Stockton have three debutants lined up for their opening NEPL home fixture today, with the added spice of their major close-season signing being pitted against his former teammates.

Allan Worthy is the only man in NEPL history to have made 10,000 league runs. The former Blaydon run machine has plied his trade at Hetton Lyons for the last couple of years but decided upon a move to Grangefield where he is joined by fellow first-timers Mitchell Gardner, a New Zealander, and former Durham man Ryan Buckley.

With Jamie Harrison possibly also playing, and in decent nick after a successful run out with Durham’s second team earlier this week, the Teessiders are confident of a positive start. Lyons finished mid-table last year, well ahead of today’s opponents, but Worthy was comfortably their top performer with the bat and with leading bowler Lal Kumar, along with Martin Pollard and Gary Scott, also having moved on Hetton will place their faith in a youthful side augmented by Faiz Fazal, who has played for India A.

Eppleton are geared up for their Premier debut. They face Newcastle at Church Road and expect to have a full strength line-up, including Durham’s Paul Coughlin. Whitburn will have to cope without the services of opening bat Neil Ayre, the 39-year-old recently deciding it was time to retire after a distinguished one-club career.

In the First Division it’s a case of back to the future when Mainsforth take on Tudhoe.

The sides are former Durham County League stablemates, the unexpected reunion set up by the recent resignation of South Hetton from the NEPL which enabled Mainsforth to be given a leg-up to the big time. Both teams are at full strength with their overseas men already in residence.

The NTSL season starts today with champions Shotley Bridge, now led by Stuart Graham following the retirement of Peter Collingwood, beginning the defence of their crown at home to Percy Main. Paul Dumighan skippers perennial challengers Swalwell for an amazing 20th year in a row – they entertain Ponteland.