Strong line-up chasing Premier Division crown

FOOTBALL: THE Midas Plumbing and Heating Oldham Sunday League gets under way tonight with four new teams bidding for honours in 2013-14.

Alt Athletic, White House, Blue Belle and Dog and Partridge are the newcomers, while reigning Jack Abbott Premier Division champions Legends Bar have merged with Oddies Athletic to become Legends Athletic.

Legends will form part of a nine-team “strongest ever” top flight, according to league vice-chairman Steve Diggle.

“Our Premier Division is one of the most competitive around and all the teams in it are capable of beating each other,” he said. The league will again have 36 teams.

Although Legends will again be expected to challenge for the title, expect Rifle Range — runners-up in the last two seasons — to challenge them strongly. Range have added Ryan Hobin to their squad from the disbanded Red Star CCBC.

With the league’s 50th anniversary three years away, a representative side will once again compete in the inter-league competition next season.

Paddy McGuirk and Mickey Bleach will carry on managing the representative team.