Sculpher hopes it's worth the wait for Blues

The Blues, who went up as champions of the North West Counties First Division, kick-off their new campaign as they entertain Shepshed Dynamo tomorrow.

And, after an encouraging pre-season, Sculpher can't wait for the real thing to start.

"Tomorrow can't come soon enough," he said.

"From a personal point of view I've been waiting for this day since I came back to Clitheroe four years ago.

"We've gone up in the right way, by winning the league, and we're looking forward to the new challenge."

Sculpher has boosted his defence by signing 18-year-old former Bristol Rovers trainee Chris Nestor and Stuart Boddy, who has played local league football in the Leigh and Bolton areas.

"It's difficult to guage what the quality will be like this season with the changes in the league structure," he said.

"But we'll have to be defensively more equipped."

Sculpher will be without Chris Whittingham, Danny Woodhead, John Paul Fagan and Martin Aspinall.

CHORLEY manager John Hughes will miss the first five games of the season due to a pre-booked working holiday.

But he is confident he is leaving the club in safe hands.

His assistant, Micky Graham, will take charge of the Magpies as they begin the new term at Lincolnshire-based Spalding United, who were promoted from the United Counties league.

"I have no doubt Micky will do well," said Hughes, who has added former Wigan player Jonathan Thompson and ex-Stoke and Leek players Ryan Hutchinson to his squad.

"The squad's coming together and we've had a good pre-season so we've just got to play like we have been doing."

New ROSSENDALE UNITED manager Ashley Hoskin has been forced to make wholesale changes due to a number of depatures.

Paul Eatock, Jimmy Hoyle, Jordan Rispin, Gary Battersby, Stuart Cartridge, Robbie Smith, Paul Forsyth and Jason Anthony have all been drafted in.

Hoskin is looking forward to Dale's first game against a strong Willenhall Town side.