FORMER Notts Premier League side Retford look to restore their pride as quickly as possible. This proud club has a record over the years that compares with the very best in the country.

It may be a testing season for them but they will have their incredible Sri-Lankan all-rounder Chandra Kumara back again for a third consecutive season after winning the top all-rounder gong in the Notts Premier League last season.

Skipper at Cricket Field Lane is John Musgrove and they have also signed seam bowler Iain Bates from the Leicester Premier League, who has recently moved to live near Retford.

Owing to the late movement of their wicket-keeper to another club, Retford have searched for a good replacement and come up with one of the best in former Kiveton star Mick Godber. There have been some good glove men in the league over the years but this guy has certainly been up there with the very best.

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The Retford club have also pledged their future to a thriving youth set-up under the direction of Chris Hall and Chris Kelley and already fruits of their investment are beginning to show.

Bridon, who were without question the team of the 1980's, had a satisfactory season last time and avoided relegation after gaining promotion in 2006.

Roger Wells captains the side this term and Rob McLeod has regained full fitness over the winter period and should be scoring plenty of runs. The club have a tremendous youth policy, which has served them well down the years, and they have high hopes in particular for Aaron Haycock who did well on occasions last season without reaching the consistent level that everyone at the club knows he is capable of.

Simon Davison has developed into a good strike bowler and Wayne Spooner is now once again showing all the ability that was evident a few years ago. They have recruited well and their overseas player will be a young 19-year-old New Zealander, Tim Muir, a leg-break bowler and late-order batsman. Muir was recommended to Bridon by Stuart McCullum the father of the exciting current New Zealand wicket-keeper Brendan McCullum. Stuart played for Bridon in 1979.