NEWLY promoted Kendal Cricket Club's first Northern League derby clash of the 2019 season with crosstown rivals Netherfield will take place on Saturday, June 22 at Shap Road.

But fans will be kept waiting for the return fixture at Netherfield's Parkside Road which is scheduled for Saturday, September 7 and is the final Northern League game of the season for both clubs.

Derby rivalries were put on ice for a time following Kendal's 2017 relegation, but hostilities will resume this term after the Shap Road side won promotion back to the Northern League at the first attempt.

Last season's successful Palace Shield Premier Division campaign, which saw Kendal finish 18 points behind champions Longridge, was enough to clinch that promotion.

But they will have to find their feet quickly on their return to the tough world of the Northern League as they begin their league campaign with a trip to perennial title chasers Leyland on Saturday, April 20.

Netherfield meanwhile kick off their campaign on the same day with a home clash against new boys Longridge.

The full Northern League fixtures can be accessed via the following link http://www.northerncricketleague.org.uk/news/npl-2019-fixtures-25294/.

The fixtures were released a few hours before last week's league AGM, during which it was announced that the Northern League would be setting up a new Junior Academy.

Former Lancashire skipper Tom Smith, who played in the Northern League as both professional and amateur with Chorley, has been confirmed as the head coach of the new academy, which will begin its operation with an eight week coaching programme beginning in January 2019.

Both Netherfield and Kendal, along with the other 10 member clubs, have been asked to nominate two junior players to attend this inaugural pre-season coaching programme.

"The aim is to create an annual junior development programme to identify talent for our representative teams and also to identify players for potential county representation," said Northern League chairman Chris Lavery.

Mr Lavery said there were no major changes to league rules for next season and he was looking forward to am exciting and competitive 2019 season.