CLUB stalwart Ian Cockcroft believes his side could cause a few upsets after a close season league restructure has seen Colne and Nelson shunted up a level.

Cockcroft, who has served the club as player and coach spanning 40 years, believes the Holt House club have nothing to lose when they begin their season in the newly-formed Lancashire (North) Division at Thornton Cleveleys on Saturday.

While Cockcroft, a member of the Colne and Nelson coaching set-up, welcomes the cut in travel costs, the new league means his players will have to go the extra mile against players from a higher level.

“It will be a struggle because we are a Level Nine club who have basically been promoted to Level Eight,” said Cockcroft who served as head coach for eight years before Matt Boatwright took over the reigns last season. “So in those terms we will be playing quite a few teams who are stronger than us.

“But as Matt has pointed out, we have nothing to lose in the new set-up and I reckon we could upset a few teams, especially at our place.”

Colne have recruited outside half Jim Hargreaves from Wharfedale but they have promoted from within with centre Tom Beresford and flanker Patrick Wiper joining the senior ranks from the Colts.

Colne and Nelson have warmed up for the new campaign by winning the Bowl competition at the Skipton 10s.

“It is going to be a challenge but we are really looking forward to the season ahead,” added Cockcroft. “We will be going to new places and taking on teams we haven’t played before or have not played them for a long time.

“So that freshens things up and gives the players and the coaching staff new challenges.”