Last season, Newsome came from behind to claim the Division I Shield by winning their last eight League matches – beating their two nearest rivals in the process.

This season they appear determined not to leave it to the last few games as they have started with three straight wins.

This squad is mainly the same as last year with the addition of Sam Buck and keeper Ashley Whitaker, but there has been a change of leadership.

Last season’s coach Ryan Buckley has moved on and he has been replaced by ex-Bay Athletic man Steve Perrin.

In their first game, Newsome visited the promoted Holmfirth Town and as early as the second minute, keeper Whitaker was beaten and with 20 minutes to play, Newsome were 2-1 down but they came from behind to win 3-2.

Since then, Newsome have scored 18 and Whitaker has kept two clean sheets, so if any club wants to take the Shield off Newsome are going to have perform well throughout the season.

Their likely challengers will include Diggle, based on the early results – they have matched Newsome with three wins beating Shelley, Holmbridge and Netherton.

Diggle have won the Barlow Cup twice in the last 12 years but have never been able to win the Division I title although they have appeared at the top of the table at some stages in recent seasons.

Another challenger could be a side that finished in ninth last season – Shepley.

It is not too long ago that they were near the top but several of their better players tried their luck at a higher level which caused the club to struggle.

But the grass is not always greener and many have returned this season. Jason Thorp, who went to Shelley, has returned as coach – injuries ending his playing career – and he has brought back Daniel Seal and John Lockwood.

Added to these, Damien Sykes, Scott Sykes and Danny Ingham have returned from Kirkburton, so a good showing can be expected from Shepley.

They have started with two wins and a draw, the same as Hepworth, and are two points adrift of the leaders.

The two newcomers, Holmfirth Town and Shelley, have exactly the same record as each other – won one, drawn one and lost one – but both have played two games against the top four. Both are likely to figure nearer the top than the bottom.

Division II has probably been the most competitive division of all in the last few seasons and this time around, it could well be the same as of the 18 matches played, only four has seen more than one goal separating the teams and no club has a 100 per cent record.

It may be a surprise to some that the leaders are Skelmanthorpe, that’s not because of their ability but over recent years, they have been notorious bad starters.

This season, coach Steve Dyson has placed a lot of emphasis on playing friendlies – 11 in fact – and this has resulted in players been much keener to turn up than just the normal training.

Last Saturday, they had 32 players available for two teams and at that rate, a third team may be a possibility in the future.

They have started with wins over Lepton and Linthwaite (both by the odd goal) and a 2-2 draw with Aimbry.

This game was abandoned after 91 minutes due to injury and there was still another one minute to play – the League Council decide on the outcome of the match.

Skelmanthorpe share the lead with Meltham. In the past Meltham and a few other teams have had the problem with players wishing to play with their mates in a lower team rather than playing in the team more suitable to each individual player’s ability.

But could this be about to change. Meltham have promoted to the position of coach, Bill Green.

He previously coached their B team and last season, the Reserves. So he is well placed to know everybody’s strength and weaknesses and as he has probably coached nearly all of the players before, therefore he may well be able to convince each player to play in the team that suits Meltham.

If he can, then Meltham will be challenging come the end of the season.

To name other possible contenders would just list the complete division but Lepton, Heyside, Kirkheaton and promoted Aimbry will all be challenging.

There are two clubs in Division III with a perfect record – AFC Lindley with three from three and Flockton with two from two.

Two seasons ago, AFC Lindley won Division IV without dropping a point.

It might not be a surprise to followers of local football that AFC Lindley are at the top but most would be surprised by the fact that Flockton are one of the challengers.

They joined the League in 1970 and won Division 8, 7 and 6 in successive years – those were the years when Harry Marsden (the Examiner Sportsman of the Year) was in the middle of the field and not on the touchline side.

Since then, success has not come their way often but there is a new wave of optimism at the club.