Brotherhood A proved themselves to be a class side last season and were worthy winners of both Division One and the Knock-Out Cup. And, with promising Colchester-based player Tom Hinds added to their winning quartet, they start as favourites for the new season.

Last year’s runners-up Nomads Lions pushed Brotherhood all the way and their talented squad, unchanged from last year, will surely not be far away from the top again this year.

Nomads Panthers were forced into third place last year, thus ending their record-breaking run of 12 consecutive titles. But with Nigel Hodder, Toby McLewin and Olly Reynolds added to their squad of available players this season, they’ve set down a firm marker of their intention to regain the Division One crown.

Two Windsor sides look the best of the rest and both will be hoping for a top-half finish. Windsor Eagles are unchanged, while Ken Lewis makes a welcome return to the Clacton League after a 20-year absence in the colours of Windsor Hawks.

Joe Sherwin is given the opportunity of testing himself at this level in a Brotherhood B side which also includes Russell Stone, while Chris Parr joins Martin Edwards, John Cleasby and Graham Playle in the Brotherhood C squad. 

Mark Gale’s Walton A and Paul Newbould’s Walton B are both unchanged and, with both established and experienced top-flight sides, promoted Brotherhood G start the season as relegation favourites.

Division Two looks exceptionally strong this season with a number of sides containing high-quality players.

Windsor Buzzards have see-sawed between the top two divisions over the past four seasons and their unchanged squad remains the team to beat, whilst Brotherhood F, also unchanged, were only three points off the top spot last season and won’t be far away come next April.

But depending on team selection, last season’s third-placed side, Brotherhood J, could be the surprise team. Minus Joe Sherwin this season, they’ve added three former-First Division players – Miller, Cheung and Leung – to their squad which, on paper, looks a formidable prospect.

Roger Hance is another welcome returnee to the Clacton League and he replaces Stone in Fred Gallone’s Brotherhood D side. They, together with the familiar Lawford team led once again by old hand Ian Sherwood, should have the ability to finish in the top half of the table.

Elsewhere, former Holland player Bob Keefe steps up a division to join Windsor Penguins, who will again be looking to Kelvin Olano-Harper to steer them to a position of respectability, while Andy Hart will be the go-to player in the new look-Nomads Jaguars’ side which also comprises Bob Jillins, Tom Wilkin and John Hockley.

Nomads Tigers, who finished one off the bottom last year, have replaced Wilkin with Chris Petrou, while John Hatley is also named in their squad – which significantly strengthens their side, should it be the intention that he plays regularly.

Much interest will centre on promoted Brotherhood H, who have Joe Hillier and Jack Hillier joining regulars Dan Grindrod and Danny Still, and they could well cause an upset or two, all of which means that Windsor Harriers, who replace long-time skipper Ferdy Rodriguez with Matt Thomas, start as the likeliest relegation candidates.

There are a number of talented teams with promotion credentials in Division Three and any one of them could emerge as top dogs.

Relegated Windsor Kestrels, who are unchanged, will be determined to make a speedy return to Division Two and start as one of the obvious favourites.

But Nomads Leopards, who include Mike Wellum alongside Doug Green, Dominic Joannou and Anne Bonny, look a highly competitive outfit, whilst Lynette Sparks’ Walton C, with Derek Foxley replacing Maggie Earle, won’t be far away from the top.

Windsor Magpies are unchanged for an unprecedented sixth season and, if their players can avoid the injury and illness which plagued them last year, they will surely enjoy a more productive season.

The Holland Club has shuffled their pack of players and, while there’s no Ian Gwillim in the Hurricanes’ side which finished as runners-up last season, they will still fancy their chances of a high-place finish.

Brotherhood K, the only new team in the league, include ex-Windsor player Gary Barnes, Maggie Earle formerly of Walton, and Cris Edwards who returns to League action after a short break. They look a promising outfit, especially as James Smith-Daye has also been signed on for the team.

Elsewhere, League stalwarts Tony Edmonds and Rodney Betts are joined by two new juniors in this year’s Brotherhood E side, while Peter Evans and Ian Gwillim are the leading players for the newly-named Holland Bouncing Bombers, formerly the Vulcans.

Mark Taylor is the captain of a new look-Nomads Ocelots side who will be aiming to avoid last season’s wooden spoon finish, Ferdy Rodriguez drops down a Division to take charge of Windsor Seagulls, formerly the Falcons, in a side that looks thin on players, and although Holland Lancasters welcome Tom Collins back to the League, Dave Wright’s team will need to battle hard to maintain a healthy position.

* The new season begins on 28 September. The League is most grateful to its two new sponsors, the Chigwell Window Centre PLC who will sponsor the League competition and Ken Green Fish Merchants, the new sponsors of the Closed Championships. We thank both companies for their generous support, with particular thanks to John Pattrick and Doug Green.