SNOW, torrential rain, hailstorms and gale force winds - it can only mean one thing . . . the 1999 cricket season gets underway this weekend!

Ramsbottom get their Lancashire League campaign up and running on Sunday with a fixture against last season's wooden-spoonists Accrington at Acre Bottom.

After a nightmare battle with officialdom they were finally due to secure the services of 22-year-old Queenslander Matthew Pascoe as professional this week.

The highly-rated medium-fast bowler and lower order batsman replaces fellow Aussie Ian Harvey who turned down another season with the valley club after being offered a contract by Gloucestershire.

The Rams will be further strengthened this term by the acquisition of prodigal son Mark Price who returns to his home town club after a number of years in the professional ranks.

In the Central Lancashire League Radcliffe professional Steve Dearden is looking for a top six place for the Racecourse club after last season's mid-table finish.

Their league campaign begins at local rivals Heywood on Sunday and it'll be a new look line-up with former Bury CC left-arm spinner Nick Kennedy joining the ranks along with former Ramsbottom junior Richard Heaton whose been plying his trade in the Saddleworth League with Delph.

Opening bowler John Nuttall will be missing after moving away from the area while Dave Jones continues as skipper.

Stand have a new paid man in Sri Lankan all-rounder Thushara Sampath Managei who takes over the mantle from popular Aussie Mike Warden. It's a hard act to follow for the promising Sampath who gets a first competitive look at his new teammates at Norden on Sunday when the Hamilton Road side will be led by a new skipper in Paul Wilkinson following John Seedle's decision to return to Rishton.

Craig Smith has decided to call it a day but there is new blood in the shape of former Bolton League all-rounder Mark Hutchinson.

Unsworth welcome back their Sri Lankan professional Champata Ramanayake for their opening game at Milnrow on Sunday.

Skipper Mark Manley also has one or two new additions to the first team scene in much-travelled Alan Howarth the former Stand, Ramsbottom and Middleton batsman and spin bowler Simon Pickup who returns to the Parr Lane club after a spell at teacher training college.

Last season's Bolton Association runners-up Elton will be hoping to go one better this time around and they travel to Clifton tomorrow for their opening game.

Skipper Steve Lomas has stepped down because of work commitments so the captaincy has gone to John Bushell.

John's brother Graham continues his role as junior coach while Aussie professional Greg Dimery has signed a two year extended contract that will keep him at Leigh Lane for the first season of the new Millennium.

Paceman Gareth Williams is back on the scene after a spell at Lostock and former Lancashire League batsman Charlie Cotton is another new recruit.

In the Ribblesdale League Edenfield start their season tomorrow off with a clash against Earby at Gincroft Lane.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.