ELPM C captain John Edge is aiming to bring back the good times to his team after the relaunch of the Bury and District League Division Four outfit.

The 58-year-old knows that his team’s exploits may be a far cry from the mid- 1980s when the iconic Radcliffe paper mill boasted more than 20 teams.

Edge, who had been playing for ELPM since he was a 16-year-old, had to sit out the last two seasons because of illness and the absence of an all-important third player.

But his squad has been boosted by another return – Debbie Wilson, who also played in the Bury league during the 1980s until her career in the RAF took her around the country.

ELPM C have made a reasonable start to the season and this week enjoyed a 7-3 win over Shawfield D at their Radcliffe Cricket Club base, with Edge winning all three of his games while team-mate Harry Uren scored a double and Wilson took one before triumphing as part of the doubles combination.

“It’s great to be back playing again,” said Edge. “It feels like I’ve been playing all my life and long may it continue.”

Meanwhile, Wilson is also delighted to be back and has been impressed by the standard of play in the Bury league having sampled other leagues around the country while she was in the RAF.

“It’s a great way of meeting new friends, when you’re a stranger to an area, and terrific fun,” said Wilson, aged 48. “I was surprised by how good a lot of the players are in the Bury area. It’s great to be back.”

l League table, results, fixtures and the top-10 rankings are available online at www.burytabletennis.org.uk.