HISTORY beckons for the Lancashire League this weekend as, for the first time in 114 years, there will be some new names among the Burnleys, Lowerhouses, Accringtons and Haslingdens when the scorecards start rolling in.

Clitheroe and Great Harwood arrive from the Ribblesdale League, while Darwen have transferred from the Northern League, to boost the numbers to 17 for the 2017 campaign.

Clitheroe captain Paul Gaskell has guided the Chatburn Road club to the title in each of the last four seasons, and they did the treble last year by claiming Ramsbottom Cup and T20 honours as well.

The new league is a mouthwatering prospect for his side and Gaskell is aware of the level of competition they will face.

“It will be the battles we are looking forward to, the competition,” he said.

“A few of us went to the Lowerhouse v Burnley game a few years back; let me tell you, you cannot hide on there.

“I am looking forward to seeing players develop and grasp the new challenge. The league is obviously tougher but that’s the challenge we look forward to.

“We cannot wait to get started. We have wanted to join this league and now we are ready to show them what we can do.”

Clitheroe have brought in former Pakistan Test all-rounder Fawad Alam as pro, while Great Harwood are sticking with Sri Lankan Ashen Silva.

Their captain, Patrick Swanney, said: “Being new, we are hoping to make a positive start in the league.

“It is hard to provide estimates of exactly how we will do. But coming from a split league, we know that this format helps keep all games exciting and interesting throughout the season and it ensures that each team always has something to play for.”

Darwen struggled in the Northern League last season, but skipper Mark Friend says they are going into their Lancashire League debut expecting some ‘interesting cricket’.

“We’re going into it with an open mind,” he told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“There are a lot of new teams to play and a lot of new grounds to visit and we have prepared well for what should be a season of interesting cricket.

“It’s an exciting time for the Lancashire League, with the three new teams coming in, and there seems to have been a lot of ins and outs with all the clubs this winter.”

The Towers will have new professional Calvin Savage available for tomorrow’s opener at Rawtenstall, and also welcome back some familiar faces.

Former skipper Jordan Clark returns from Australia, although he misses the first three matches, while Neil Cordingley, who only played one game last season, should be available on a more regular basis.

And the skipper’s brother Scott has moved back up from London to take his place back in the squad.

Friend says geography has played a part in the boost in numbers, with shorter trips in the Lancashire League meaning players will find it easier to commit most weekends.

And he insists there is an air of excitement around Birch Hall again.

“We’ve done well in the Northern League over the years and now, hopefully, we can start earning a few accolades in the Lancashire League,” he added.

“We know there are some strong sides in there, but we are not really looking at it like that.

“We want to play well, of course, but we also want to enjoy it.”