THE curtain will rise on the 46th season of the Blackburn Sunday football league on Sunday - and officials believe it will be a case of quality over quantity.

This season will see the league start with only 28 teams - the lowest number for a number of years.

This is due to the folding of last year’s Division One champions New Gardeners and the withdrawal of Havelock.

Division One will only have eight teams, Division Two will have 10, and Division Three will include 10 after the late withdrawal of Baggies Wine Bar.

However the quality of the teams in the league will ensure that the divisions will remain just as competitive as ever - with the top flight set to be just as tight with promoted teams Crown Paints and Station adding to an already tough division.

In Division Two, there will be the usual close battle for promotion and last season’s promoted teams Stanley Ultras and Oswaldtwistle Immanuel will only add spice to an already tough division.

In Division Three there are several teams capable of mounting a serious challenge for honours.

“As we open another season we would like to say a special thanks to all of our sponsors, Pelle Menswear, Station Hotel, Mill Hill Car Centre, Colborne Trophies, AMT Lawyers, Blackburn Sports Council, Whitehead Roe accountants, Blackburn referee’s association,” said fixture secretary Bill Maynard.

“The league are very grateful for the continued support of our sponsors as all the money is given back to our clubs.

“It will be a tough start to the season for many of our clubs as their first competitive game will be in this season’s LFA Sunday Trophy.

“It is a competition which the league have provided no less than seven winners in previous seasons and once again we have high hopes.”