BURY and Bolton schools are gearing themselves up for the new season's cup competitions.

The flagship Under 16s Individual Schools competition has attracted 75 entries from Greater Manchester and the only three local schools involved in the 1st Round draw are : Sharples v Bramhall, Irlam and Cadishead v Bolton School, Derby School v St. Matthews (Manchester) and Glossopdale v Coney Green.

Withins, Elton, Little Lever, Smithills, St. Gabriel's, Rivington and Blackrod and Philips have been given byes into the 2nd Round.

Meanwhile, 61 schools will be taking part in the new Under 13s Coca Cola Cup and the 1st Round ties involving local schools in that competition are :

Deane v Our Lady's (Oldham), Sharples v Little Lever, Thornleigh v Sale Grammar, Hazel Grove v Smithills, Westhoughton v Plant Hill, St. Gabriel's v Mount St. Joseph's, Elton, Altrincham, Burnage (Manchester) v Turton, St. James (Tottington) v Turton,

Girls football is also booming with 31 schools competing in the Greater Manchester Schools' Under 16s individual schools competition and nine local schools have entered.

Thornleigh are at home to Hartshead (Ashton), Little Lever host Hyde, Rivington and Blackrod travel to meet Royton and Crompton (Oldham) and St. Joseph's make the trip to meet local rivals Castlebrook (Bury).

Woodhey take on St. Bede's (Manchester), St. Gabriel's host Failsworth and St. Monica's come up against Philips at home.

Thirty two schools have entered the Under 13s Girls Coca Cola Cup and there is a strong local interest in that competition.

1st Round tie involving local schools are : St. Monica's (Bury) v St. Paul's (Manchester), Rivington and Blackrod v Deane, Sharples v Barlow (Manchester), Turton v Oakwood (Manchester), Our Lady's (Oldham) v Little Lever, Failsworth v Philips (Bury), Ashton on Mersey v Castlebrook (Bury), Mount St. Joseph's v St. Bede's (Manchester), Thorneligh v Withins, St. Joseph's v St. Gabriel's (Bury), Middleton v Woodhey (Bury).

All four cups will be completed by Christmas with the winners representing Greater Manchester in the national knockout cups.