THE 30th season of Blackburn Sunday football League kicks off next Sunday.

There are four new clubs in the league and some name changes - Cooper Rigg (Swan FC), Corning Communications (Newmans) and Guide (King Edward). Two other clubs have been forced to change their names since the handbook was printed due to sponsorship deals. Aqueduct now become Fox & Hounds and Stanley Racing will be known as GFR Plumbing.

This season, two clubs will be allowed to play their home matches on private grounds. Darwen Alex will play all home games on the Anchor, while newcomers Crown Berger will play their home fixtures at Oakenhurst. Also this season, the league is to finance a first aid cover as an experiment for one season only. Details of this will be sent direct to each club secretary.

The opening day's fixtures have thrown up some interesting encounters. First Division champions King's Inn meet New Gardeners, while the two promoted clubs, Servicemaster and Dexter Paints meet Darwen Alex and Bee Hive respectively.

Division Two newcomers Heys Inn have an interesting opening fixture against West End whilst the Division Three newcomers Crown Berger, Park Inn and Wellington Samba all have opening matches that will test their ability.

On Sunday, September 12, Old Toll Bar - the LFA Sunday Trophy holders - travel to Workington to take on the Cumbrian FA Sunday Trophy winners for a prize donated by Jennings Brewery who sponsored both last season's competitions. The visit also includes a trip around Jennings Brewery in Cockermouth. Fixtures for September 5 are: Division One: Dexter Paints v Bee Hive; Jubilee v Old Toll Bar; King's Inn v New Gardeners; Lord Raglan v Station (all at Pleasington); Darwen Alex v Servicemaster (Anchor Ground).

Division Two: Foresters v White Bull; Heys Inn v West End; Lammack v Uncle Jack's (all at Pleasington); Darwen St Peters v Witton Inn (Blacksnape); Cooper Rigg v Fox and Hounds (Pleckgate One).

Division Three: Malt & Hops v Longshaw; Park Inn v Guide; Sign & Poster v Crown Berger; Stanley Arms v Wellington Samba (Pleasington); Marriotts Acc v James St (Pleckgate Two).

Fixtures for September 12 - LFA Sunday Trophy first round: Wellington Samba v Kings Inn (P); Top; House (Rochdale) v Servicemaster.

Division One: Bee Hive v Station (P); Dexter Paints v New Gardeners (P); Jubilee v Darwen Alex (P). Open date: Lord Raglan.

Division Two: Cooper Rigg v Witton Inn (P); Darwen SP v White Bull (P); Foresters v West End (P); Lammack v Corning Comm (P); Heys Inn v Aqueduct (P1). Open date: Uncle Jack's.

Division Three: James Street v Sign & Poster (P); Longshaw v Park Inn (P); Malt & Hops v Marriotts Accts (P); Crown Berger v Stanley Racing (Oak); Guide v Stanley Arms (P2).

Jennings Brewery Challenge: Cumbrian Trophy Winners v Old Toll Bar (at Workington).

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