EAST Lancashire Football League is sending out an SOS for new clubs to join as dwindling numbers is causing concern.

Only four clubs from the 14 founder members now remain in the league and Rimington were the latest team to drop out at the start of the season.

Such is the worry that league officials are now preparing to allow teams to join even though they may not have their own ground.

The league has 12 teams in Division One, 10 in Division Two and a further 13 in the Reserve Division. And each club has its own ground.

Presently there are no teams promoted from the Reserve Division but fixture secretary Pete Hargreaves admits that is something they may have to change.

He said: "We are worried about the number of teams that have dropped out of the league in recent years and we want to act now to make sure it doesn't get any worse.

"Promoting teams from the Reserve Division is an option to us but not really a viable one as it could cause a lot of problems if the same club had two teams in the same division. "At the moment we have too many teams for one division and not enough for two divisions."

Only Chatburn, Oswaldtwistle, Trawden Celtic and Altham (now Whinney Hill) have been with the league since it was formed in 1981.

And with Rimmington dropping out at the beginning of the season it meant relegated Hurst Green were reinstated into Division One.

Mr Pilkington added: "It is not the ideal situation to run a league but we don't really know why it is happening. The standard of football in this league is very high and we believe an attractive prospect for teams wanting to play at a higher level.

"The executive have taken the unusual step of allowing teams to join even though they have not got their own ground. It is not the way we would normally like to conduct matters but at the moment we need clubs to join us."

Mr Pilkington said he was also concerned about the lack of Blackburn teams in the league.

He said: "Mill Hill St Peter's are the only team from Blackburn in our league which is quite puzzling really. Obviously there are a lot of players who would prefer to go and watch Blackburn Rovers play rather than play themselves but it would be good if we could boost the numbers from the town."

Anyone interested in joining the East Lancashire League should write to secretary Joe Constable, 66 Dukes Meadow, Ingol, Preston, PR2 7AT or phone 01772 727135.

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