OFFICIAL HANDBOOK 2017 INDEX League Dinner Announcement .............................................................................IFC Sponsors’ Address .........................................................................................................2 Chairman’s Foreword ...................................................................................................3 List of Officials ..............................................................................................................4 Executive Sub Committees ..........................................................................................5 Club Duties ...................................................................................................................6 Directory of Member Clubs ..................................................................................7-84 Constitution ..........................................................................................................85-89 Rules for Divisional League Championship Competitions ............................90-97 Rules for the League Knock-out Competition................................................98-102 Ground Criteria - Cheshire County League .................................................103-105 Ground Criteria - Cheshire League ...............................................................106-107 Should We Be Playing? ....................................................................................107-108 ECB Fast Bowling Directives ................................................................................. 109 ECB Safety Guidance for Young Players............................................................... 110 ECB Guidelines for Junior Players in Open Age Cricket ............................110-112 Rules of Disciplinary Procedures ...................................................................113-123 Dates of Meetings 2017/2018 ................................................................................ .124 Blood Injuries ........................................................................................................... 124 Umpires Association ........................................................................................125-132 Fair Play League ................................................................................................133-134 Division One Fixtures ......................................................................................135-138 Division Two Fixtures ......................................................................................139-143 Division Three Fixtures ...................................................................................143-147 Division Four Fixtures .....................................................................................147-151 Division Five Fixtures ......................................................................................151-155 Division A Fixtures ..........................................................................................155-159 Division B West Fixtures .................................................................................159-163 Division B East Fixtures ..................................................................................163-167 Division C West Fixtures .................................................................................167-172 Division C South/Central Fixtures.................................................................172-176 Division C East/North Fixtures ......................................................................176-180 Honours Board .................................................................................................181-185 Final 2016 League Tables .................................................................................186-189 Knock-out Competitions .................................................................................189-193 First XI Averages 2016 .....................................................................................194-203 Second XI Averages 2016 ................................................................................204-212 Alliance Averages 2016 ....................................................................................213-224 Cheshire Cricket Trust ............................................................................................IBC 1 SPONSORS ADDRESS March 2017 As a long-term league sponsor and life-long cricket follower, it’s my pleasure to welcome in the start of the season and the new-look league structure. Now in our second year of sponsorship, we’re delighted to help drive the community’s momentum, continuing to champion the irrefutable links between business and sport. Passion, perseverance and resilience are key qualities that we all gain from sport and are attributes that have bolstered UKFast for the past 17 years. I know that these qualities will be needed throughout another fantastic season for the league in 2017. Our relationship with the Cheshire cricket community has been a pleasure so far and I look forward to watching the game continue to thrive throughout the region. Finally, from myself and all at UKFast, I’d like to wish the players, family and friends the best of luck for the season: let’s hope the weather holds out. Best of British, Lawrence Jones MBE 2 CHAIRMAN’S FOREWORD ‘The only thing that is constant is change’ is a quote attributed to the ancient Ephesian philosopher Heraclitus. I’m sure he didn’t have 21st Century Cheshire Cricket in mind when he was thinking his profound thoughts, but the theme applies perfectly. Following the 2016 season which saw two Divisions-worth of 3rd & 4th XIs from the County League joining the CCL, the CCL & Alliance proposed to merge for the 2017 season and the merger was formally agreed by the Clubs of both Leagues. One of the reasons for the merger proposal was the fact that Team numbers, particularly at the lower end of the playing-standards spectrum, were reducing and sadly two Clubs have decided to fold since the end of 2016. Several other Clubs have reduced to single-team, at least for the time being, but on a brighter note we have two new Clubs joining in Europa Exiles & Burton, while Malpas make a welcome return with a single team and Timperley add a 4th XI. Clubs who are in difficulty, particularly with regard to playing numbers, are urged to contact the League, Cheshire Cricket & their local Forum as soon as possible. We will all do whatever we can to help. Please do not leave it until it is too late & dire consequences become inevitable. The ‘Cheshire Cricket League’ name has been retained, providing continuity back to the League’s formation in 1974, and the new League now has approximately 78 Clubs & 136 Teams playing in 11 Divisions, with UKFast continuing their valued sponsorship. With such a large structure, you will appreciate that it is essential to the smooth running of the League that Clubs fulfil their Admin duties correctly & promptly. With this in mind, the League will continue to look at ways to ease Clubs’ Administrative load as much as possible, in particular the use of electronic form-filling for a variety of tasks. Inevitably, there will be a period of settling in, and the League invite Clubs suggestions if they find areas which need tweaking or need clarification. It would be remiss of me not to congratulate all those teams who achieved Promotion & KO winners in both Leagues in 2016. In particular, we bid farewell to Bredbury St Marks & Romiley 1st XIs, Bredbury returning to the County League at the first time of asking and Romiley reaching new heights. Plus Stockport Georgians & Heaton Mersey 2nd XIs, two very strong sides who were the class of Division A. We wish them well in the County League. So, welcome to the new League to all Clubs & Teams, we hope you have an enjoyable & successful 2017. Hopefully another Heraclitus quote will also prove true ‘The unlike is joined together and from differences results the most beautiful harmony’. Graham Coull March 2017 3 OFFICIALS 2017 Joint Presidents: BRIAN DAVENPORT AND DAVE LAWSON Vice Presidents: YORK WALKER, ANDREW McDOUGALL, DEREK SPEED, BOB CUNNINGHAM, PETER BIRTLES, PETER CHAPMAN, DAVE LAWSON, DAVE POTTS, ROBBIE GIBSON, SIMON WATT-SMITH, PETER HANCOCK, PETER DAVIES, JOHN BROCKLEBANK, STUART ANDERSON, GLEN NIGHTINGALE, ALAN HAMPSON, BERNARD LOVEDAY, BILL POLLARD, JIM RAFFERTY AND ALAN ROGERS Chairman: GRAHAM COULL 306 London Road, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 8DX. Tel: 01606 47408/07867 825022 email: [email protected] Vice Chairman: SELWYN STEPHENSON Glendale, 79 Victoria Crescent, Ellesmere Park, Salford M30 9AN. Tel: 07454 222 630 email: [email protected] Secretary: PHIL SMITH 2 Welshampton Close, Great Sutton, Ellesmere Port, Cheshire CH66 2WL. Tel: 0151 348 0432/07866 341 972 email: [email protected] Assistant Secretary: BRIAN BIRTLES 45 Hawthorn Avenue, Timperley, Altrincham, Cheshire. WA15 6TN. Tel: 07766 114447 email: [email protected] Treasurer: VACANT League Fixtures & Results Secretary(1st XI Cricket): GRAHAM BECKETT 66 Green Avenue, Davenham, Northwich, Cheshire. CW9 8HZ. Tel: 01606 47518 Fax: 01606 40442 email: [email protected] League Fixture & Results Secretary(2nd XI Cricket): NICK CORLESS 71 Hallfields Road, Orford, Warrington WA2 8DL. Tel: 01925 635 350 Accounts checker: JOHN POPE Legal Advisors: MILLS AND REEVE LLP 8th & 9th Floor, 1 New York Street, Manchester. M1 4AD. Tel: 0161 235 5420 Website: www.mills-reeve.com