1:43pm Saturday 22nd August 2009
By Gazette Sports
AMBLESIDE United go hunting for a third consecutrive Westmorland League title when the new season opens on Saturday.
It will be a special achievement whoever wins it is the league's centenary, which will be marked by a special dinner in September.
And Ambleside manager Steve Edmondson cannot wait for the campaign to begin.
"It looks as if it's going to be very close again in the First Division title race.
"Wetheriggs United are always strong but Kendal County are reported to have strengthened their squad and the young improving Carvetii United side will be hard to beat, so it looks like a close tussle ahead.
Ambleside retain their core squad and welcome back 18-year-old Mike Barron, who has been playing at a higher level with Lancaster and Chorley.
The midfielder looks a likely playmaker for an Ambleside, who have Jamie Parkinson and David Cooper up front, though Zach Clark is playing with Clitheroe and scoring goals.
Another player returning to Hillard Park is midfielder Phil Gavin, who has spent a year in Australia.
Tom Bush, who has had experience with Kendal Town, is expected to play ibn goal when available.
Ambleside's young Reserves - with a lot of last year's Under-16 side coming through - weill be managed by Rob Hunt and Ian Clarke.
Meanwhile, league secretary and treasurer Ron Wilkinson is hoping for better luck thna last year when the league's cup competitions were wiped out.
"We're getting wetter, warmer winters and there were so many games postponed, that it was felt we couldn't get the cups completed in time."
Greystoke Reserves have dropped out of the Four Division and are replaced by Penrith Saints, a side based at Frenchfields and based around the sports centre.
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