The third team welcome Barnby Dunn to Woolley for only their second ever South Yorkshire Cricket League fixture. The two sides met regularly in the Pontefract League, where Barnsley’s fourth team played, once upon a time.

Alex Gough will enter his fourth season as skipper in what has been an eventful time as captain. In 2022 his heroics on the last day of the season kept the side in Division Four before they gained promotion the following year. Last year with an unsettled first two sides, it meant that Alex struggled to field a settled side and were relegated in their first season in Division Three. He’ll be hoping for a repeat of 2023 and to battle it out at the right end of the table this campaign.

Again, like the second team, the majority of the side is made up of teenagers, but the talent of those players will hopefully shine through and give the side the perfect start to the season.

Oliver Heseltine has been promoted this season and will also don the gloves in week one. Freddie Egginton will hope to secure a role in the top four throughout the season as he looks for opportunities at a higher level.

The seam options will consist of Finlay Parker-Wake and two 15 year olds in Zain Ali and Ollie Chapman-Stott. Ishaq Shenwari makes his Barnsley debut alongside Zain, who has moved from Whiston PC.

Dairen Hirst-Spalding has impressed at training so far this season and can feel himself a little unlucky not to have been named in the second eleven. The club are sure he’ll kick on this season and grab every opportunity with both hands.

Callum Bentley will provide the experience and helping hand that Alex can lean on and Liam Margison and Ethan Shillito will only strengthen what looks a fairly strong yet young side this Saturday.