CLITHEROE begin the new North West Counties first division campaign against Prescot Cables tomorrow - and the club are praying for good weather!

New chairman Dave Burgess is holding a fund-raising barbecue after the game to raise much-needed cash for the Shawbridge club.

The Blues do not have a wealthy backer and rely on gate money and fund-raisers to bring in the necessary cash to keep the club running.

Burgess, a former manager at the club, took over as chief in July after a three-month trial period and now wants to help manager Lee Sculpher finish the job he started - getting the club to the UniBond League.

"It's the same old story really, we are self-financing, any money we raise goes straight back into the club and that is important if we are going to be successful.

"I need to be able to release the right funds for Scully and raise the profile of the club and we have done that with a couple of events over the summer.

"I have been manager so I know what he needs to be successful. The aim for the season, as it is every season, is to get in the UniBond League.

"At five to three tomorrow there will be 20-odd managers all telling their players they are good enough to win the league but there will only be one club that will go up.

"We think we are in a good position now. We just need to build on what we have achieved over the last two seasons, finishing second and then fifth and reaching the semis and quarter finals of the Vase, and turn it into a bit of success."

Ramsbottom, who finished 12th in the league last season after pushing for promotion the season before, hope to get back on track this time out.

Manager Mike Kelly has made a number of good signings and the club were boosted recently with the news that top scorer Russell Brierley had signed a new one-year contract.

Former Manchester City midfielder Scott Thomas has joined the club, as has goalkeeper Simon Marsh from Chorley.