March, 2011 Newsletter
T20 FINALS DATE CLASH
THE League have been presented with a dilemma over their participation in next season’s ECB National Club twenty20, previously known as the Cockspur Cup before the sponsors withdrew.
The ECB have now fixed Sunday, August 14th for their Area finals in which the T20 champions of the North Staffs, Birmingham, North Wales and Cheshire County Leagues will be expected to field their domestic cup winners, on a Staffordshire ground. The winners there go through to the Regional finals on Bank Holiday Sunday or Monday, August 28th - 29th, with Finals Day fixed for Monday, September 19th on a ground yet to be agreed, which will be televised live on Sky.
Sunday, August 14th, however, is the day set for the League’s own Red Insure T20 Finals Day at Warrington, the venue having been confirmed several months ago and all clubs notified of the draw.
With both events arranged for the same day, a formula has to be worked out for the League’s representatives to take part – if at all.
It is a problem with which the Cricket Committee will have to grapple at their first 2011 meeting at Warrington on Thursday, March 24th
University students to plan
Macc ground improvements
AFTER deciding in the spring of 2010 to abandon plans to sell their historic Victoria Road ground and move to a new site in the town, Macclesfield Cricket Club (founded 1847), decided to concentrate all their efforts on upgrading and improving the facilities at their HQ and the adjoining Parkside ground and are now receiving major assistance from Salford University.
At the initiative of Ground chairman Gary Foy, a lecturer at the University, Macclesfield have devised an innovative project in co-operation with Salford where students will compete to generate funding and to design major improvements to the ground and buildings.
The 400-plus students studying architecture, property management and surveying at Salford are organising themselves into groups to battle for the right to work on the project. They undertook a similar scheme to help Salford City FC last year after the Evostik League outfit’s clubhouse was destroyed by fire.
Gary Foy says the project will give save the club “a serious amount of money”. He admitted: “Because we believed we were moving, areas of the ground fell into disrepair and we badly need to return it to its former glory”.
Club chairman Steve Horrocks says: “We want to give the community a facility to be proud of again and perhaps even bring county cricket back to the town for the first time since 1983”.
The club recently took part in a Question Time type session with the University to launch the scheme, with local MP David Rutley and local councillors Ainsley Arnold and John Narroway also taking part.
Meanwhile, temporary refurbishment has taken place at Victoria Road during the winter since promotion to the Premier League. The clubhouse has had a temporary face lift with the creation of a new committee-room and an enlarged patio and balcony. There have also been much needed improvements to the dressing-rooms, although it will be a several years before the whole project is completed.
OTHER MACC NEWS
o Tom Parfett has been re-elected captain of Macclesfield’s 1st XI, but is unavailable due to a university project in France and Switzerland until the second week in June. Recently-married, Barney Cutbill stands in until then.
o Wicket-keeper Paul Hughes has retired.
o Former Macc and Victoria wicket-keeper Darren Berry has been given a three year contract to coach South Australia Redbacks
o Evan Gulbis, the outstanding Australian batsman who scored more than 1,000 runs as Macc’s Overseas player in 2006-07, recently made his first-class debut for Victoria Bushrangers against South Australia in the t20 Big Bash.
MARCH NEWSLETTER: 2
Stan Davies becomes 10th League President
SANDY BECOMES LIFE VP: The League’s long-serving Fixture secretary until he was taken seriously ill in September, 2009, Sandy Scrimgeour was appointed an Honorary Life Vice president at the AGM.
Chairman David Humpage said Sandy had served the League superbly since 1983 and it was timely that they should show their appreciation. Sandy remains in convalescence, but can be visited by arrangement with his wife, Elise.
OFFICERS RE-ELECTED: All League officers have been re-elected to serve in 2011:
Chairman David Humpage; Deputy chairman John Bygate; Secretary Geoff Wellsteed; Treasurer Brent Wilkinson; Competition secretary and PR officer Mike Talbot-Butler; Juniors chairman Gary Dixon; Juniors secretary David Vallance; 1st XI Results secretary Wyn Talbot-Butler; 2nd XI Results secretary Ian Sharrock; 3rd XI Results secretaries Brian Boys , Ian Sharrock and Peter Lawson; Assistant secretary Tony Morris. Auditor Steve Murrills was re appointed and Darren and Sharon Sutcliffe remain as webmasters.
Cricket committee: Duncan Anderson, Ron Arnold, Peter Bolger, Chris Finegan, Andy Newton, Harry Sharrock. John O’Donnell was co opted in 2010.
Cheshire County Cricket Club president Tony Percival becomes the League Patron.
DEATHS OF CRICKETERS. At the AGM, Mike Talbot-Butler observed on the life and times of 10 cricketers who had died during the past 12 months.
They were: Stanley Scott and Arthur Taberner (both Stockport Georgians), Bill Bardsley (Cheadle and Cheshire), Allan Barratt (Ashton on Mersey, Brooklands and Cheshire); Frank Bailey (former Manchester Association President ); David Stewart (Caldy); James Hill (Irby); Ken Ridley (Urmston); Geoff Antrobus and Leslie Jones (both Chester Boughton Hall).
The deaths have since occurred of Joan Jones, 87, wife of Bruce Jones, former chairman and president at Boughton Hall. Also Ray Ball, father of Bowdon’s Stephen and Dominic Ball and father in law of Stephen Bramhall, who married his daughter Julia.
LEAGUE’s £3,210 PROFIT. The League profited by £3,210 during the financial year 2009-20010 the year and now possesses a balance of £40,920. There is no rise in subscriptions this year.
Income dropped from £17,125 to £15,762 with sponsorship bringing in £5,950 from Chapel Press, Red Insure and Readers. Fines rose from £3,905 to £4,100 and subscriptions were up from £5,140 to £5,475. Expenditure dropped from £7,913 to £3,210, with officers’ expenses and printing costs down from £3,378 to £1,519, while ECB contributions fell from £14,200 to £12,281. Representative match and Finals Day costs rose from £1,780 to £3,041. A total of £9,000 was paid out to clubs from various sources.
Total reserves at November 30th, 2010 amounted to £40,920 including cash resources of £33,906
All full member clubs who have ordered a minimum of 36 balls will be given eight free balls with their 2011 supplies.
DINNER SPEAKER. BBC Cricket correspondent and Test Match Special commentator Jonathan Agnew will be the guest speaker at the League’s 37th Annual presentation dinner at Mere Golf & Country Club on Friday, September 30th. John Gwynne, Sky tv’s “Mr. Darts”, will again be the MC. Admission remains unchanged at £30 with a £2 discount for Under 18s.
o Last October’s popular speaker Robert Croft , now aged 42, has been granted a two years contract extension by Glamorgan and will also take on coaching duties. .
JUNIOR CRICKET BALLS. A special cricket ball is to be used in League junior cricket in 2011 and only 17 clubs had placed orders by the official closing date on December 31st. Clubs must use these balls in all junior games, which begin over Easter week-end. Clubs needing further information should contact chairman Gary Dixon or secretary David Vallance ASAP.
MARCH NEWSLETTER: 3
COMING UP IN 2011…
National Club championship
THE League’s contribution to the National Club championship next season reduces from 10 to eight, the lowest number on record.
Champions in 2001 and no longer in the ECB Premier League, Bramhall have dropped out and are replaced by new entrants Bollington, also from the First Division. They will host Moddershall from the North Staffs Premiership in Group 7.
In the same section, Grappenhall, who won their group last season, visit Audley of the North Staffs. Premier, while Alderley Edge host Derbyshire Premiership champions Lullington Park whom they beat in 2010. One league club is certain to go through as Nantwich host Bowdon.
In Group 6, Chester Boughton Hall visit Heaton (Bolton League) and Neston go to Darwen (Northern League).
Hyde are drawn to play in Group 2 and visit Notts Premiership side Wollaton.
There is a total entry of 248 clubs in 16 geographical groups, with the final provisionally scheduled for
Monday, September 5 on a first-class ground yet to be agreed.
First round games have to be played by Sunday, May 8although clubs are encouraged to play before that date. Round two limit date is May 22, round three June 19, round four by July 3. The first round of the National stage is on July 17, quarter-finals on August 7and semi-finals on August 21. First round draw:
Group 2: Alfreton v Wickersley Village; Hanging Heaton v East Bierley; Reversley v Chesterfield; New Farnley v Townville; Bamford Fieldhouse v Treeton; Wollaton v HYDE; Doncaster Town v Papplewick & Linby; Mansfield Colliery Mills v Elsecar.
Group 6: Heaton v CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL; Farnworth Social Circle v Blackpool; Prestwich v Chorley;
Blackrod v Wallasey; Kearsley v Colwyn Bay; Rode Green v New Brighton; Kendal v Egerton;
Darwen v NESTON
Group 7: Fordhouses v Leek; Audley v GRAPPENHALL; Wombourne v Himley; ALDERLEY EDGE v Lullington Park; NANTWICH v BOWDON; Walsall v Walmley; Smethwick v Hucknall; BOLLINGTON v Moddershall.
Cheshire Cup
ENTRIES for the Cheshire Cup and Shield include the return of New Brighton and Wallasey from the Liverpool Competition, plus Holmes Chapel, Stalybridge St. Paul’s, The Groves and Winnington Park totalling 55 clubs.
New Competition organiser Rick Davis has revealed the following draw:
Round l (Sunday, May 1): A: Chelford v Ashley; B: Rode Park v Congleton; C: Winsford v Caldy; D: Birkenhead St. Mary’s v Birkenhead Park.
Round 2 (Sunday, May 15): Match 1: Lindow v Hale Barns; Match 2: Ashton on Mersey v Timperley; Match 3: Brooklands v Cheadle Hulme; Match 4: Stockport v Poynton; Match 5: Cheadle v Hawk Green; Match 6: Winners of B v Stalybridge St. Paul’s; Match 7: Holmes Chapel v Marple; Match 8: Sale v Bramhall; Match 9: Bredbury v Winners of A; Match 10: Romiley v Bollington; Match 11: Heaton Mersey v Bowdon; Match 12: Wallasey v Crewe; Match 13: Aston v Winners of D; Match 14: Malpas v Upton; Match 15: Widnes v The Groves; Match 16: Davenham v Northwich; Match 17: Winnington Park v Middlewich; Match 18: Irby v Parkfield Liscard; Match 19: Winners of C v Elworth.
The draw for the Shield which will involve the first and second round cup losers, will be made after round 2 has been completed.
Exempted clubs from the Premier Leagues enter the Cup in round 3 on Sunday, June 5. Draw:
Chester Boughton Hall v winners of 18; winners of 2 v winners of 9; winners of 5 v Oxton; winners of 6 v winners of 15; Nantwich v Didsbury; New Brighton v Toft; Oulton Park v winners of 14; winners of 3 v winners of 1; winners of 7 v Macclesfield; Urmston v winners of 8; Neston v winners of 13; Grappenhall v winners of 11; Alderley Edge v winners of 17; winners of 10 v Hyde; winners of 19 v winners of 4; winners of 16 v winners of 12.
Round 4 is on June 19; round 5 on July 17; semi-finals on July 31; final on Bank Holiday Sunday, August 28.
Representative match plans
WHILE League representative cricket is being scaled down, it is still hoped to put on three fixtures in 2011, subject to the approval of the Cricket Committee.
An approach to the Liverpool Competition has resulted in their backing in making make a third attempt to restore the annual Challenge Shield game, provisionally on the last day of the season, Sunday, September 18,subject to Cricket Committee approval. The game is pencilled in for a County League ground.
The future of the Mullaney Trophy is in doubt after the Cheshire League’s withdrawal from all representative cricket in 2011. Contact has been made with the Derbyshire & Cheshire League for a possible one-off game.
Finally, it is hoped to keep the North-West Colts Trophy alive with another one-off clash between the League and Liverpool Competition, who won last year’s meeting at Orrell. This match would also be played on a County League ground, on a date to be agreed.
MARCH NEWSLETTER: 4
Lancashire seconds in Cheshire
LANCASHIRE take County 2nd XI cricket to three County League grounds next season
Worcestershire provide Lancashire’s opposition in a 3-day championship match at Nantwich - for the first time – from Wednesday - Friday, May 4 - 6.
Chester Boughton Hall stage the 2nd XI Trophy game against the newly-formed Unicorns A on Thursday, May 19 (12 noon) and finally, Neston host Lancashire 2nd’s T20 two innings cup match against Yorkshire on Bank Holiday Monday, May 30 (11 a.m.). The League nominated Warren Goodwin (Chester Boughton Hall) for the Unicorns’ two team squad, but he became unavailable due to new employment.
There will also be two games between Lancashire’s Academy XI and the Cheshire Development XI at Toft on Wednesday, April 27 and Westhoughton on Friday, April 29 (both 11.30 a.m.).
Chance to play at Lord’s
THE Minor Counties Cup final returns to Lord’s next season, on Thursday, August 25.
Cheshire, whose cup fixtures have been previously published, figure in Group 1 together with Cumberland, Northumberland, Shropshire and Staffordshire.
The winners and runners-up enter the quarter-finals on Sunday, June 19, when Cheshire would, as winners, host either Berkshire, Cambs, Lincs, Norfolk or Suffolk, or, as runners-up, visit Beds, Dorset, Hereford, Herts or Oxford.
The semi-finals are on Sunday and Monday, July 3 or 4.
Cheshire are to reengage professional all-rounder Richard Logan for a second season.
Development squad fixtures
THE fixture-list for the Cheshire Development squad looks like this:
Wednesday, April 27 v Lancashire XI at Toft (11.30 a.m.); Friday, April 29 v Lancashire XI at Westhoughton (11.30 a.m.); Monday – Tuesday, June 20 – 21 v Warwickshire Under 19 at Dorridge (Monday 12 noon, Tuesday 11 a.m.); Tuesday, July 5: Special match v Bramhall Select XI at Bramhall (1.30 p.m.); Tuesday – Wednesday, July 12 – 13 v Durham Academy at Grappenhall (Tuesday 12 noon, Wednesday 11 a.m.); Tuesday – Wednesday, July 19 – 20 v Lancashire Under 19 at Middleton (11 a.m.); Monday, August 8 v Derbyshire Academy at Stockport (11 a.m.); Monday – Tuesday, August 15 – 16 v Staffs. Development XI at Tattenhall (11 a.m.); Tuesday, August 23: v Leicestershire XI at Bramhall (11.30 a.m.).
Team manager is Steve Amison and coach Chris Murphy.
Over Fifties programme
CHESHIRE Fifties begin with two friendly matches, at Parkfield Liscard on Wednesday, May 4and Notts at Cuckney on Wednesday, May 11.
National 50 Plus Championship games (all 1.30 p.m. unless stated): Yorkshire at Grappenhall on Wednesday, May 25; Derbyshire at Ticknall on Wednesday, June 1 (1 p.m.); Cumbria at Timperley on Wednesday, June 8; Northumberland away and Durham away on Wednesday and Thursday, June 22and 23 (North-East Tour); Lancashire at Toft on Wednesday, June 29; Notts at Kiverton Park on Wednesday, July 13.
The play-off round (last 16) is on Wednesday, August 10; quarter-finals on Wednesday, August 23; semi-finals on Sunday, September 4and the final at Wormsley on Sunday, September 18.
Team manger is again Paul Freedman and the new captain is former Oulton Park player Andy McIlroy.
Over Sixties to play Aussies
HIGHLIGHT of Cheshire Over 60s programme will be their game at Chester Boughton Hall on Tuesday, August 16against Australia Over 60s, who will be starting a late season tour of the UK.
Winners of the National Over 60s championship last season, Cheshire begin their defence of the trophy against Derbyshire at Marple on Tuesday, May 10. Following games: Yorkshire at Cheadle Hulme on Tuesday, May 17; Lincs away on Tuesday, May 24; Durham away on Tuesday, June 14; Derbyshire away on Tuesday, June 21; Yorkshire away on Tuesday, June 28; Lincs at Boughton Hall on Tuesday, July 5; Durham at Grappenhall on Tuesday, July 19.
The knock out stages start on Tuesday, August 9; semi-finals on Tuesday, August 23; final on Tuesday, September 6.
Captain and manager of the Cheshire team is again Andy Hurworth.
Late 3rd XI cup changes
ALDERLEY Edge have been included in the Jack Gardner 3rd XI Cup after originally being omitted.
Organiser Brian Boys has made a series of changes, as follows:
Stockport are moved from Group E1 together with their fixtures; Poynton are removed from Group E2 together with their fixtures; a new group is added comprising Alderley Edge, Poynton and Stockport; An additional preliminary match is added: Winners of W4 v Winners of E6. The full revised draw is on the website
MARCH NEWSLETTER: 5
Sale fourths pull out
TWO months before the start of the season, Sale 4th have withdrawn from 3rd XI Sunday Division 4 East due to a misunderstanding between club and league officials. This means that the remaining nine teams in the division will play only 16 games, with an open date each week and two in total during the season.
Sale may be available for friendlies to fill the open dates, but would need to be contacted on a weekly basis.
oAny club who would like to arrange a pre-season friendly should consider playing Bristol University Staff CC who are touring the Manchester Area early in April and have vacancies on Saturdays, April 9 and 16.
Contact Events Organiser James Harvey at
NEW MCC LAWS EXPLAINED
THE League’s Minor Counties umpire Alistair Davies has prepared a review of the new MCC Laws which came into force in October, 2010 and will be operated during the forthcoming League season. This advice will be distributed to all club captains in laminated form at the pre-season meeting.
LAWS 3.8 and 3.9: It is now solely for the umpires to decide on the fitness of a ground, weather and light. There will be no more offering the batsmen the light or consultation with the captains regarding ground and weather.
LAW 12.4. There is now is a requirement for an umpire to be present to supervise the toss, but this will not affect the League who already operate a pre-match meeting between both umpires and captains.
LAW 12.5. Once then toss has been made, the winning captain must notify the opposing captain and the umpires immediately. They no longer have 15 minutes to decide.
LAW 17. The pertinent points from a re-written law are:
1. When a bowler is ready to commence a spell and he is practicing with a colleague, be must not deliberately bowl the ball into the ground. If he does, he will be subject to Law 42.3 (Changing the condition of the match ball). He can continue to bowl the ball on the full to a colleague.