WHISPER it quietly, but the Furness Premier League is on course to finish on time this season.

Previous years have seen the league struggle to fit matches in or extend the season beyond its scheduled close due to the number of postponements caused by wet or cold weather.

The wintry conditions in the area earlier this week may have had one or two concerned about whether games might start to stack up, although it is hoped the vast majority – if not all – of tomorrow’s FPL games will be able to go ahead.

And league officials have their fingers crossed that will remain the case.

“At the moment, we haven’t got a problem,” said FPL chair Barbara Knagg, jokingly adding: “The way we were going, we thought we would be finished by the end of February!

“We’ve got the cup competitions to get in, but I don’t want to say anything to tempt fate. As soon as you do, you end up with a bad spell.

“The weather had been kind to us and we got off to a good start. In the past, we’ve had fixtures off in August because it’s rained.”

Another reason matches have gone ahead which may not have in previous seasons has been down to some clubs such as Premier Division leaders Bootle, who travel to Swarthmoor Social tomorrow, being able to invest in pitch improvements

Indeed, this was emphasised back on October 13 when Bootle’s home tie with Crooklands Casuals in the Furness Senior Cup first round was the only one to beat the wet weather that day.

The Senior Cup quarter-finals have been set for February 2, with the opening Furness Junior Cup fixtures slated for two weeks later.

The last eight of the Horne Cup, plus Terry Clinton and Paul Wilson Memorial Trophies do not have dates yet, although the intention is for space in the calendar to be found during the next two months.

However, much will depend on when and where clubs with senior teams in the West Lancashire League have games allocated.

“I would hope in February and March we can get some cup fixtures in,” said Knagg.

“The Junior Cup shouldn’t be a problem, but because the Terry Clinton is the Premier Division, that’s when it becomes an issue and it depends on West Lancs fixtures.

“We can’t put anything out until they do and if they have postponements, they change fixtures so we have to change ours.

“If they change anybody’s fixtures and we’ve already got a home game down for them and their West Lancs team is put at home, it affects our fixtures and we have to change everything.”

Tomorrow's Furness Premier League fixtures

Premier Division (2pm): Barrow Celtic v Haverigg Utd, Croftlands Park v Kirkby Utd, Dalton United res v Vickerstown res, Furness Cavaliers res v Holker OB res, Millom res v Hawcoat Park res, Swarthmoor Social v Bootle, Walney Island res v Britannia.

Division One (2pm): Askam Utd res v Bridge United, Barrow Wanderers v Croftlands Park res, British Legion v Swarthmoor Social res, Furness Rovers res v Vickerstown A, Hawcoat Park A v Barrow Celtic res, Millom A v Crooklands Casuals res.

Division Two (2pm): Britannia res v Bootle res, Coniston v Furness Rovers A, Haverigg Utd res v Millom St James, Kirkby Utd res v Holker OB A, Walney Island A v Barrow Wanderers res.