FOLLOWING the addition three seasons ago of the successful North West Alliance to the ranks of the Bolton Combination, the league is to expand even further.

The Alliance Division provides a superb competitive top level base for the Reserves sides of many of the North West's major non-League football clubs and, for the 1998/99 season, this will be augmented by a Youth League.

The division will be for Under 18 sides and to enter, clubs must have their own enclosed ground and changing facilities.

Combination League Secretary Geoff Parkinson, who has forefronted this initiative, comments: "The new Division strengthens our league and takes us back, In terms of the area and quality of our member teams, into being one of the best in the North West.

"From being a sleeping giant, we are now back in the forefront of both local football in Bolton and district, as well as throughout Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cheshire.

"We cover a larger area than both the Manchester League and West Lancs League put together, and next season we will have five divisions. We are no longer a parochial league, as we now stretch over a large area of the North West, and arguably only the Conference, Unibond and North West Counties are bigger. "That is the sort of league the Combination has become and we will certainly be saying this to potential sponsors."

Already in with definite applications are Altrincham, Curzon Ashton, Colne, Euxton Villa, Formby, Lancaster City, Mond Rangers, New Mills, Prescot Cables, Runcorn, Rossendale Utd, Salford City, Southport, Winsford Utd and Prestwich Heys. If any further clubs are interested, Geoff can be contacted on 0161 702 0457.?

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