www.yspl.co.uk 2016 Pre-Season Newsletter Welcome to the new Reorganisation of Premier League Yorkshire South cricket in Yorkshire Premier League The launch of the Yorkshire South Premier League is part of a complete reorganisation of Premier Leagues in Yorkshire in 2016. This also sees the introduction of I would like to welcome you to the new Yorkshire South another new Premier League in the north of the Premier League, which will be launched at a clubs meeting county, the Yorkshire Premier League North. The on Wednesday 13 April at Rotherham Phoenix Sports latter, along with the existing North Yorkshire & South Club, with the first league fixtures on Saturday 23 April. Durham League, the Bradford Premier League (including the old Central Yorkshire League), and The new league brings together seven of the former ourselves, will mean that Yorkshire has four Premier Yorkshire League clubs, based in South Yorkshire and Leagues. North Lincolnshire, together with last year’s top four South Yorkshire Senior League clubs and Wakefield Yorkshire CCC Chief Executive Mark Arthur says: “The Thornes, from the Central Yorkshire League. new Premier League structure in Yorkshire has been a long time in the making. At the County Club we are Over the last 18 months, much hard work has gone into anticipating improved competition throughout the laying the foundations for our new league. Change is county, culminating in the play-off semi-finals at never easy, neither is bringing together different cultures Scarborough and Headingley, with the final in Abu against a background of years of tradition and history. I Dhabi. Once again, Yorkshire Cricket leads the way." think we have succeeded to the point where there is now a genuine anticipation and excitement about the new Leading figures from the England & Wales Cricket structure, the increased competitiveness, and the Board, Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the Yorkshire opportunity for clubs to test themselves against old rivals Cricket Board, attended a special launch dinner for the in a Premier League environment for the first time. new structure at York Cricket Club in February. They joined officials of the four Premier leagues and I would like to thank all the members of our committee representatives of their clubs, along with for their constructive approach, hard work and the Halifax, Nidderdale, South Yorkshire Senior, commitment so far. They have pulled together as a team Wetherby, York Senior, and York Vale leagues, who will and utilised their different experiences, knowledge and be partner leagues in the new pyramid structure. skills to get us where we are now. ECB chairman Colin Graves said: “The rest of the I hope that players, officials and spectators alike will all cricket community will be watching this exciting thoroughly enjoy our first season. However, despite the development. Those who have worked so hard to thoroughness of our preparations, there will undoubtedly make this happen deserve the highest praise.” YCCC be things we have not thought of, or that need to be chairman Steve Denison said: “Who would have looked at again. We are committed to ensuring that our thought this day would come? Brilliant leadership from league is as good as it possibly can be. We will listen to Yorkshire CCC, the Yorkshire Cricket Board and the feedback and, at the end of the season, we will review leagues.” and make changes where necessary. Yorkshire fast bowler Matthew Fisher, whose club Finally, I would like to thank our main sponsors, All Sheriff Hutton Bridge will play in Yorkshire League Rounder Cricket, and all our advertisers, for their much North, is excited by the new set up, which will see the valued support. champions of the four premier leagues meet in end of I very much look forward to the coming season and to season play-offs with the final being played in Abu seeing you all on my travels around our grounds. Dhabi on October 27. “League cricket has been transformed,” he said. “The best playing the best is how it should be. We must be thankful to all that made Roger Pugh OBE, Chairman it happen.” www.yspl.co.uk It has taken more than two years to create the new league structure. Yorkshire Premier League Cricket Our Competitions chairman Alan Birkinshaw said: “It is a proud moment All teams in the YSPL will compete in three for all those involved. It has taken a tremendous competitions: amount of hard work and sacrifice. This is a special day • a 12-team competition for the League’s for all who have made this possible. Yorkshire cricket is championship; played with a red ball over 50 overs truly united.” per side, with a maximum of 15 overs per bowler, During the dinner the draw for the play-off semi-finals fielding restrictions, and ‘leg-side wides’ was made by Colin Graves and YCCC Head Coach Jason • a knock-out cup, sponsored by J P Plant Hire, Gillespie. They drew the team names from the White competed jointly with teams from the Yorkshire Rose Trophy, which will be awarded to the winners. Premier League North, which will be played in The semi-finals will see Yorkshire League North take on coloured clothing with a pink-ball over 50 overs a Yorkshire League South at Scarborough, while the side and a maximum of 10 overs per bowler, fielding Bradford League will play North Yorkshire & South restrictions, free hits for front-foot no-balls, and leg- Durham at Headingley; both games taking place on side wides – with the final being held at Treeton on 4 Saturday, September 17. September The winning teams will travel to Abu Dhabi on October • a t20 competition that feeds into the ECB national 22, where they will practice and play in one warm-up t20 competition, played with a pink ball and under match each against a local team before meeting in the the usual rules governing t20 competitions – the first day/night final in the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium. round will be played on a zonal basis and the Yorkshire South finals day will be at Abbeydale Park Our Sponsor on 17 July In all three competitions, the Duckworth Lewis Stern method will be used to determine games where the agreed number of overs cannot be completed due to ground, weather or light conditions. The League will also administer an under 19s t20 Last December, the Yorkshire South Premier League competition. announced the signing of a three-year sponsorship agreement with All Rounder Cricket Equipment. All Rounder is one of the leading specialist cricket retailers in the world, stocking over 5,000 of the latest Yorkshire v Cancer and best cricket products as used by some of the Yorkshire Cancer Research is the official charity partner world's greatest cricketers. Based opposite Headingley of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the Yorkshire Stadium in Leeds and owned by ex Yorkshire CCC and Cricket Board for the 2016 season. The organisations Derbyshire CCC player, Chris Taylor, All Rounder has are working together to reduce the impact of cancer in grown rapidly since its birth in 2011 to become one of Yorkshire, especially in young people. the largest cricket retailers in the World. Together, they aim to raise awareness of the signs and The announcement of the sponsorship coincided with symptoms of skin cancer, the importance of an early the opening of All Rounder’s new Cricket Megastore on diagnosis and the steps people can take to stay safe in Penistone Road Trading Estate, Hillsborough, Sheffield the sun while enjoying outdoor sports during the by world number one batsman Joe Root of Sheffield summer months. Collegiate CC, Yorkshire CCC and England. The charity attends cricket events in communities All Rounder will contribute a significant financial throughout the region, with information about how to sponsorship to the Yorkshire South Premier League prevent skin cancer, free sunscreen, information about from 2016 to 2018, that will see the All Rounder name signs and symptoms and wristbands that change colour linked with both the league and t20 competitions. in UV light. To find out more about All Rounder please visit www.allroundercricket.com www.yspl.co.uk The charity is also encouraging all 778 local clubs in Aston Hall CC Yorkshire to hold a ‘Yorkshire v Cancer’ event during 2016 and help to raise funds. Clubs or businesses that choose to host a fundraising day will receive a pack with 2016 Captain: Rob Ward hints, tips and promotional materials to get events up and running. All money raised will go back into raising awareness of cancer within Yorkshire’s cricket community. Ground: Aston Hall Cricket Club For more information about holding a ‘Yorkshire v Green Lane Cancer’ cricket match, visit Aston www.ycr.org.uk/yorkshirevcancer or contact Sophie at [email protected] or call 07470 057493. Sheffield S26 2BD 0114 287 3000 On the back of last year’s South Yorkshire League News from around our clubs championship win, captain Rob Ward and his team are .. really looking forward to another great season at Aston Appleby Frodingham Hall. Last year’s success was all the more enjoyable as it was unexpected, but with a great ‘team spirit’ and no CC outstanding individuals it was the club’s best ever season. 2016 Captain: Duncan Heath Overseas player Nick ‘Noodles’ Smitt will return for the new campaign. Smitt had a really good start last year, Ground: Brumby Hall but a shoulder injury prevented him from bowling in the Ashby Road latter part of the season. Now that he is back and fully Scunthorpe DN16 1AA fit, the club look forward to another great season from him.