THE SHEPHERD NEAME ESSEX LEAGUE 2008 AGM
DRAFT MINUTES FOR APPROVAL AT THE 2009 AGM
Meeting held at the County Ground Chelmsford on Sunday 30th November 2008
The meeting started at 10.30am and ended at 12.45
1 ATTENDANCE AND APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
In Attendance: M.Barnes (Hon.Chairman)
C.Greenhill (Hon.Secretary)
M.Vandome (Hon Treasurer & Results Secretary)
J Clark
D Coates
G Jelley
A Kennedy (Premier League Representative)
T.Kilby (Umpires Representative)
R.Mason
A.Sanderson
A Page
G.Salmon
T Wade
Representatives of 40 member clubs
Apologies D Evans, M Jones, A Pearson, P Williams
2 MINUTES OF 2007 AGM AND MATTERS ARISING
The minutes were approved. There were no matters arising.
3 CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Mike Barnes (Old Parkonians)
First, may I welcome you all to the 2008 AGM and on behalf of everyone, extend a particular welcome to Belhus CC, who following the withdrawal of Saffron Walden last year, were formally elected to join the SNEL. We hope that they will enjoy the privilege of membership of our League and wish them all success in the future.
2008 was an interesting year with numerous issues and concerns keeping the Executive Committee fully occupied, and with the focus of cricket rapidly changing, it is likely to be a busy future for all concerned with the administration of the game.
During the last year Bob Browning who had the responsibility for ensuring that standards of club and pitch facilities were upheld, had to stand down due to family and business pressures. Don Coates of Woodford Green and also the Umpires Panel was co-opted to take over the role.
Because of the continuing concerns over the behaviour and discipline, Andrew Kennedy undertook the task of producing a formal Disciplinary Code and I sincerely hope this can be approved for adoption later.
The Committee were aware of concerns of many clubs over the organisation of 4thXl cricket, so Andrew Jenner and Martin Pluck were asked to look at the problems. They have produced two positive proposals, and we shall be voting on these later.
I would like to formally record my thanks to Don Coates, Andrew Kennedy, Martin Pluck and Andrew Jenner for their willingness and diligence in taking on these tasks.
As I mentioned earlier, the focus of cricket is undergoing rapid change and in the last few days, the Club Cricket Conference has called a meeting for all interested parties to examine various proposals for inter-Club and inter-League competitions. Because of this, it is not yet clear whether Shepherd Neame will be running the Twenty/20 competition next year.
There is new legislation concerning the use of overseas players in domestic cricket but to date, the ECB is unsure of the full implications, but they have promised to clarify the position as soon as they are able.
Vagaries in the postal system were the cause of serious concern over the result reporting system, and as a result, Michael Vandome has decided to retire from the role of Results Secretary after many years of loyal and dedicated service. I cannot let this opportunity pass without thanking him formally on behalf of us all for the great service he has given over the early hours of very many Saturday nights and Sunday mornings to provide such comprehensive information for us all.
We have much to discuss, so I will shut up an get on with the meeting.
4 REPORT AND ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30TH SEPTEMBER 2008
Michael Vandome (Chelmsford)
Michael Vandome presented the accounts there were no queries.
The accounts were adopted.
5 REPORTS
a) SECRETARY
Cliff Greenhill (Loughton)
This year has been the most difficult for myself and I expect most of the Committee.
There have been a number of decisions which with hindsight we may have handled differently.
It is not pleasant when you are a volunteer trying to put something back into cricket to be faced with insults from misinformed people. In many instances these persons are not even identifying themselves on the County Cricket Board Forum.
The issue of Saffron Walden resigning from the League was also a difficult issue as it occurred mid winter. With hindsight this could have been handled differently as could the issues of promotion and relegation throughout the Divisions.
The Results Reporting system has relied for many years on massive volunteer effort from a few people. It is very unfortunate that promotion to the Premier was ultimately decided by points deducted for administrative errors. All clubs sign up to the Rules & Regulations in the Handbook but clubs can be penalised through no fault of their own. In the future we will be proposing that Clubs use play-cricket to enter results on line. This is not easy and will involve people in all Clubs with considerable effort. Even then it is likely there will still be errors.
I would like to thank Graham Jelley Essex Cricket Development Officer for making the County Ground available. Graham works hard to support recreational cricket in Essex and is on our committee and umpiring panel.
We are grateful to the Development Department for the help they give clubs in many ways including improving facilities and pitches, training coaches, obtaining grant aid and supporting youth cricket.
There have been 9 Executive Committee Meetings this year. Two Management Meetings were held one of which in the spring included a Special General Meeting.
We are still being asked by the County Board to reconsider expansion of the League and will look at this again in the forthcoming year.
Our thanks are due to the County Club, Chelmsford, Gidea Park & Romford, Loughton and Woodford Wells for allowing us to use their premises to hold our meetings.
Thanks also to our umpires who provide excellent coverage
The umpires reports on clubs facilities, discipline and hospitality have been distributed. They are most useful and clubs should take note of these marks. Hutton were this year’s winners of the fair play award.
Thanks to John Clark who again produced the handbook. There will be a £200 fine to those clubs who fail to meet the deadlines. Please forward your submissions to me or John by the end of the year.
The Jeff Rodriques Memorial Over 40 / Under 15 Competition entry was disappointing. This year’s final at Jeff’s home ground of Fives & Heronians resulted in a close game with Fives & Heronians beating Hornchurch.
It is a pity that again in 2009 the Matchplay groups will be so large (9 per group). This prevents a number of clubs from supporting other Sunday cricket and especially our Over 40/ Under 15 competition. Will teams wishing to enter please contact me by the end of December.
We were knocked out in the first round of the CCC Premier League Trophy. Thanks are due to Andrew Kennedy for organising the Premier League side. It is disappointing that many senior players do not make themselves available for this high profile competition.
However our Team in Sovereign Trophy (for non Premier Leagues) were successful in retaining the trophy. Thanks are due to Rob Hayne the captain and Nick Levi the Manager for their outstanding efforts.
The CCC are again running two competitions in 2009 one for Premier Leagues and another for other Leagues and non-Premier Divisions. Russell Collard and others are making sure that our best players get the opportunity to represent the Conference.
The Play-Cricket sites are still inferior to our own magnificent site run by George Salmon. It is still an ECB requirement that Premier clubs at least maintain basic information on the site. The Committee are recommending that all clubs use play-cricket to enter match results and scorecards.
We have asked all clubs to provide statistical information from the 2008 season in a simple format to allow the stats part of the handbook to be prepared more easily. Many clubs have still not replied. If you don’t reply your players personal achievements will not be recorded in the handbook.
Finally I would like to wish everyone a happy Christmas and a successful new year.
b) FIXTURES SECRETARY
On behalf of Michael E Jones (Loughton)
Fixtures commence on 9th May and end on 5th September. Fixtures will not be issued until January
c) RESULTS SECRETARY
Michael Vandome (Chelmsford)
Michael is standing down after many years of providing an excellent service. In future Clubs will be required to enter results on play-cricket. Leniency will be shown and help given to set the system working smoothly but each club will need to find one or several people to enter the detail of their home matches and to confirm the detail entered by their opponents in away matches. Clubs should “register” their players on play-cricket during the winter.
Points penalties will still apply for the following:
Clubs will still need to phone in 1st XI results for press reporting purposes on a Saturday night.
Clubs still need to send umpires reports on 1st XI games to arrive by the Thursday following the matchday. This will be done by email to Neil Bainton.
d) DISCIPLINARY REPORT
Roger Mason (Loughton)
Roger Mason distributed a list of 2008 cases. These will appear in the Handbook.
One case is still subject to a possible appeal.
e) UMPIRES
Tom Kilby thanked all clubs for reporting on umpires performances. The returns were 98%
These reports are needed to evaluate umpires and we are obliged to send figures to the ECB.
There was concern over the quality of sawdust supplied by some clubs. Shavings not sawdust were being provided.
f) CRICKET BALLS
On behalf of Andrew Pearson (Woodford Wells)
Andrew is happy to replace any balls which have split or gone out of shape. 2009 is the last year of our agreement with Dukes. The cost of balls is likely to increase by a small amount for 2010.
However the balls have met with universal approval and so unless the price increase is prohibitive we will continue with what we know and like.
g) SPONSORSHIP
On behalf of Andrew Pearson (Woodford Wells)
Shepherd Neame’s sponsorship of £11000 will remain in place for 2009 of this the League gives £1000 in awards. However for 2010 we need to find 4 new accounts. For each account we fail to secure the sponsorship is reduced by £250.
20/20 We are still waiting to hear what happens with the Cockspur Cup which the ECB are trying to change to a 20/20 and until that is finalised Shepherd Neame cannot move on our 20/20.
6 RESOLUTIONS
PROPOSAL 1 DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES
The Executive Committee proposes that a standard disciplinary code is introduced in 2009 for all 1st XI matches.
Reason: The Executive Committee and the English Cricket Board are concerned about increasing levels of poor behaviour and lack of respect for officials, opponents and the game in general. The proposal drafted by Andrew Kennedy is based on the red and yellow card system and makes it easier for umpires to report standard offences. The proposal has been distributed to all clubs and is on the League website a copy is attached.
31 in favour, 5 against, 4 abstained therefore proposal carried.
PROPOSAL 2 PREMIER LEAGUE PLAYING CONDITIONS
The Executive Committee proposes that half the Premier League games are in a 50/50 one day format. Each club will play one 50/50 game and one 120 over game against each of their opponents. At the AGM the vote will only be on the basic format. The 120 over format and timings will remain the same. The format for 50/50 games (i.e start and end times, intervals, points, over limitations, fielding circles, power-plays etc) will be decided by a sub-committee if the basic proposal is adopted.
Reason: The ECB is in favour of playing both the one-day and longer format of the game. Other Premier Leagues have successfully adopted this approach. The shorter games are at the beginning and end of season when there is less daylight.
Premier League Teams voted 7 in favour, 2 against, 1 abstained therefore motion carried.
PROPOSAL 3 OTHER 1ST XI PLAYING CONDITIONS
The Executive Committee proposes that if Proposal 2 is adopted then all 1st XIs play half their games in the 50/50 format. The regulations for the other 9 games would be unchanged.
Reason: All 1st XIs are potential Premier League teams. 120 over all day cricket is not considered appropriate for all 1st XIs but playing half the games in 50/50 format would give all clubs good experience of limited over cricket.
22 in favour, 14 against, 4 abstained therefore proposal rejected.
PROPOSAL 4 LOWER XI CRICKET
The Executive Committee proposes two options for Lower XI Cricket. The option receiving the most votes will provide the format for the 2009 Divisions.
Reason: Several clubs complained about having too few fixtures at 4th, 5th and 6th XI level in 2008. Martin Pluck and Andrew Jenner agreed to submit proposals for consideration and these have been distributed to all clubs. In order to produce the 2009 fixtures one of two proposed options needs to be accepted at the AGM.
OPTION 1
4th XI PREMIER Orsett 3rd, Hornchurch, Hainault & Clayhall, South Woodford,Hutton, Fives & Heronians, Ardleigh Green, Basildon & Pitsea, Harold Wood, Upminster 5th.
4th XI DIVISION 1 Chingford, Stanford Le Hope 3rd, Hadleigh & Thundersley, Benfleet, Southend on Sea, Brentwood 5th, Ardleigh Green 5th, Walthamstow, Billericay, Horndon on the Hill.
4th XI DIVISION 2 Wanstead 5th, Hornchurch 5th, Loughton, Fives & Heronians 5th, Leigh on Sea, Wickford, Upminster 6th, West Essex, Gidea Park & Romford 5th, South Woodford 5th.