New Northern League sponsors (From The Westmorland Gazette)

New Northern League sponsors

9:21am Friday 19th December 2008 in Sport By Gazette Sports

FURNESS Building Society are new the new sponsors of Northern League cricket after agreeing a two-year deal which starts in 2009.

Henceforth, the competition will be known as the Furness Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League (incorporating 3D Sports).

Defending champions Netherfield start off the league fixtures with a bye on April 18 and are away to Preston on April 25. The first league match at Parkside Road will be against Lancaster on Saturday, May 2.

Kendal will face an away trip to Barrow on the opening day, April 18, and will host Blackpool on the following Saturday.

In the first round of the Furness Building Society Cup, Kendal have been drawn at home to Preston. If successful they will be away to Leyland or Morecambe in round two.

Netherfield have a bye in round one and are drawn at home to the winners of Chorley and Barrow in round two.

Cockspur have withdrawn their long-established sponsorship of the ECB National 45-Over Knockout and instead have put their money behind a new Twenty-20 National Cup for clubs.

The ECB have decided to carry on with the 45-over National competition without a sponsor.

Next season's competition has been restricted to 256 clubs and the draw will be made in January.