ALEC Scholefield hopes to catch the eye of the county selectors in his new position as Earby professional.

The 22-year-old harbours a childhood ambition to play county cricket -- and he hopes playing at Earby, who face Jennings Ribblesdale League leaders Cherry Tree at Preston Old Road tomorrow, will be a stepping stone.

Scholefield, who has played one game for Lancashire's second string, said: "The advice I have had is that county sides are more likely to look at you if you are scoring runs and taking wickets as a pro than if you are doing the same thing as an amateur.

"That was the main reason for me taking the job at Earby."

Scholefield, who works for Provident Insurance, spent five years at Todmorden in the Transco Lancashire League before taking up Earby's offer to join them -- his first job as a pro.

But the Halifax-born run-machine says he hasn't had much ribbing about the switch in leagues.

"I have had more stick about being from Yorkshire!" he laughed.

"I played for the Lancashire League representative side against the Ribblesdale League last year and there was quite a bit of rivalry. But everyone has been fine about it.

"It was hard to leave Todmorden because I had been there for so long and made some good friends.

"But it was the next step up the ladder and that is why I left."

Before Applegarth representatives approached him, Scholefield hadn't given becoming a pro much thought.

He said: "Earby were looking for a pro and they came to watch me three or four times. They just called me up and asked me. I was very surprised.

"Before then I hadn't thought anybody would want me as their pro!"

Life as a paid man is a little different to being an amateur, he says.

"There is a lot more pressure on you. You have to perform and rally the players if things aren't going well.

"And then the amateurs on the other side are desperate to get you out or smash you all over. You don't get that as an amateur."

The pressure is on at the moment as Earby haven't started the season as they may have liked.

They lie 11th in the table and travel to Cherry Tree tomorrow needing a result to kick start their season.

"It is a game we have to win," said Scholefield. "We haven't made the best of starts but we are well capable of beating any side in the league on our day.

"With the players we have we have the ability. We showed that against Read when we beat them by eight wickets. They are a good side so we are well capable of doing it.

"I think we are capable of winning the league and there is still time to do it.

"We haven't started well but if we string a couple of results together and then a couple more we can close the gap.

"If we keep winning we can keep the pressure on so that is what we will be trying to do -- starting tomorrow against Cherry Tree."

Tomorrow's fixtures: Barnoldswick v Oswaldtwistle I, Blackburn Northern v Edenfield, Cherry Tree v Earby, Clitheroe v Padiham, Great Harwood v Settle, Read v Whalley, Ribblesdale Wanderers v Baxenden.