HAVING chased Bacup home from a long way back last season, Enfield began their preparations for the new Lancashire League campaign confident of getting a lot closer this time.

But last weekend they suffered a big blow when they newly appointed captain Gary Barker injured his ankle to potentially put him out for the season.

"Gary was the only player we had coming in this season," explained chairman Geoff Dixon. "He has obviously been with us before and he was coming back having already broken the club record for batting.

"It was a big boost to us, the prospect of having him coming in at three or four, but then he turned his ankle in the field in a game at Fleetwood and he has been in hospital this week.

"But it is just one of those things and there is not a lot we can do about it. We have another warm-up match against Little Lever this weekend and we obviously hope there are no more setbacks."

Despite the loss of the skipper, the mood in the Enfield camp remains buoyant and not just because they have the services of Martin Van Jaarsveldt as the club pro for a third successive season.

"We have a good mix of youth and experience and we are confident we can put a good challenge this season," said Dixon. "We are going to have to rearrange the middle order after Gary's injury but in Russell Edmonds and Lance Jackson we have a strong opening partnership.

"One of the young players coming through is Adam Bracewell who has been playing with the Lancashire Under-19 side. He is a batsman and already a brilliant fielder.

"He will probably be batting in the first four and we have also got his brother David who is another promising player.

"We have got good all round strength in the side and we are glad to welcome back Andrew Barker full time this season after the shoulder injury that restricted him last time around."

The chairman added that they have a couple of young bowlers that are hoping to have an impact this season.

"We have got spinner Imran Abid and Robert Green who is a pace bowler," he said as they look to go into action with a varied attack.

As for the biggest rivals in the chase for glory, unsurprisingly everyone at Enfield sees Bacup as the team to beat.

"We were never out of the top four last season but we didn't really threaten Bacup," he said. "But we did beat them on the last day of last season and they are our opening fixture so we are hoping for a good start.

"I thought East Lancashire would do better last season, Haslingden will be a threat and if you want an outsider then I fancy Ramsbottom.

"But it will depend on how well the professionals perform at different clubs, that is always a key factor."

Having had an injury problem before a shot has been played in anger, the Enfield players are just anxious to get underway. A win against the champions next weekend would be the perfect way to underline the club's ambitions.

MARTIN VAN JAARSVELD

ENFIELD will be forced to play the first three games of the season with a substitute professional in their side but they know that South African Martin Van Jaarsveld is well worth the wait.

"Martin is currently touring with the South African A squad and so we will have to start without him," explained chairman Geoff Dixon.

"They have not yet announced their touring party for the summer and from a selfish point of view we will hope that Martin is not in it because we would love to have him back here again.

"He is an excellent influence in the dressing room, on the field and in the nets.

"But he is just as good when it comes to being involved in club functions and it is fair to say that on and off the field he is a thoroughly professional professional.

"He has done really well in his two seasons with us and before that hew as with Lowerhouses. It is fair to say he knows the Lancashire League well and his attitude is never anything less than 100 per cent right."

Van Jaarsveld cannot only bat and bowl, he is an outstanding fielder and his presence in the side is one reason why Enfield are fancied by many of their rivals to put up a strong challenge for honours.

He scored over 1000 runs last season and took 49 wickets as Enfield finished best of the rest behind runaway winners Bacup.

If he remains fit and in form he will be the man the opposition will be desperate to dismiss or see off.

In the meantime the club will field Franklin Rose in their first two Sunday matches of the season with Nick Treanor the replacement pro on the Saturday game Van Jaarsveld misses.

MARTIN VAN JAARSVELD

League champions: 1909, 1943, 1972

Cup honours: 1978, 1979, 1989, 1991

F Rose (West Indies) 1995/96

pictured

R J Ratanayayke (Sri Lanka) 1986

Madan Lal (India) 1984

K Barker (West Indies) 1965-66

C Hunte (West Indies) 1957-62

C Walcott (West Indies) 1951-54