LEIGH Athletics' new venture into the Manchester League begins in earnest tomorrow with a home game against Milton.

After many years in the Lancashire Amateur League the Madeley Park outfit decided on a switch of competition to fall in line with the long term ambitions of the club.

"We can't wait to get cracking," enthuses first team boss Andy Pickles. "We know nothing about our first opponents and that will be the case with nearly every game this season. It's quite exciting. What we have to do is concentrate on our own game and let them worry about us.

"I couldn't be more pleased with the way pre-season has gone. The training has been supervised by Alan Urmston and Jimmy Evans and they've really put the lads through it. The players will be reaching peak fitness just at the right time and the plan with Alan, Jimmy and myself is that we will play if and when required.

"I've managed to bring one or two quality new players in, particularly Gary Prescot who was with Leigh RMI and played against Fulham in the FA Cup. Striker Dean Lee has also returned to us, as have Steve Bevan and brothers Rob and John Marsden.

"Rick Wilson had a knee op this week and he could be back in six or eight's weeks and his brother Danny looks to have shaken off his injury problems of last season which will be a big bonus for us. Craig Little has looked more like his old self in the build up and if he could start finding the back of the net again with his usual consistency we could just be in for another exciting time."

Tomorrow's first league game is followed on Monday with a Wigan Cup home tie against Daisy Hill, followed the night after by an away league game at Avro.