Stainsby Hall as the one demoted side will be anxious to climb straight back. Their task has been made more difficult by the fact that they have lost key players Peter Davies, Adrian Marsh, Simon Lacey, Michael Deane and their overseas player Damien Collard, all of whom have joined other clubs. However there is some consolation with the signing of South African Greg Smith who has played for the South African Under 19's. They will have to rely on their own home grown players.

Spondon were placed third last season and will be aiming for top spot. Opening bowler, Paul Cook, is fit again and will captain the side. They have lost Zakir Hussain but have gained Peter Davies who returns to the club where he started his cricket. He will keep wicket and is expected to get a lot of runs. As their overseas player they have registered Aussie Wayne Richardson, aged 24, who is an A grade player for Tasmanian side Mowbray and has played for the North Tasmanian Cricket Association.

Morton Colliery will be captained by John Aspinall and will operate with much the same squad as last season, with the exception of their overseas player. This season they have signed Aussie James Millar who comes from Melbourne and is a friend of Scott Phillips who served them so well last season.

Shipley Hall are expecting the return of Harvinder Singh Sodhi as their opening bowler, and they have signed Zakir Hussain from Spondon. They have one new player, Gary Higginbottom, who comes from Old Park and will be challenging Simon Lacey for the off-spinner spot in the first team.

Staveley Welfare are hoping to sign an Australian overseas player but otherwise they will stick to their existing squad. They are spending their money on improving facilities with the priority in the acquisition of mobile nets.

Elvaston reached the final of the National Village competition for the third time last year, to be beaten after having won the previous two finals. No doubt they will join the competition again this season but they have given an assurance that they will give greater priority to the League's cup competitions. Their ground improvement has continued with the erection of a new score box to be named after their long serving secretary, Derek Heafield, who died in February this year.

Lullington Park are an ambitious club. They have created two excellenr grounds out of a field which was previously grazing land and are now busily raising funds to enlarge the Pavilion. With their extended facilities they hope to establish a Ladies section. They have a strong youth programme which is supervised by Howard Dytham, an official of the Derbyshire Cricket Board who will captain the first XI. Their aim is to develop their own players and they already have some promising youngsters coming through.

Belper Meadows have no new players. Their overseas player of the last two years, Scott Sager, is not returning, but they may have a replacement by the start of the season. They have one of the best appointed grounds in the County and should be attracting quality players, but it is a strong side and they will be expected to compete with the best.

West Hallam will still be playing on their old ground on Beech Lane, but they have high hopes of moving to their new spot at Cock Orchard in season 2003. Their overseas player of last year, New Zealander Campbell Ogilvie, will be returning and will captain the side, which will be much the same as last year.

Selston Town were the winners of Division 2. Chris Dunn resumes as captain and the side will be much the same as last year with trhe addition of an overseas player, Aussie Matt Lane who plays in the Mornington Peninsula Cricket League Victoria. The club is planning a major overhaul of their ground which will involve extensive drainage work.

Marehay were the runners up in Division 2 and are confident that they will perform well. They are now settled in their new ground and beginning to climb up the League. They are hopeful of signing an an overseas player by the beginning of the season.

The two clubs who joined the League last season, Rolleston and Alfreton performed well in Division 2 and can be expected to do even better this season. Rolleston ended up in fourth position They will be relying on the same squad and they will not be having any paid players because this is forbidden by their rules. They continue to improve their ground and will be starting the season with new covers. Alfreton are expected to sign a New Zealander as their overseas player. They have lost their opening bowler Richard Briggs, but welcome back a fit Heath Piennaar, an all-rounder. They have been busy refurbishing their clubhouse.

This will be the last season before the League is reorganised and there will be much speculation on the revised structure The pattern will be determined by the final League tables and the location of the clubs, and every effort will be made to satisfy the wishes of those clubs who are situated near the borderline between North and South.

GWYN JONES - press officer

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