Cheshire County Cricket League

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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.

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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.

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REVAMP FOR JOSEPH HOLT T20 TROPHY

THE 1st XI Joseph Holt T20 competition has undergone a revamp for the 2017 season. All 36 clubs have been included and are divided into 10 unseeded geographical groups to provide as many local derbies as possible, playing either two or three games each, on Thursdays, or other days of the week by mutual agreement. Better quality pink balls will be used in all games and a draw will eventually determine which of the semi-finalists stages Finals Day on Sunday, July 9 (reserve date Sunday, July 23. The groupings for games to be played between Thursday, May 11 and Thursday, June 15 are: Group 1: (3 teams, 2 games each): Neston, Oxton, Upton. Group 2: (3 clubs, 2 games each): Grappenhall, Warrington, Widnes. Group 3 (4 teams, 3 games each): Alvanley, Barrow, Chester Boughton Hall, Christleton. Group 4 (4 teams, 3 games each): Bowdon, Lindow, Mobberley, Timperley. Group 5 (3 teams, 2 games each): Davenham, Northwich, Weaverham Group 6 (3 teams, 2 games each): Nantwich, Oulton Park, Tattenhall. Group 7: (4 teams, 3 games each): holders Bramhall, Cheadle, Cheadle Hulme, Stockport. Group 8: (4 teams, 3 games each): Brooklands, Didsbury, Sale, Urmston. Group 9 (4 teams, 3 games each): Alderley Edge, Bollington, Macclesfield, Toft. Group 10 (4 teams, 3 games each): Bredbury, Hyde, Marple, Romiley. The inter-group play-offs on Tuesday/Thursday, June 20/22 are: Match A - winners of Group 1 v winners of 2; Match B - winners of 5 v winners of 6.

Quarter-final dates The draw for the quarter-finals to be staged on Sunday, June 25, Tuesday, June 27, Thursday, June 29 and Sunday, July 2 is: Winners of Play-off match A v Winners of Group 3; Winners of play-off match B v Winners of Group7; Winners of Group 4 v Winners of Group 10; Winners of Group 8 v Winners of Group 9. A new draw will be made before Finals Day on July 9. The Finals Day champion will go on to represent the League at home in the ECB National Area Finals on Sunday, August 8, when they will host Greater Manchester League, North Staffs. & South-Cheshire League and North Wales Premier League. A full set of Group fixtures has been circulated by Urmston chairman Rob Arnold.

Champions open at home to Grappenhall

REIGNING champions Alderley Edge will begin their defence of the ECB Premier League title at home to promoted Grappenhall on Saturday, April 22, the 2017 fixtures reveal. The other club promoted to the top flight, Didsbury, open at home to Timperley, who notified the League that their two grounds at Stockport road will not be available until May due to on-going major improvements started last August. In Division 1 on the opening day, promoted clubs Widnes and Upton travel to Sale and host Bollington respectively, while relegated Macclesfield and Urmston will travel to Warrington and host Oulton Park. The League’s newest full member 1st XI club Romiley open their Division 2 programme against local rivals Stockport at Cale Green. Back in the league after a brief 12 months’ absence, Bredbury St. Mark’s host Barrow, while elegated duo Tattenhall and Cheadle Hulme travel to Mobberley and Northwich respectively 1st XI Competition Secretary Ian Sharrock says: “The League again offer sincere thanks to Graham Coull for devising the fixtures and all special requests made by clubs” The fixtures have been posted on the League websites (see back page of Newsletter for details). JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p5

55 teams in Sunday 3rd XI line-up THE League’s Sunday 3rd XI line-up in 2017 will comprise 55 teams operating in five divisions starting on May 7. Peter Lawson is standing down as Competition secretary due to ill-health to be succeeded by former League officer Roger Ollier. The following formats will apply: Premier Division (10 teams): Alderley Edge, Bramhall, Cheadle, Didsbury 3, Didsbury 4, Grappenhall, Hyde , Marple 3. Nantwich, Sale 3. Division 1 East (10 teams): Bredbury 3, Brooklands, Bowdon, Cheadle 4, Hale Barns, Heaton Mersey 3,Romiley, Stockport Georgians, Stockport., Urmston 3. Division 2 East (10 teams): Ashton on Mersey, Ashley 3, Bollington, Bowdon Vale, Disley, Hyde 4, Timperley, Urmston 4, Woodley, Woodford. Division 3 East (9 teams): Ashley 4, Bredbury 4, Cheadle Hulme 4, Cheadle Hulme Ladybridge, Heaton Mersey 4, Sale 4, Stockport Trinity, Lindow, Wilmslow. West Division (8 teams): Alvanley, Caldy, Chester Boughton Hall, Neston, New Brighton, Oxton, Tattenhall, Widnes, Central Division (8 teams): Elworth, Haslington, Macclesfield 4, Northwich, Wistaston Villa, Runcorn, Toft, Warrington. The 2017 fixtures are available on the League website.

SUNDAY FRIENDLIES THERE is to be a separate 3rd XI Sunday Friendly section in 2017 with fixtures drawn up by Didsbury’s Marcus Fisher. Up to 14 clubs have agreed to take part: half of them from outside the County League and including Bramhall and Marple in the East of the county to Irby and Port Sunlight in the West.

FORTIES’ FINAL AT CHESTER?

THE Final Day’s play in the Over Forties competition could be staged at Chester Boughton Hall next season. Chester are the only club to have replied positively to a request for offers to put on the event. with Sunday, September 3 the preferred date. If any other club wishes to make their ground available, preferably on the same date, they should contact the Competition secretary soonest. Fixtures have been produced by Ian Sharrock and are available on the websites. Forties cricket in the league will again comprise four divisions of eight clubs, playing 14 fixtures each between Wednesday, May 3 and Wednesday, August 2. This will be followed by the quarter-finals featuring the top two teams in each division, the champion team having home advantage on Wednesday, August 9 or by Sunday, August 20 at the latest. The quarters draw is: West winners v Central runners-up Central winners v West runners-up North East winners v South East runners up South East winners v North East runners-up. New club Whalley Rangers have been placed in the North-East division, with Bramhall reverting to the South East Division. O High Lane have expressed an interest in joining the competition in 2018.

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Only five League clubs enter National ko ONLY five clubs from the Cheshire County League – the lowest number on record – will play in the Royal London National knock out in 2017 With Cheshire entries down from seven in 2016, only the Premier League quintet of Hyde, Bowdon, Chester Boughton Hall and Nantwich, plus new boys Upton, newly promoted to Division One, will play in the competition next season. Bowdon secretary Andrew Marshall says: “With the Sunday cricket emphasis on Minor Counties and T20, and many players no longer wishing to turn out twice at the week-end, it’s not surprising that clubs are drawing in their horns. Bowdon reached the quarter-finals in 2015 and it was never easy getting a full team out”. The total entry did not reach the maximum 256 and only 211 clubs will be involved in 16 geographical groups. Round 1 has to be played on Sunday, April 23, round 2 on Sunday, May 14, round 3 on Sunday, June 4, round 4 on June 25, round 5 on July 16, the last 16 round on August 6, semi- finals on August 27 and the final at Chelmsford, the HQ of Essex CCC on Sunday, September 17. Clubs will be allowed to postpone games by mutual agreement only in round 1. ROUND 1 DRAW Group 5: Farnworth v Heywood; Prestwich v Tonge; Walsden bye; Horwich v Denton; Bamford Fieldhouse bye; Astley Bridge v Roe Green; HYDE bye; Littleborough v Bradshaw (Hyde at home to Littleborough or Bradshaw in round 2). Group 6: BOWDON bye; St. Helens Town v Formby (Bowdon at home to St. Helens or Leigh in round 2); Leigh v UPTON; Firwood Bootle v Highfield (if win Upton at home to Bootle or Highfield in round 2); Northern v Spring View; Stretford v Wallasey; New Brighton bye; Wigan v CHESTER BOUGHTON HALL (if win Chester away to New Brighton in round 2). Group 7: Stone bye; Sentinel v NANTWICH (if win Nantwich away to Stone in round 2); Shrewsbury bye; Moddershall v Shifnal; Halesowen v Wolverhampton; Ombersley v Stourbridge; Kidderminster bye; Wombourne v Old Hill.

Cheshire Cup and Shield draws soon DRAWS for the 2017 Cheshire Cup and Shield will be made in early-February. Entry forms have been distributed and clubs are reminded that they need to attach a £50 cheque when applying. For further information contact organiser Peter Hayes on [email protected] JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p7

2017 CLUB NEWS

Bowdon to celebrate Lord’s appearance BOWDON secretary when the League was founded in 1975, the First Division title a year later and when they reached the final of the John Haig National Club ko at Lord’s a further 12 months on, David Young plans a get-together of survivors this summer. David told Newsletter: “We played Southgate at Lord’s in 1977 when the final against Southgate was rained –off. The match was replayed at Edgbaston a few days later, when we lost. I have been trying to contact all members of that team to stage a reunion. Unhappily, not all those players are still with us and a couple of others are ill”. O Bramhall are the only County League club to win the National final at Lord’s, having beaten Bath there in 2001.

BRAMHALL LIFE MEMBER BRAMHALL have elected Peter Lawson as a life member in appreciation of his services over many years, also as an officer of the League. Not in the best of health, Peter hopes to be well enough to watch Bramhall more regularly in 2017.

Chester to have TWO captains CHESTER BOUGHTON Hall’s annual meeting came up with the novel idea of separate captains for ECB Premier League and Cup matches in 2017. Lee Dixon steps down as overall 1st XI skipper to make way for his younger brother, Ross who will lead in League games. Ross was recently married to an Australian girl Down Under. Experienced former Glamorgan all-rounder Will Owen will lead Chester in all cup games. Chris Fleet will captain the Academy side and continue as Club Captain while Jim Gillson remains chairman. Brian Gresty begins a three-year term as President in succession to John Legry. The 3rd and 4th XIs will become known as 3A and 3B.

Financial aid for Davenham GO ahead DAVENHAM chairman Bob Floyd has taken time off from supporting Huddersfield Town this winter to seal a sponsorship deal with builders Stewart Milne Homes which has made funds available to help the club’s growing junior section. A bowling machine, new kit and extra professional coaching has been made available, says junior co ordinator Karen Gallagher. Martin Bentley steps down as Over 40s captain to be succeeded by wicket-keeper Simon Freedman,

NO CHANGE @ DIDSBURY PROMOTED to the ECB Premier League as champions of Division One, DIDSBURY have expressed satisfaction with their officers by re-electing them all, as follows: Chairman and treasurer Duncan Anderson; secretary Tim Hughes; 1st XI captain Nick Anderson; 2nd XI captain Shahaz Qasim; 3rd XI Sunday captain Mark Dowse; 4th XI Sunday captain Tony De Weever. JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p8 Club news contd …

Macclesfield chief is Volunteer of Year CHAIRMAN of MACCLESFIELD Simon Griffiths has been named Cheshire East Council Volunteer of the Year. The award recognises outstanding unpaid work in the community and Simon’s achievements heading up new ventures on the Macc ground have been justly recognised. Dave Frame has stood down as Macclesfield 40s captain.

Graham Gooch @ Marple FORMER Essex and England captain Graham Gooch was guest speaker at MARPLE’S Sportsman’s Dinner in mid-November. The club’s PR man Mark Brook reports: “Goochie was excellent and I can highly recommend him. His knowledge of the game and good humour thrilled us all”. Marple plan a 30th anniversary celebration of their sole First Division title success, in 2017.

Camden back at Neston ALL-ROUNDER Luke Camden has rejoined NESTON after a spell with neighbours Birkenhead Park, recently relegated from the Liverpool Competition’s premier division. Luke keeps fit during the off-season playing for Cammell Laird in North-West Counties League Newsletter editor MTB came across him, with his dad Chris, when Lairds lost 6-1 at home to 1874 Northwich at Rock Ferry on New Year’s Eve. Neston are lining up a quality overseas player, reports re-appointed skipper Simon Stokes. David Hurst will be playing a full season at Parkgate. Zimbabwe-born all-rounder Simon Mugava who scored 326 runs and took 36 wickets for Neston last season, has moved to live in Stoke and expects to play in the North Staffs League for Alsager.

Lancashire sign Sale’s Brooke Guest OUTSTANDING SALE wicket-keeper/batsman Brooke Guest has signed a professional contract with Lancashire for 2017, but expects to be regularly available for the Dane Road club’s County League matches. A former Australia Under 19s player, Guest scored 1,097 runs in all cricket for Sale last season and also appeared regularly for Lancashire 2nd, figuring in their team which beat Somerset in the 2nd XI knock out final at Old Trafford.

Timperley recruit TIMPERLEY have signed all-rounder Tyrone Lawrence and wicket-keeper Chris Canning, both from Sale, also former Natal and Gloucestershire batsman Grant Hodnett, who played in the Moorside League last season. Kiwi all-rounder Dan Cooper who played for Timpers in 2015 and 2016 has settled in the UK and will becomne an ordinarily resident player next season. Paceman Jack White, who took 36 Premier League wickets in his debut season is staying at Stockport Road

JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p9 Club news contd …

INS & OUTS @ AT URMIES RELEGATED URMSTON have lost the talented Parkinson brothers: Callum has signed a contract with Leicestershire and is to play in the Leicestershire County League, while Matthew, recently in Dubai with England Lions, will be with Egerton in the Greater Manchester League. Bradley Yates and Sam Oldham have both left. Lancashire 2nd opener Calum Turner becomes the club’s youngest 1st XI captain. He is currently playing Grade cricket in Australia following his recovery from a ruptured spleen. Returning to the club are Lewis Jackson from Leigh and Samit Panda, who has been playing for Edgworth. Wicket-keeper Steve Espley leads the 2nd XI. Two girls in the Lancashire Under 11s squad are Maggie Buckley and chairman Rob Arnold’s daughter, Jenny.

Upton snap up Neil Cross UPTON have made quality addition to their playing strength for next season’s First Division programme in Neil Cross, the former Wallasey, New Brighton, Oxton, Bowdon and Cheshire all-rounder. Former 1st XI captain Andy Roberts becomes Cricket chairman at Old Greasby Road, while 4th XI captain for the past 20 plus years, Ian Bruce, has been made an Honorary Life Member.

CHESHIRE FIXTURES IN 2017 CHESHIRE County Cricket Club’s full fixture list for 2017 is as follows:

T20 Challenge (1 p.m.) Bank Holiday Monday, May 29: Staffordshire at Nantwich .

Unicorns Knock out group (all Sundays, 11 a.m.) April 30: Shropshire at Oxton May 7: Wales at Newport May 14: Herefordshire at Alderley Edge May 21: Staffordshire at Knypersley Quarter-finals (provisional): June 11 at Chester Boughton Hall Semi-finals (provisional): July 9: at Chester Boughton Hall

Unicorns’ county championship (all Sundays, to Tuesdays, 11. a.m. daily) June 4 – 6: Herefordshire at Brockhampton June 18 – 20: Cornwall at Nantwich July 2 – 4: Devon at Sidmouth July 16 – 18: Wales at Alderley Edge July 30 - August 1: Wiltshire at Devizes August 13 – 15: Oxfordshire at Chester Boughton Hall.

JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p 10

League to hold Behaviour Forums: Yellow cards possible

CONCERNED about the deteriorating behaviour of players at all levels, the League are to hold pre-season meetings in an attempt to correct the situation. Umpires & Scorers Association chairman Ian Greensmith told the January management meeting: “Attitudes of players towards umpires and behaviour in general continues to decline and although we are not as bad as some other leagues in the North-West, there is cause for concern. We may have to consider the ECB’s yellow card system which has been introduced in some premier leagues”. There will be three meetings distributed around the county in February and March involving umpires’ representatives, club chairmen and team captains in a bid to improve inter-action between umpires and players hopefully leading to a general improvement in behaviour. League chairman David Humpage said the conduct of players was especially poor at 3rd XI level when panel umpires were not available. Club chairmen Ian Milligan and Duncan Anderson and a panel of umpires will announce further details of the proposed meetings. Mr. Greensmith said that retention of panel members was an issue of concern. At least nine well-known names would be missing in 2017, but winter recruitment had been reasonable with seven new members enrolled. The numbers were not in decline as were those of some neighbouring leagues in the North-West.

2017 Umpires meeting dates

DATES of League Umpires & Scorers Association meetings in 2017 (all 8 p.m.) are: Pre-season, Wednesday, April 19 at Timperley; Mid-season: Wednesday, July 5 at Toft; End of season: Wednesday, September 20 at Alvanley (to be confirmed); AGM: Wednesday, November 8 at Toft.

REFRESHER COURSES

REFRESHER Courses are planned this winter by the Cheshire Cricket Umpires & Scorers Association for ECB ACO members who have attained Levels 1A, 2C and 2. The courses are at Toft on Saturdays, February 4 and 11 and at Oakmere on Sundays, February 12 and 19, all from 9.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m., at a cost of £15. For further information or to book a place contact Geoff Young, tel. 01352 755 881 or by e-mail at [email protected] O A light-hearted look at cricket umpiring by a man with many seasons’ experience of the game at club level comes highly recommended. A paperback costing £8.99 written by Matthew Stevenson, it is entitled “The Diary of a Recreational Cricket Umpire”. Agent contact: [email protected] JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p11

Rob Jones and Danny Lamb get Lancashire contracts

TOFT’s Rob Jones and Danny Lamb of Bramhall have both signed full-time professional contracts with Lancashire Batsman Jones who scored a championship century for Lancashire against Middlesex last season is currently playing grade cricket in Australia, at Perth. All-rounder Lamb, who helped Bramhall reach the National T20 Finals last season, has yet to make his senior debut for Lancashire. Both players appeared for Cheshire last season, but are less likely to be available in 2017.

CHAPPLE IS NEW COACH AN occasional player for Bowdon in the ECB Premier League in 2016, fast bowler Glen Chapple has been appointed first team coach at Old Trafford. He succeeds Ashley Giles, who has returned to take over to a similar role with Warwickshire Chapple’s deputy at Old Trafford is to be former Brooklands and Lancashire batsman Mark Chilton.

Crackdown on Child Welfare dodgers

THE Cheshire Cricket Board are to tighten up their rules on clubs needing DBS authentication for all relevant officers in 2017. Child Welfare Officer Andrew Margeson will be carrying out checks on all clubs in the county during the next six months. League chairman David Humpage told the January management committee that one League club had played throughout the 2016 season without the necessary clearance for their 1st and 2nd XIs which had contained many young players. This would not be allowed to continue and clubs who did not ensure that all their relevant officials had Board clearance would run the risk of major sanctions.

CHESHIRE LEAGUES’ MERGER IS APPROVED

THE management committees of the UK Fast Cheshire League and the Cheshire Alliance have finally approved plans for a merger to take effect in 2017, reports Brian Birtles, who has carried out much of the groundwork. The merger was ratified by both leagues at their AGMs and will be finally confirmed at a special General Meeting of the new body on February 23, when the officers will be appointed. It is expected that the combined league will operate with 60 x 1st XIs and 78 x 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th XIs. The First Division will comprise: Middlewich, Congleton (relegated), Ashton on Mersey, Barnton, Disley, Hale Barns, Stockport Georgians, Lymm, Runcorn, Irby, Port Sunlight and Haslington (promoted). The two leagues’ Umpires’ associations have also agreed to merge

JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p12

New Zealand ..a long way, but worth journey

ONCE upon a time, we would have considered a trip to faraway New Zealand outside the bounds of possibility, but here we were in early March, 2003 preparing for a mammoth journey to the Land at the Opposite End of the Earth. Once again ideally organised by Gulliver’s Travels, the 28 day tour plan was just about perfect, taking in all three Test matches by starting near the tip of South Island, through Wellington in the ‘middle’ then up to the capital city of Auckland. England had a decent chance of victory captained by Nasser Hussain with a number of up and coming new names including one Freddie Flintoff Wyn and I treated ourselves on the way out by breaking a daunting 22 hours flight with a two-day stop-over in Los Angeles. LA proved bang up to expectations with conducted tours to Santa Monica Beach, Hollywood and the superb Getty Center with a highly knowledgable guide who turned out to be a retired Californian Senator. The second leg of our journey was from LA to Auckland (10 hours), was followed by a ’hop’ down to Queenstown where we spent two days admiring The Remarkables, a huge mountain range facing the town. We took a trip on the ancient TSS Earnslaw the length of Lake Wikipitu, but chickened out of a white knuckle ride on the Shotover River We enjoyed a further day on a memorable coach trip to Milford Sound away on the west coast boarding a boat which offered us a glimpse of the Tasman Sea beyond. Next morning it was up early under tour leader Peter Walker - ex-Glamorgan and England and such a nice fellow - to Christchurch where we spent the next week. The First Test was at the Jade Stadium, then one of the homes of NZ rugby, the nation’s no.1 sport which was taking a brief rest between seasons. A drop-in pitch favoured the batsmen, especially ours in a remarkable game which England won with scores of 228 (Hussain 106) and 468-6 dec. (Thorpe 200, Flintoff 137 = 281 for the sixth wicket) while NZ replied with 147 (Hoggard 7-63) and 451 (Astle 222, Caddick 6-122). We were seated behind the bowler’s arm and were literally shelled by Astle during his remarkable innings of 28 fours and 11 sixes, NZ falling just 98 short of a massive target. Memory plays tricks Fast forward seven years: I was umpiring Nantwich at Oakmere and talking to Kiwi star Lou Vincent about that Christchurch match. “I was playing; did you know: got 50 in both digs”, he told me. I looked up the records and Lou actually scored 12 and a duck. Strange fellow! A wonderful city was Christchurch, much like Worcester - until the massive earthquake of February, 2011 which was to kill 185 people, destroy Jade Park and many other important buildings, causing £13billion damage. One member of our party, the Rector of Truro, the Rev. Ken Rogers kept us amused with some outrageous ecclesiastical stories. He shocked us on Easter Sunday, however, when he opted not to attend a service at the city’s Anglican cathedral because it was being conducted by a woman. Instead he went into the adjoining Methodist Church. A man of strong convictions. Next day, we piled back into the bus for the next leg of our journey north stopping off to do some eagerly-anticipated whale-watching at Rotorua. Unfortunately, the weather closed in and we never went out to sea - such a disappointment. So it was on up to Picton at the point of South Island where we boarded a giant ferry for the two-hour crossing of the Cook Strait – turbulent despite being midsummer – to the capital city of Wellington. Windy City it is: you take one step forward and two back until you learn to drop in and walk directly behind the locals. The enormous Te Papa National Museum on the waterfront was a must, as was the roundel Parliament Buildings. Later we caught the unique cable car to rise rapidly above the city and cast an eye over south island’s distant Mount Cook on a perfect, clear day. JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p13 NZ tour contd …

Umpired a match between the NZ Press and a Gulliver’s XI captained by former Middlesex and England paceman Wayne Daniel. (Quite a boy, this, Wayne used to turn up to the cricket with a different lady on his arm each day). And Peter Walker pocketed six slip catches with one eye closed. Cheshire Alliance chairman and Northwich Vics Director Jim Rafferty and his wife Lynne were in port on a world sailing tour. We met and visited their friends up in the hills. The Test at Basin Reserve – the largest roundabout on the island – was spoiled by rain and news that Surrey’s talented Ben Hollioake had died aged 24 in a car crash at Perth, Australia. Ben was a very popular figure in English cricket at the time. No play on part of two days resulted in a tame draw: England 280 and 293-4 declared (Trescothick 88, Flintoff 75), NZ 218 (Caddick 6-63) and 158-4, Vincent 71. A spare evening after the Test was spent watching a Super 12 rugby match between Wellington Hurricans and Cape Town Stormers with the remarkable and sadly now-departed Jonah Lomu scoring two tries in a 33-18 home win. This was played at the ‘Cake Tin’, the city’s rugby HQ, where they also stage 50 overs and T20 international cricket. A remarkable stadium, decked out in yellow and packed to the rafters with 30,000 fanatics - but with apparently only one exit, which was scary. Next day it was back in the trusty coach for a stop-start 300 miles trip to Auckland. We paused at Rotarua where there are geysers hot enough to burn your hand off, then at Taupo, a lovely little inland resort with a huge clearwater lake. Above the town is the River Waikato which we reached by bus, then walked back five miles. Did we really do that? We came across two British girls being talked into making a bungee jump into the rapids for 100 dollars (£40) plus the (50 dollar) video. World’s sailing capital After an overnight stop it was on to Auckland, the only city in NZ with motorways. Our Stamford Plaza Hotel was near the world famous Harbour. The entire second floor was permanently occupied by the Australia crew preparing for the next Americas Cup. What must the weekly bill have been, we pondered? Had dinner with umpiring pals Brian Garwood and Walter Nelson from the Liverpool Competition. The Auckland Test was at Eden Park, the real HQ of NZ rugby with a strange triangular shape only faintly resembling a cricket ground. The match finished late on Day 5 with all the floodlights glowing and little natural light left despite England not having agreed to play in such conditions. The Kiwis won with an over to go and squared the series, to the chagrin of visiting players – and supporters. Scores: NZ 202 and 269-9; England 160 (Don Topley 6-54) and 233 (Hussain 82), losing by 78 runs. On the first day of the match, the Queen Mother sadly died back in London aged 103. Remarkably, every flagpole in the city - and apparently throughout NZ - flew their ensigns at half-mast for a week to commemorate the death of a wonderful lady who had always expressed warm feelings for NZ. We wondered if such reverence was being shown back home. So that was it: another tour England had failed to win. However, Wyn and I couldn’t remember a trip we were so sorry to see end. Almost every minute was a delight, mixing with wonderful people who made us warmly welcome, revelling in the wide open spaces and lack of cluster. It was like the Britain in the 1950s us Oldies could faintly remember. I cannot recommend a visit to NZ too strongly (next one up is in January, 2018). But do give yourself time. A drawback is the arduous journey home; especially travelling via LA. Still edgy after the 2001Twin Towers horror, US customs required us to get off our plane at midnight after a nine hour flight, reclaim heavy baggage, undergo a thorough customs and body check, then file back onto the plane. Followed by another nine hours slog to Heath Row However, that was a small price to pay for a never to be forgotten experience and we arrived back in Cheshire on April 6 to glorious weather - and the 2003 season to come. JANUARY NEWSLETTER: p14

John Barclay is 2017 dinner speaker

THE League Presentation Dinner at The Mere (Mere Golf & Country Club) at the end of next season will be addressed by former Sussex cricketer John Robert Troutbeck Barclay. Aged 62, John was born at Bonn in Germany and educated at Eton College before enjoying a career in first-class cricket. An author and keen fly-fisherman, his apt nickname is Trout. The dinner is on Friday, October 6. Make a note in your Diary now.

Website information …..

The League’s Pitchero website ably administered by Richard Fennah contains recent pictures and documents, including all 2016 issues of Newsletter. It can be located on www.cheshirecountycl.org.uk

For other League news including all 2017 season fixtures, tap into Darren Sutcliffe’s website ... www.cheshirecountycl.com

NEXT ISSUE OF THE NEWSLETTER WILL BE CIRCULATED IN LATE - FEBRUARY Meanwhile, please direct any club news, comments, letters, corrections, complaints, obituaries etc. to …….

PRE-SEASON LEAGUE MEETING: The League’s pre-season Management committee meeting at which cricket balls, handbooks etc. will be distributed is at Warrington on Wednesday, April 12, 7.30 for 8 p.m. All full and associate member clubs should attend, the latter if only to collect their kit.

[email protected]: Monday, January 23, 2017

Livingstone tops Lancashire batting IN Lancashire’s 2016 first-class averages, former Nantwich player Liam Livingstone topped the batting list with 815 runs at 50.09, his 23 first-class innings containing two 100s and six 50s. Toft’s Rob Jones batted seven times in four appearances, scoring 212 runs at 42.4, including his maiden first-class century against Division l champions Middlesex. Jordan Clark (Alderley Edge) scored 225 runs from 10 innings, averaging 25. Clark took 11 wickets at 41.5 and Urmston’s Matthew Parkinson 10 wickets at 36.3. Parkinson is to leave relegated Urmston next season to play for Greater Manchester Premier League champions Egerton. In the Derbyshire bowling averages, Callum Parkinson, of Urmston, took 14 wickets at 37.9. Making his first-class debut for Leicestershire, Hyde’s Harry Dearden scored 36 runs in four innings at an average of nine. He will be joined at Grace Road next season by Callum Parkinson.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 19: Special meeting date for Forties & Thirds WEDNESDAY, October 19 has been fixed for special meetings to decide on the formats for Over Forties and Third XI cricket in 2017. Both meetings will be held at Warrington, the Forties at 7 p.m. and the Thirds following at 8 p.m. Attendance is mandatory. The 31-club Forties section have a vacancy following the withdrawal of Marple after the start of last season, followed by the recent decision of Kingsley not to take up an offer of admission. Inquiries have been received from Stretford and Whalley Range, whose clubs are both members of the Greater Manchester League. At their September meeting, the League Cricket Committee decided that the admission of these clubs could not be allowed as both are situated outside the Cheshire county boundary. Any club wishing to join the section – or withdraw – is asked to contact Competition Secretary Mike Talbot-Butler ([email protected]) prior to the meeting. The Third XI meeting will have a wide range of topics to consider, including the possibility of forming a Friendly section. DINNER NEWSLETTER: p12

Poor discipline worries Umpires Assn. AT their end- of- season meeting at Sale, the League Umpires & Scorers Association expressed concern about declining discipline. Chairman Ian Greensmith reports: “Since the meeting, Association officers have had good feedback and we will continue to investigate ways to achieve more consistency among our members because players’ behaviour which is acceptable for some is clearly not for others” He adds: “There is no doubt that discipline generally has deteriorated and Premier League clubs, who normally have the better umpires controlling their games, are the biggest offenders. “Not out rulings are, in too many cases, being questioned and while I would not want to go down the route of some leagues when umpires will not respond to appeals other than to say ‘not out’ (as recommended in the Tom Smith umpiring guide) we will be forced down that route if matters do not improve.” He goes on: “Poor behaviour is a reason why we have difficulty in recruitment, and to counter that this winter the Cheshire ACU&S are running two Level 1 recruitment courses, a Level 1A course and three refresher courses. Anyone wishing to attend should contact Geoff Young”. The League Umpires committee have also discussed a suggestion from the Cheshire Board to have one umpiring association covering the whole of the county. Meanwhile, the Association want the League to consider earlier starting times for the last four weeks of the season, possibly by as much as one hour, to assist with visibility.

2017 dates for your diary THE League’s 2017 season will begin on Saturday, April 22 and end 22 weeks later over the week-end of Saturday and Sunday, September 16 and 17.

NATIONAL CUP KO IN 2017 ENTRIES for next season’s Royal London National Club championship which last season attracted only seven County League clubs, need to be in ASAP. Competition secretary Aaron Campbell ([email protected]) has announced the 2017 dates as follows: Round one on Sunday, April 23; round 2: May 14; round 3: June 4; round 4: July 16; quarter- finals August 6; semi-finals August 27; final on September 17. Each round allows a seven day postponement period for rain etc. The draw will be made at Lord’s on Friday, December 2. O THE ECB have set the dates of the later rounds in the NatWest National T20 tournament, which follows each league’s domestic competition. The Area finals will be on Sunday, July 30 and the Regional finals on Sunday, August 13 with the final day’s yet to be arranged There are likely to be structural changes to the League’s own Fred Graham T20 competition although the final will again be staged in mid-July. O CHESHIRE COUNTY CLUB AGM. The annual meeting of Cheshire County Cricket Club is on Tuesday, November 22 at The Windmill Inn, Chester road, Tabley WA16 0HW (by the M6 intersection). The venue in recent years, the Golden Pheasant, Plumley, is currently undergoing reconstruction. O COUNTY League Junior section AGM is at Warrington on Sunday, October 30 at 5 p.m. O CHESHIRE Seniors (Over 50s & 60s) annual dinner is at Chester Boughton Hall on Friday, November 25. DINNER NEWSLETTER: p13

Obituaries

DAVID OTWAY KILLED IN CAR CRASH

MANY tributes have been paid, including one from former England captain Michael Vaughan, following the tragic death in a car crash in Cumbria on September 21 of leading Alderley Edge member David Otway, aged 52. He died when his Volkswagon car crashed on a remote road in Ambleside, in which no other vehicle was involved. Kendal-born, his funeral took place in the Cumbria town followed by a memorial service at Netherfield Cricket Club, where he used to play. An MCC member resident in Wilmslow, David leaves a family including three sons. He was the leading light behind the emergence of a successful youth section at Alderley Edge in which Michael Vaughan’s son currently plays. The former England skipper had rich praise for David’s expertise bringing on young players. Chairman of the club’s junior section, it had been intended that David would step up and take over from Andy Fluck as club chairman at the next AGM.

David Herd - ex-Timperley & Man U - DIES AT 82

FORMER Manchester United centre-forward David Herd, who died on October 1 aged 82, played cricket for Timperley in their Manchester Association days and was chairman when they won the Stockton Trophy title in 1977. A Scottish international, David is best remembered at United for scoring twice in their 3-1 defeat of Leicester City at Wembley in the 1963 FA Cup final. He also played for Arsenal, Stoke City and later for Waterford in Ireland. His father Alex was a famous Manchester City and Scotland international pre and post-war. At cricket, David was an old fashioned big-hitter and frequently used to stop play in the tennis courts while batting at the Stockport road end. Newsletter Editor Mike Talbot-Butler recalls being on the receiving end of regular punishment from David when Northwich played their traditional opening match of the season at Timperley. According to long-serving member Simon Thompson, David had two spells at the club either side of a period managing Lincoln City. He later moved to play cricket at Brooklands, alongside his great pal, the England rugby union international Steve Smith.

[email protected] …………….Monday, October 10, 2016

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