Accrington make the journey to Rawtenstall on Sunday for the opening game of the 2026 season.
Jacob Clarke's men will be looking to repeat their win in the penultimate match of last season when an unbroken 6th wicket stand of 28 between Emile Haratbar and Nathaniel Young took Accrington to a 5 wicket win.
Accrington include new signings Jonny Dack, Sam Molloy and Kian Farnworth, who has returned to the club.
Jacob Clarke begins his first full season as captain with professional Jurie Snyman returning for a third season.
Tom Braysford (Church), Toq Hussain (retired), Siraj Hussain (unknown), Abbas Ahmad (Oswaldtwistle Immanuel) have left the club.
Under new captain Mat Kershaw, Rawtenstall include new professional Roshan Lakmal, Chris Cook-Martin and league legend Keith Roscoe who needs 38 wickets to become the Lancashire League's all time leading wicket taker.
The Match Ball Sponsor is G and E Hayhurst.
The seconds, again led by Antonio Lo-Giudice, host Rawtenstall in the reverse fixture.
The thirds will begin their campaign next Saturday with a home match against Clitheroe 4th XI.
This season we are looking back at the long hot summer of 1976 when the club finished as runners up in both league and cup to Rawtenstall and also the less successful season of 1996 when the club finished bottom for the third season running in it's 150th year with Chad Grainger as professional.
We will start looking back at 1976 next week as the season didn't start until April 25th.
Accrington' went down to a 50 run defeat to Colne on the opening day of the 1996 season at Thorneyholme Road.
To get the feel of the club back in 1996 please visit the monthly Newsletters on Crickethistory.website.
https://crickethistory.website/club/accrington/accrington_newsletters_1996/index.html
