THE Anthony Axford Bolton Association opens the local cricket season with new league sponsors and seven new professionals.

Farnworth timber merchants Anthony Axford, who have backed local cricket for a good number of years, have taken over as the sponsors of the 114-year-old league, which again has a fair share of overseas professionals.

Two of the new arrivals are from overseas. four are locally based and the other, Arindam Sarkar has changed clubs from Spring View to Standish .

Iain Critchley goes to Spring View from Golborne, where he is replaced by Lee Baldwin, who switches from League side Little Lever. Neil Bannister, formerly of Atherton, Spring View and Chorley comes back into the Association paid ranks to take over at Daisy Hill and Lostock welcome Preston based Shah Rehman.

Of the overseas newcomers, Asley and Tyldesley have taken Bashir Khan while Edgworth are investing in Mahammad Javed.

Tomorrow's games are: A & T v Edgworth, Atherton v Adlington, Blackrod v Lostock, Clifton v Golborne, Elton v Darcy lever, Little Hulton v Walshaw, Spring View v Standish.

The Warburton's Bolton League get their season underway on Sunday.

Fixtures are: Astley Bridge v Egerton, Bradshaw v Greenmount, Eagley v Little Lever, Farnworth v Tonge, Horwich v Heaton, Kearsley v Westhoughton, Walkden v Farnworth SC.-