ISN’T it about time Northwich was represented again in the Cheshire County League’s top tier?

Three teams – Davenham, Oulton Park and Weaverham – will launch their latest bid to change that statistic when a new season gets under way this weekend.

Of those, only the Little Budworth outfit have been there previously.

They won four Premier Division titles in five seasons between 2005 and 2009 before being relegated two years later.

The sides based at Butcher’s Stile and Wallerscote Road are already playing at the highest level in their clubs’ history.

“We’re motivated by being the next Northwich team reach the top of the pyramid,” Ian Eaton, Weaverham’s captain, told me this week.

“It’s something we’ve talked about, because it would be such a remarkable achievement.”

Aside from Oulton Park, who can claim to be the most successful mid Cheshire club in league history, no side from the town has played in the top flight since the competition’s expansion in 1995.

Northwich finished bottom of the pile the previous year.

Meanwhile their neighbours, Winnington Park, were part of a still single-division edition in 1993.

They have not been as high since.

Eaton said: “I think you can say that’s a coincidence, but only partly.

“For me, the number of teams locally has led to talent being spread between them.

“That’s not necessarily a bad thing though.

“I remember when Winnington were flying high in the county league; they were the elite side back then, and everybody wanted to play for them.”

There is greater strength in depth now, and players have more options.

To prove as much, Davenham were promoted to the county league for the first time in 2012.

Weaverham, who had spent a single season there in 2004 only to be relegated, went up again as champions the same summer.

They are both now established in Division One.

Northwich sealed a return – after close to two decades away – three years ago while Oakmere, for whom Eaton was leading run-scorer, spent 2009 in Division Two.

So what chance does our latest trio of hopefuls have of stepping up to the highest rung on the ladder?

Danny Hancock, a spinner who took more than 40 wickets for Toft in the Premier Division four years ago before switching to Davenham, believes the gap is a wide one.

He said: “It’s the biggest leap to make in the pyramid."

“For a village club like ours to get there would be an achievement, staying there even more so.”

Oulton Park were fourth last term, one place ahead of Weaverham.

Davenham finished in seventh.

All have reason to be optimistic.