January, 2017 Newsletter
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Cheshire County Cricket League Keeping you connected … JANUARY, 2017 NEWSLETTER Harder to sign Overseas players in 2017, warning A WARNING that stiff new Home Office immigration regulations would make it harder for clubs to register Overseas players for the 2017 season, was given by chairman David Humpage at the League’s January management meeting at Bowdon. The meeting was told that the chairmen and secretaries of all clubs planning to register an Overseas cricketer would have to sign a guarantee that the player was receiving no remuneration from any source, not having his air fare paid, receive payment for outside part- time work or from his club for activities such as coaching, bar work or on the ground. Mr. Humpage said the Home Office were clearly striving to reduce the number of Overseas players in English club cricket, warning: “Players will no longer be able to enter the UK on a tourist or sporting visa”. Clubs beware He continued: “Several clubs have already expressed their concern about this matter. My response has been that they should be very careful before they go through with such an undertaking otherwise they could find their player turned round at the airport with the loss of a lot of money”. Nantwich-based Rob Sproston, General Secretary of the League Conference, told Newsletter: “My advice to clubs is to follow to the letter the guidelines issued by the Home Office and ECB. This year a new form will have to be counter-signed by the senior officers of each club confirming that the player has the correct visa. This will be carefully checked by the Home Office and ECB who will have considerable powers to act if the forms are found to be incorrect. The eligibility of overseas players is greatly reduced as the League do not permit Tier 5 players - those who have who have played in five first class matches the previous year”. He added: “If a club has any queries, they should take it up with the ECB or Home Office before committing themselves to a player for the 2017 season”. Mr. Sproston can be contacted by e-mail on [email protected]. O Last season, Assistant secretary Tony Morris approved the registrations of more than 30 Overseas players, plus a dozen in other categories. Many gave outstanding performances, key to their clubs’ title hopes The League’s own principal rules regarding overseas cricketers are unchanged in 2017. JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p 2 Earlier starts ruled out PROPOSALS for statutory earlier starts of up to an hour in 2017 League games were defeated at the League’s January management meeting at Bowdon, including one which failed to gain the necessary two thirds majority by one vote. A proposal by Toft, seconded by Timperley, which was approved, allows clubs to bring forward the starting time of an individual match by up to an hour by mutual agreement. Also defeated was motion to reduce the rate of fines from £15 to £10. EXEC. COMMITTEE FORMED ALL other propositions at the AGM and January management meetings were approved and included the following (a full detailed list will be issued by League secretary Geoff Wellsteed): O An Executive Committee of the League shall meet on an ad hoc basis to consider strategic League matters. It shall comprise the chairman, deputy chairman and secretary as standing members, with the power to co opt. They will refer any decisions made to the Cricket Committee for ratification. O A Captains’ committee of six members covering the breadth of the league shall consider all playing matters. They shall act as a bridge between the players and the Cricket committee to whom it shall make recommendations. O The League Constitution, Playing and Match regulations may only be altered by a two thirds majority of those present and voting at the AGM. Each full member club may cast a single vote in any matter that requires as ballot. (This ensures that clubs are in full control of rules and regulations by the removal of officer voting rights). O Resignations from the League must be in writing and received by the Secretary no later than the date set by the League Cricket Conference O The following players shall be ineligible to play in 3rd XI cricket unless they have played six or more league games at 3rd XI level or below in the current season: (a) Any adult player who has appeared at county level during the current season; (b) Anyone who has appeared in a club 1st XI on a Saturday cannot play on the Sunday or Bank Holiday; (c) Any player aged 21-40 who played for his club’s 2nd XI on a Saturday. O No player may make his maiden 1st XI appearance of the season for his club during the last 5 Saturdays unless he has already played in a game under league auspices prior to the fitth last week League balls only O Only balls approved by the Cricket committee shall be used in League matches. If a team does not use a ball of the required grade the League may take action including a fine or points deduction. O Cricketers playing in the Irish provincial competition recently designated first class may be engaged as Contracted players providing they are English qualified. O All appeals against League rulings must be lodged with the Assistant secretary within seven days of the ruling. A deposit, returnable if the appeal is successful of £50 for disciplinary matters, or £25 for administrative matters should be submitted. O In the 1st XI T20 competition, a player cannot make his first appearance of the season from the quarter-finals onwards. O In Over 40s cricket, only League-approved new balls of the required grade may be used otherwise sanctions will be applied. Pink balls must be used from the quarter-finals onwards, also for the first two weeks and the last week of the season. They may also be used at ay other time by mutual agreement, O The President of the Cheshire County club shall no longer automatically become President of the League. O League officers to comprise: President, Chairman, Deputy chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant secretary, Junior chairman Junior secretary, Grounds chairman, Disciplinary chairman, Appeals chairman, Website administrator; plus as many competition secretaries deemed necessary by the Cricket committee to ensure the smooth running of the League JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p3 League donations to clubs totalled record £9,417 DONATIONS made by the League to clubs totalled a record £9,417 in 2016, reported treasurer Mark Beckley in his financial report which was approved at the AGM. The total sum granted included red and pink balls and pitch markers and represented an increase of £2,568 on 2015, averaging £260 per club. In addition, £1,080 was given in coaching grants, while shields, plaques and engraving for trophies awarded to clubs cost £2,376. Debtors had been reduced from £11,883 as at 12 months ago, to £2,117. Mr. Beckley reported an overall loss on the year of £2,443 compared to a surplus of £4,506 the previous year, a decrease of £6,949. ECB grant arrives late A £2,000 grant from the ECB had arrived too late to be included in the current figures. The annual dinner incurred a loss of £2,451 and the net cost of handbooks was £970. Officers’ expenses and printing costs were down from £2,200 to £1,685. Overall revenue was reduced by £1,764 to £18,040 with a £756 reduction in senior teams’ subscriptions, while better administration resulted in fines down from £4,873 to £3,460. Key sponsorship remained at £8,000 comprising £4,000 from Vivio, £2,500 from Readers’ and £1,500 from Joseph Holt Brewery, he reported. Mr. Beckley concluded by saying that he considered the League’s financial reserves stood at ‘an acceptable level’ and it was agreed to make no increase in the rate of subscriptions. 13th President elected at AGM THE League’s longest-serving officer, Mike Talbot-Butler was elected as the 13th President at the annual meeting at Bowdon. He succeeds John Bygate, who proposed his nomination. MTB was Fixture and results secretary when the League was founded in 1975 and continued in that post until 1982, becoming Secretary until 1999, then 1st XI Competition secretary until 2014. As well as the presidency, he continues to serve as Press officer, produces the Newsletter and run the Over 40s competition. He edited the League handbook from 1975 – 2014. MTB was appointed BEM in 2014 for services to Cricket Administration in Cheshire. Chairman for 22 years David Humpage was re-elected chairman and has now been in office for 22 years, having previously been Treasurer from 1985-95. He remains chairman of the Cheshire Clubs Cricket Committee and as such serves on the Cheshire Cricket Board. Brian Boys continues as vice chairman and 2nd XI Competition secretary, while Geoff Wellsteed carries on as secretary and 1st XI T20 Competition secretary. Other appointments: Treasurer Matthew Beckley; Assistant treasurer Sandra Beckley; Registration and Assistant secretary Tony Morris; Discipline chairman Ian Greensmith; Grounds chairman John Bygate; Junior section chairman Mike Carswell; Junior section secretary David Vallance; Website administrators Darren Sutcliffe and Stuart Hayes ; Pitchero website administrator Richard Fennah; 1st and 3rd XI Cup Competition secretaries Ian Sharrock; 3rd XI Competition secretaries Phill Evans and Roger Ollier; Cricket committee: Duncan Anderson, Rob Arnold, Toby Drummond, John O’Donnell. Two vacancies remain. JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p4 REVAMP FOR JOSEPH HOLT T20 TROPHY THE 1st XI Joseph Holt T20 competition has undergone a revamp for the 2017 season.