THE Fosters Lancashire League will spark a revolution in local league cricket in 2017 with 18 clubs having applied to join one of the oldest established league’s in the country.

Ten Northern League teams, seven from the Ribblesdale League and one from the Palace Shield, all want to join forces with the 123-year-old league.

The Lancashire League announced it would be expanding from 14 clubs to 24 for the start of the 2017 campaign.

Initially the league would be one 24-team division before promotion and relegation starts the season after.

The Lancashire League’s expansion plans are in response to radical new proposals to create a pyramid structure in local league cricket in a bid to improve standards.

St Annes were the first club from the Northern League to confirm that they had applied to the Lancashire League – and nine other clubs Darwen, Leyland, Chorley, Blackpool, Fleetwood, the current champions Morecambe, Lancaster, Netherfield and Preston have now followed suit.

Ribblesdale League champions Clitheroe have also applied to join, along with Great Harwood, Baxenden, Whalley, Barnoldswick, Settle and Salesbury.

Garstang, from the Palace Shield, also want to get on board the Lancashire League bandwagon following the deadline for applications.

There were originally 29 ‘expressions of interest.’ Lancashire League chairman Mike Bibby said: “We are very encouraged by the calibre and size of the clubs who want to join the league.

“It is definitely going to be a new era for local cricket.

“When we came up with this proposal the sole aim was to improve the standard of local cricket and this way we can.

“At the moment, and in the current Lancashire League environment, the season is over for some clubs by the end of June if they are not challenging for honours.

“However, with two leagues and with promotion and relegation, this will improve competition and standards. I believe it is a very exciting development.”

With so many clubs wanting to join, the proposals could threaten the future of the Northern League and Ribblesdale League.

Three quarters of the Northern League, for example, have applied with only Cumbria clubs Barrow, Penrith and Kendal indicating that they want to remain.

The fall out could be just as serious for the Ribblesdale League, who have already seen Edenfield and Brooksbottom move on to pastures new. Now, with two of the most successful clubs in the last few years – Clitheroe and Settle – who have won the title six times between them in the last decade wanting away too, there will be major repercussions for the Ribb League.

“It is certainly not our intention to decimate any other leagues, just to improve cricket,” added Bibby.

“There will have to be a balance in the numbers of clubs that join us from the main two leagues, and we have now begun the process of visiting grounds, and talking to representatives of the various clubs.”

Bibby said the Lancashire League would be in a position to announce the ten new teams next month and he added: “It will be fascinating how everything falls into place and it will mark a new era in local league cricket.”