NEWLY promoted Duddon United will be thrown straight into the deep end when they kick-off their Queensferry Sports Premier Division campaign this week.

The season's opening fixtures are scheduled for Wednesday, but United must wait until Friday night for their first game when they face champions and League Cup winners Tarporley Vics.

The game is one of a full set of fixtures on Friday to avoid any clash with the England v Wales clash on the following Saturday.

Blacon YC Reserves face up to life back in the Chester & District League after dropping out of the West Cheshire League and they are to be given a tough examination from last year's third-placed team Brewery Arms.

Last year's runners-up Newton Athletic Youth travel to Kydds Athletic in their first game.

Last year's Division One champions Team Highfield travel to Barrow for their opening fixture on Wednesday and face Brewery Arms away in their second game. nThe South Wirral League has folded due to a shortage of clubs.

A general meeting of the Chester & District League will be held tonight to discuss the election of the remaining clubs, Avon Athletic, Bebington Athletic, Rangers Brakes and Runcorn Albion.

Paul Graham, league secretary, said: 'It is always very sad when a league ends like this but we have discussed the election of these teams with our members and they all seem positive about the idea of accepting them into our league as quickly as possible.'