THE McGuinness Trading Ltd-sponsored Frome Sunday League is to expand for the new season. At the league's annual meeting applications were received from seven new clubs, and one from Witham Friary, who were looking to rejoin after a spell in the Blackmore Vale League.

The other clubs looking to join were, Royal Oak (Frome), Permaframe Utd, Team Frome, Trowbridge Ath, AC Mee Lamb (Paulton), Paulton Milan and Norton Nomads.

With Winterfield the only club to withdraw, the number of teams in the League this year was increased to 31. The decision was taken to add an extra division, something the management committee had been looking to do.

The set-up for season 2005-06 will be: Premier League 10 teams, Division One 11 teams and the new Division Two 10 teams.

Two clubs have changed their name. AFC Purnells will be known as Purnells Cricketers and Cock Inn Rangers will run as Yew Tree Rangers.

Other competitions being run this season include the Care+Mobility Tony Whorlow Memorial Cup, which is the league's main knockout cup, and the Kevin Lucas Memorial Cup, for teams knocked out of the Care+Mobility TWMC at the first-round stage.

The divisional cups are The Su Hodson Premier League Knockout Cup, the Gordon Smith Surfacing Ltd Division One Knockout Cup and the Division Two Knockout Cup

To this list has been added the Dennis Whitlock Memorial Charity Trophy. This trophy will be played for on an annual basis, and the Premier League champions will play the winners of the Care+Mobility TWMC, which this season will be Elm Tree Sports v Coleford Utd. This game will be the league curtain raiser on Sunday, September 4.

Mr Whitlock was a long-serving and much respected member of the League, and a representative on the Somerset FA.

The league would like to hear from any business or individual prepared to support this competition, either financially or with the donation of anything that could be used as a draw prize. Contact the league secretary on (01761) 431355.

September 11 will see the start of competition with the first round of the Care+Mobility Tony Whorlow Memorial Cup.

The draw is: Elm Tree Spts v Yew Tree Rangers, JBs Lions v Bearberry Club, Mallards v Team Frome, Ring of Bells v Norton Nomads, Timsbury Cricketers v Ston Easton, Woolpack Wasps v AC Mee Lamb, Welton White Hart v Greyhound Ath, Railway Inn v The George Inn, Farrington Albion v Permaframe Utd, Kings Arms v Railway Taveners, The Artisans v Three Swans, Angel SC v Coleford Utd, Paulton Milan v Witham Friary, Royal Oak v Snooty Fox, Trowbridge Ath v Purnells Cricketers. Guss and Crook have a bye.

The league season will start on September 18, and the first round of the the divisional cups will be played on October 2.

The draws are: Su Hodson Premier League Cup, Elm Tree Spts v Timsbury Cricketers, Woolpack Wasps v Three Swans, Gordon Smith Surfacing Lts; Division One Cup, Railway Inn v Ston Easton, Farrington Albion v The George Inn, Purnells Cricketers v Bearberry Club; Division Two Cup, Permaframe Utd v Team Frome, Witham Friary v Greyhound Ath. Teams with a bye will be in league action.

The league would like to hear from any qualified referee who would like to added to the list of referees. Contact Steve Forrester on (01373) 300575 or Phil Wilkinson on (01761) 431355 for details.