Walkden

Captain: Jonathan Fowler

Professional: Aiden Markram (South Africa)

Ins: TBC

Outs: Ryan Ayres, Steven Edwards (both Farnworth SC), Adnan Malik.

Ten to tackle – Jonathan Fowler, captain:

Predicted finish for my team: Top four.

Favourite ground in BCL: Walkden.

Best thing about local cricket: Showcases local talent to the community, also allows local cricketers and spectators to watch and meet professional players every year.

Favourite other league: Central Lancashire League.

How big a loss are Egerton and Greenmount? Losing clubs is always a loss but it gives new clubs a good opportunity to join a strong league and challenge themselves.

Five words that sum up my club: Hard-working, ambitious, motivated, confident, team-players .

My club’s unsung hero: Steve Edwards and Frank Knott.

Are all local league restructurings good or bad for local cricket? Only time will tell.

Worried about effect on cricket of summer football? Yes.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: The league could hire professional groundsman to help and advise each club on things to improve on wicket-wise and ground as a whole.

Westhoughton

Captain: Rob Houghton

Professional: Qaisar Abbas

Ins: None

Out: Matt Fanning (Blackrod)

Ten to tackle – Rob Houghton, captain:

Predicted finish: Top four.

Best thing about local cricket: Competitive edge and good standard in such a close radius.

Best amateur in BCL: Oliver Newby.

How big of a loss are Egerton and Greenmount: A big loss, two good clubs with good facilities and sides, but we have gained some good new sides from the suspended Bolton Association.

Five words to describe my club: Hard-working, family, community, progressing, optimistic.

Five words to describe local cricket: Competitive, hard, entertaining, tough, frustrating.

My club's unsung hero(es): Keith Houghton (my old man) and Ruth and Bill Crook. Spend hours of time spent behind the scenes that nobody realises.

Are all local league restructurings good or bad for local cricket? Good, more to play for against new fresh faces and different ground.

Favourite ground in BCL: My home ground at Westhoughton has to be my favourite but after that has to be Bradshaw – well looked after, but just wish they didn't have the river, must cost a fortune in balls during the season.

One way clubs could improve their grounds: Spend more time and investment on the wickets.