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Geoff Foley admitted to a sense of foreboding as he embarked on his annual trip to Chester Races yesterday. Dame Fortune, it seems, has seldon smiled on his punts at the historic track.

Happily, the Queensland all-rounder's forays into the world of league cricket over the last decade have, for the most part, met with more success. After forging a reputation as one of the top professionals on the circuit with Milnrow and Radcliffe, in the Central Lancashire League, and Chester, in the Liverpool Competition, Foley's latest engagement has taken him further north to Netherfield, champions of the Northern League.

Tomorrow, his new club take on Chorley, the side they have edged out of the championship on the final day of each of the last two seasons. Foley knows from experence how intense the rivalry will be.

``I was Chorley's deputy professional against Netherfield a couple of years ago and, as I recall, we lost in the last over,'' says Foley. ``People tell me I made 90 and took a couple of wickets.

``It was a very tense game, though, and even at this stage of the season, everyone is saying how important this weekend's match will be.''

He is impressed with playing standards in his new surroundings on the edge of Lakeland. ``It's early to make a definite judgement but Netherfield are probably the strongest side I have played for. There are obviously some very good teams around with some excellent amateur players.''

His view would seem to consolidate the Northern League's claim to be the strongest in the North-West and an obvious candidate for ECB premier league status once the red tape can be unravelled.

Yet, Foley is less than convinced about the merits of the premier package.

``The financial side seems to be a very big issue and whether premier leagues will automatically produce better cricketers remains to be seen,'' he said. ``Presumably, the idea is to provide a pyramid system leading into the Lancashire side but I'm not sure the best players would want to leave their clubs to play in the premier league.

``It would be a mistake to try and go the same way as Australia. They are two different countries with different approaches to the game at this level. Over here traditions and loyalties mean a lot.

``I would be more concerned about the standards at real grass roots level in the schools. Hardly any schools seem to play cricket in England and the first priority is to put that right.''