LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE LEAGUE

WHILE teams recover their energy in the mid-season break the league committee have been busy preparing for what looks like a busy second half to the season with plenty of titles and trophies up for grabs.

Last season saw the launch of the North West Cup involving teams from the L and C and their long-standing friends and rivals the Lancashire Amateur League.

The competition last year was won by Land C champions Moston Brook who beat fellow L and C team Irlam Steel Rangers in the final.

Competing will be the top 16 teams in each league and the draws will try and be arranged to give the teams involved games with the other league as far as it can be done.

Round one sees Moston Brook drawn at home to Accrington Amateurs with the game being played on Saturday January 13 and the winners go through to round two on February 3.

The rest of the draw is -Irlam Steel Rangers v Ashtonians, Old

Blackburnians v Sale Ams, Village Manchester v Winstanley St Aidans, Wardle v Hattersley, Bury Ams v Whitworth Valley, Roach Dynamos v Hazel Grove, Moston Brook Reserves v Radcliffe Town. Howe Bridge Mills v Trafford United, Burnley United v Old Stretfordians, North Walkden v Old Mancunians, Bolton

Wyresdale v Bedians, Mellor v Rochdale St Clements, Old Boltonians v AFC Monton, Abacus Media v Chaddertonians, Burnley Belvedere v Salford Vics.

L and C Chairman Mike Yates said: “We set up the competition in conjunction with our old friends from the LaL to offer an extra competition in the season adding variety along with our own league and cup competitions as well as County Cup competitions – where we have several of our teams reaching the latter end of the competitions.

“The North West Cup went well last season and should go from strength to strength in 2024.”