Clarets to face league newcomers in reserve league

Last updated : 10 June 2006 By Tony Scholes

To move to Accy was a decision made during the 2004/05 season when the Turf Moor pitch was struggling but it is a decision that has drastically cut the attendances at reserve games and towards the end of last season you could quickly count the numbers.

There were rumours that, like Preston, our reserves under coach Steve Davis could be pulling out of the Pontin's League. However, that hasn't happened and we line up again next season in Division One West, a league that has increased by one to eleven clubs for next season.

Gone are Preston, after Billy Davies decided he wanted to play friendlies, and neither will we play Shrewsbury next season as they have moved into Division One Central. Coming into the league, along with Accrington, are Oldham, who strangely were placed in the Central Division last season, and Manchester City.

Presumably it will be City's third team, as it was with Manchester United during the 2004/05 season. That takes it to eleven clubs which will mean a total of twenty games, two more than last season.

The full line up of Division One West is: Accrington Stanley, Blackpool, Burnley, Bury, Carlisle United, Chester City, Manchester City, Oldham Athletic, Rochdale, Tranmere Rovers and Wrexham.

Division One Central will include: Barnsley, Birmingham City, Bradford City, Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, Nottingham Forest, Port Vale, Sheffield Wednesday, Shrewsbury Town, Stoke City, Walsall and West Bromwich Albion.

And the line up for Division One East is: Darlington, Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby Town, Hartlepool United, Hull City, Lincoln City, Rotherham United, Scunthorpe United, Sheffield United and York City.