THE local cricket season gets under way this weekend, with 14 first team games taking place on Saturday in the Bolton League and Association writes Richard Mulligan

More than 300 players will take part in first and seconds action, a high number when, unlike football, rounders or rugby, one considers those taking part are giving up whole days at a time to compete.

Reigning Bolton League champions Tonge face Greenmount in their season opener, but cricket manager Ray Eccleshare is uncertain about the future of the game as we know it in this town.

"A while back I said that local cricket had 10 years to go," he said." But I've changed my mind now, I'd only give it five years.

"It's a problem of players and money. There just is not the money in the game to keep it going. When you consider the expense of employing umpires, groundsmen, scorers and bar staff it all adds up.

"Pros get a fair amount as well, many might say my club Tonge started the ball rolling on that one, but you can't keep it up.

"On top of that is the increasing cost of maintenance because vandalism is becoming such a problem. A few years ago we could rely on between £3,000 and £4,000 in sponsorship, but there is nothing like that much any more for any team."

He began his love affair with Tonge as a 14-year-old when he made his under 18s debut. He joined with his three brothers Graham, Phillip and Keith, the latter going on to play for Lancashire seconds.

Ray's own son Ian, aged 22, made an impressive start to his first team career with Tonge last season, and with such a family involvement Eccleshare senior cannot understand the dwindling numbers who want to get involved in local cricket, particularly youngsters.

However, he does believe structural changes may help to increase interest.

"People tell me that the 16 and 17-year-old lads do not want to be tied down but I don't go along with that at all," said Ray.

"They say young lads want to be going out over the weekend but I would imagine they can drink as much as they want after eight o'clock or whatever time the game finishes at.

"It's not just a problem in Bolton though. I've spoken to people from big clubs like Rochdale and Bowdon recently and even they are struggling to get a team out for this Saturday.

"There have been many meetings to discuss how we can shake things up a bit, but the amount of people involved in discussions and the number of views expressed make it difficult to make big changes. My own view is we should join up with the Bolton Association and create two divisions.

"After three games of the season most teams have nothing to play for apart from enjoyment, but having divisions would create better rivalries and relegation and promotion fights.

"It would also be good to travel to new places as we only rarely see new grounds from playing in cup competitions."

Ray made his first team bow for Tonge at 20-years-old and then went pro at Lascelles Hall in Huddersfield. He returned to this area for spells with Astley Bridge, High View and the now defunct Bolton Association sides St Andrews and Walker Institute, before returning to Tonge as cricket manager a decade ago.

His job at Tonge is basically anything and everything, and anyone passing Crompton Way last Thursday may well have snatched a glimpse of him painting the ground.

He also works full-time as a computer programmer, but there is no doubt he is doing a thorough job at Tonge, who have won no less than five league titles and the prestigious Lancashire Knock-Out at Old Trafford since he arrived.

Ray added: "My role is basically to run all cricket at the club, but I could not have achieved any of the success without our chairman Frank Baldwin.

"I bring players in, make selections and try to find sponsorship. This year I've made countless phone calls to the Pakistan embassy to try and arrange a visa for our pro Adil Nisar.

"But the rewards are there. There is no doubt the teams who have cricket managers have benefited, look at Egerton, Little Lever and Farnworth Social Circle. It just means the players can concentrate on the cricket while the cricket manager does the organising."

As for predictions it is hard to look beyond Tonge to retain their title, however Ray sees a major threat in the shape of Walkden who were runners-up last season.

"Anyone who finishes above them will do well," he said. "They have not lost any players and have a new pro, Michael Klinger, who has captained Australia's under-19 side.

"We have lost a few players but we have also signed Lee Daggert, who has made Lancashire's second team and is on a cricket scholarship at Durham University. We are obviously aiming for another title but it will be tough."