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1876 SEASON PREVIEW

It took two tiebreaker games for Angel Islington to win their first Metropolitan League championship last year but most people think they will win a second more comfortably this year, as they are overwhelming favourites to take the championship. Clapham will be among the leading challengers again having come within a game of defending their own title last year, while Putney look to be strong as well. The renamed Westminster Academic should also go well, although it remains to be seen how they will cope with being forced to change their home field. Peckham, who perhaps should have won the championship last time, look to have missed their chance as few expect them to challenge this time.

Another close race looks certain in the Middlesex County League, with Edmonton looking to make up for losing a tiebreaker to Brentford last year and seeming sure to challenge again. They will likely battle with a Tottenham team who faded badly last year after a strong start. Brentford will go close again due to the quality of their pitching, while Isleworth also look to be contenders. A strong batting line-up makes the Royal Engineers favourites with many to take the Kent County League this season, with Bexley Heath looking likely to be their strongest challengers. Few give Rochester a chance of winning a third successive title, while Gravesend are also being ruled out despite coming within a game of the championship last year. The two new teams, Sheerness and Tunbridge Wells, look set to have a good first campaign but be a little way short of challenging for the title.

Champions Kingston are favourites to win the Surrey County League again, with last year’s runners-up Croydon not expected to feature in the race this time. Reigate and Wimbledon are seen as the most likely challengers to Kingston’s crown, but there are few who are predicting that either will actually take the title. Forest Gate struggled over the finishing line in the Essex County League’s first season and are not fancied to take another title, with Romford the favourites for many to succeed them as champions. Barking and Pig Alley are also well backed, with the Three Blackbirds of Leyton possible contenders as well. West Ham are expected to finish last after a dreadful second half to the last campaign.

Belle Vue Gardens have been left behind by their Manchester neighbours up to now but there are plenty of observers who think that will change this season as they are favourites with many to be champions for the first time, largely due to strong hitting. Champions Miles Platting and former winners Irwell won’t be far away though and both new teams, Ashton under Lyne and Glossop Hall, are likely to go well with Ashton especially well backed. Salford’s run of championship challenges could be over though as they are expected to drop back into the middle of the pack. Liverpool St Patrick’s could make it six titles in six years in the Liverpool and District League, but will face strong challenges from Wigan and Anfield, with many thinking that the race between these three could be too close to call. Great Float and Linacre should both have good seasons but look a little way off challenging. The Lancashire County League looks to be the toughest to call this year as all six teams appear closely matched. Burnley are by a fraction the most common choice as potential champions, but Blackburn in particular look set to run them very close while champions Over Darwen, who edged out Blackburn last year, will also be in contention again.

Last season’s race in the Leeds and Bradford League was a tight battle between Leeds Central and eventual winners Dewsbury and most people expect this year to be similar, with many predicting another tiebreaker to determine the champions. The two won’t have it all their own way though, as Batley and Wakefield also look strong while Huddersfield and three-time winners Bradford won’t be far away either. Strong pitching gives newcomers Chesterfield a chance of winning the Sheffield and District League at the first attempt, while two-time winners Sanderson’s Weir are likely to be their strongest opposition. Champions Doncaster won’t be too far away but might be a little short this year, while the other newcomers Worksop look likely to have a much tougher season. The new Yorkshire County League looks likely to be a three-way fight between Beverley and the two Hull clubs, who open the season by meeting one another. There doesn’t look to be too much between the three, but for many people East of Hull are marginal favourites to take the inaugural title. Newcastle Westgate are most people’s choice to be the first winners of the Tyne and Wear League, with Jesmond and Wearmouth possibly the best of the rest. Gateshead look to be by some distance the weakest team.

In the Birmingham and District League, many people think that champions Dudley will be a little off the pace this year, with Birmingham Main Line the favourites to take the championship for the first time. It will be a close race however with Aston and Small Heath also well backed, and West Bromwich looking sure to be in the running for their second title in three years. Of the new clubs, neither Bilston or Wednesbury are expected to post a winning record although neither should struggle too badly. Champions Ilkeston are expected to face strong competition from Midland Loco and Trent Bridge in the Derby and Nottingham League this year, with many people unable to split the three and expecting a tiebreaker of some kind to be needed. Derby and Old Basford, who came so close last year, look to have fallen away this time. In the Leicester and Northampton League, champions Leicester South Fields are not widely backed to retain the crown, instead it could be their city neighbours St Margaret’s or last year’s runners-up Wellingborough who take the championship. Northampton do not look far away from a strong challenge either. Bath Spa are the only team who are being ruled out of the race in the Bristol and District League, with most observers feeling that there is little to choose between the other five clubs. Bristol Easton are marginally the most common choice as potential winners but a close race seems certain.

Burgh of Partick are going for a fourth successive title in the Glasgow and District League and opinion is split between those who think they will get it and those who feel that Tollcross or Lanark-Renfrew might take it away from them. After a strong debut season, many feel that Tail o’ the Bank and Airdrie could slip back away from contention this season. In the East of Scotland League, Dunfermline could well make it three successive titles although there is expected to be a strong challenge from Haymarket, while Arthur’s Seat will not be too far away either having finished second in all three seasons of the league’s existence so far. The new North Caledonian League could be a fight between Moncreiffe Island and Firth of Tay, although Aberdeen don’t look to be too far away from challenging either.

In the universities, Oxford champions New College are likely to challenge again and Magdalen also look strong, but it could be St Edmund Hall who are the team to beat this year. At Cambridge, Emmanuel lost a tiebreaker for the championship last year but are backed by many to go one better this time as they look to be the strongest team. Their closest challengers are likely to be Clare College, who have been close twice since winning their only title three years ago. All the newcomers in the two leagues look likely to struggle in their first seasons, and may well fill the bottom two places in each league.