AS LONG as our young lads stay off the booze this season we will do pretty well I reckon!

We have a young squad with just four or five experienced players and my first job as captain is trying to stop the younger players going out every Friday night.

It's a bit rich coming from me, though, because I was about 28 before I realised I couldn't get away with it any more!

In a way it is a positive thing because they are all very close, they all go out for a drink together, but none of them have girlfriends which makes it worse I think!

They're always going out in Clitheroe on Friday nights and then using Saturday morning to sleep it off.

They turn up all bleary eyed and seeing three balls instead of one.

But they are very enthusiastic and as they mature and become more experienced we could become a very good side.

We are in the same position as Great Harwood were a few seasons ago and now they are a cracking side. I see us going in the same direction.

We have won three and lost two games so far this season, and had two washouts which is frustrating, but I am enjoying my first season as captain. It is a lot more responsibility, the team looks to you for decisions on and off the field.

But it has taken me long enough to get here, I was vice-captain for four years, and I hope to stay as captain for about another three or four.

I'd like to lead the side to the Ramsbottom Cup final this season. It is a competition we could win and the final is being played at our ground.

It was played at Chatburn Road about 12 years ago and we won it then so it would be nice to do it again.

We play Great Harwood in the next round and if we get through we could meet Ribblesdale Wanderers -- our big rivals of course -- in the semi-final. That would be a brilliant day and the whole town would be out watching.

I'd definitely be banning the booze before that one -- not that it would make much difference!

Clitheroe skipper Neil Bolton was talking to Lancashire Evening Telegraph sports writer NINA HAIGH