IT'S ALL change at Church as they look to put behind them a disappointing season last time out.
After challenging for title honours in 2004 they finished 11th in the Lancashire League last summer and want an improvement.
There has been five new additions with bowler Alan Howarth, young batsman Ryan North and Oliver Ribgy, who opens the batting for Lancashire Under 17s, all joining from Haslingden.
Young talent Andrew Metcalf has been snapped up from Oswaldtwistle Immanuel while Adam Jarrett has signed from Enfield.
Long serving batsman Mark Aspin has hung up his pads but Church have their prolific Sri Lankan professional Ruven Peiris back.
Peiris was the star of the otherwise poor season with 1127 league runs for the summer.
"There have been a few changes but it is good to have Ruven back," said skipper Phil Sykes.
"Ruven has been very good for the last couple of years and has put in some good performances for the side. He knows what it is all about having come over to England for the last nine or ten years. He knows the conditions so I am sure he will continue where he left off.
"He has a good season in Sri Lanka, he has played all the first class games and has got a couple of centuries so hopefully he will carry on.
"We have lost Mark Aspin who has been a good player for us for the last 10 years but, with five additions, we are hoping we can move up the league. It means we have more competition for places which can only be good for the club."
Church are hoping things go in their favour this summer.
"It was the same team who did so well the season before and we didn't really support the pro last year. We didn't win the close games we were winning the year before and that is why we finished so far down the league.
"Several amateurs were disappointed with their own performances and it shows it is a fine line between finishing near the top and near the bottom. If we play to our potential we can be up there but there is the chance that, if we don't, we could struggle again."
All the Hyndburn clubs finished in four out of the bottom five places but the Church skippers says it should be different this year.
"Accrington have David Ormerod, Peter Sleep is always competitive for Rishton while Enfield have Bernard Reidy back so I think all the Hyndburn teams will be a lot stronger than they were last year.
"I think, for the title, East Lancs will be strong and Colne could have a good season but I think the team to keep an eye on is Rawtenstall. They have a strong batting and bowling line up and they are my tip - after us!"
And Sykes is hopeful his side get off to a good start against Nelson - especially himself!
"I had a nightmare start to the season last year - my worst start for 13 years - but then I came good at the end and still ended up with 500 runs. Both me and Mark Aspin came good at the end but by that stage we had lost our momentum."
