THE Flint & Cook Marches League faces the biggest shake-up in its history for the 2004 season.

Member clubs will be asked at the league's annual meeting, at the Imperial Hotel in Hereford on Monday, December 8 at 7.30pm, to accept applications from 24 new teams to join a revised structure.

Many of the teams are applying to join the Marches League following the winding-up of the Hereford and District League but there are also applications from Hereford City, whose first and second teams wish to join, and from Colwall, who are seeking to enter a third and a fourth team.

Ledbury are also seeking to enter their revived second team.

Former Hereford and District League teams Almeley, Bishop's Frome, Bosbury, Bishop's School, Herefordians and Eastnor 3rd are seeking election to the Marches League as full members.

Whitecross, Shirebulls, Weobley, Lads Club, Ewyas Harold, Strollers and Brockhampton 3rd will, subject to the approval of existing members, be elected as affiliate members as their teams play on non-grass pitches.

Also seeking to transfer from the Hereford and District League are Hay 2nd, Kington 4th, Woolhope 2nd and Bartestree 3rd, all from clubs which have teams already competing in the Marches League.

The Marches League committee is recommending that all new applicants are accepted into the new structure which will see two new divisions created. One of these will include the teams with non-grass pitches.

The league committee is also likely to see changes with vice-chairman Richard Hope and long-standing secretary Gareth Evans seeking to relinquish their posts.

Former Hereford and District League chairman John Jones, of Brockhampton, and Derrick Jones, of Bartestree, have been earmarked to move into the respective positions.

The league is also looking to expand its general committee by two and Joe Brown, of Moccas, and Martin Skirrow, of Strollers, have indicated that they are willing to serve.