ABERDEENSHIRE CRICKET ASSOCIATION
REPORT BY SECRETARY FOR THE SEASON 2017
The season 2017 was in many ways a transitional one. While the constitutional changes required for the Association to secure legal status as a Scottish Charitable Incorporated Organisation (SCIO) have yet to be finalised, the new structure of Management Committee has bedded down with regularly-scheduled meetings being held each month. The change in the structure of Cricket Scotland whereby the Association now has a director on the board of that body, as well as all clubs whose first eleven play in the Grades now all being affiliated to CS asCategory 3 members, andthe development of improved links with the regional cricket officials’ body ESCOA, have also led to improved links with the wider cricketing community nationally, which it is hoped to recognise officially through negotiation of a formal Memorandum of Understanding.
Not all developments were so positive however. At its 2016 AGM the Association re-elected four sides, two at that time in Grade 3 and two in Grade 4, who had failed to complete two-thirds of their scheduled league fixtures; but all 4 teams proved again unable to raise teams, and with the demise of Lahore Karahi, meant that Grade 3 was reduced to 7 teams, and Grade 4 effectively rendered unviable, with only a single fixture being completed in the Johnston Cup. This impacted not simply on the clubs concerned, who were unable to field second teams; but also,significantly on the remaining sides in Grade 4, notably Turriff, who were deprived of a meaningful programme of cricket, and have struggled to retain players in consequence. With only 29 sides now in membership it is likely that only three grades will be operable in 2018; and we will need also to ensure so far as possible that substantial scratching of fixtures does not spread upwards to the lowest of these.
Ironically the loss of these sides, while freeing up a number of pitches not now used every week, did not significantly ameliorate the problems in this regard within the city, in weeks when either Kings College or the Duthie Park [or on occasions both] were unavailable – and we are grateful to those who agreed either to switch venues or provide pitches to enable games to be completed on the dates scheduled.
Issues of discipline, in particular instances of disrespect towards appointed umpires, also proved an issue during the season. The new Code of Laws, which came into effect at the end of the season, will introduce new on-field sanctions for player misconduct, the various categories of which will be written into the Laws for the first time; and the Management Committee is determined to clamp down on this, through the institution of compulsory captains’ reports and regular captains’ meetings.
As an additional aspect of its review of governance processes, the Committee hasbeen collating information on clubs’ adherence to various statutory policies; and is concerned at the prevalence of significant gaps in this regard, which it will be pursuing further. The Committee has also been discussing how it can best make use of latest technology in support of its activities, and how to ensure that its existing systems remain sustainable; and is bringing forward some proposals in this regard.
On the field of play, Grammar FPs won Grade 1, with Bon Accord finishing as runners-up and winning the Aberdeenshire Cup. Ellon and Kintore-Kemnay, both of whom struggled to field regular teams, were relegated. They will be replaced by Grampian, who continued their steady rise through the grades and Stoneywood-Dyce; while Gordonians redeemed an indifferent league season by winning the Bon Accord Cup, and Fraserburgh and Banchory finished in the two Grade 2 relegation places. They will be replaced by Stonehaven and 2nd Grammar, with the former also winning the Reid Cup. In what remained of Grade 4, 2nd Methlick won the league, while 2nd Cults, despite not completing their league programme, were declared winners of the Johnston Cup. In the final game of the season Knight Riders recorded a last-ball win to beat Cults in the final of the Turriff Cup.
On the representative front the Grade Select beat a NOSCA side; but weather prevented completion of its scheduled fixture against SPCU.
As always our thanks go to our dedicated panel of umpires, and all the others at both Association and club level who ensured delivery of what was at times a fraught season. Things can only get better!
DM Jones
Honorary Secretary
November 2017.