ANTHONY AXFORD BOLTON CRICKET LEAGUE
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD AT BRADSHAW C.C.
26th JANUARY 2009
Minutes Silence; The Committee stood in memory of Shaun Cruise, Henry Marland and Frank Tatlock.
Apologies; None. Greenmount C.C. were not represented.
Minutes of the AGM and December Meetings; Both sets had been circulated and were approved as a correct record.
Matters Arising; Mike Hall was appointed Vice-Chairman.
The Committee approved the increased LCB affiliation fees, details of which had been previously sent to clubs and covered in the LCB Director’s report also sent to clubs.
The Secretary requested that the topic of United Utility Bills be left until the next meeting as discussions were likely to be quite lengthy. Additionally more information was likely to be forthcoming. Information in the national press, instigated by Little Lever C.C. had been circulated previously.
Correspondence; The Secretary has emailed clubs details of Bolton CVS grants, Sport, Health and Inclusion Training Courses and information from Niel Hart – Community Sports Outreach Officer. He also has details of the Mayor’s Mile Charity Sponsored Walk if clubs have not received this.
Clubs are asked to contact the Secretary if they find insurance cover for ‘wrongdoing’ by a player from overseas in the employ of a cricket club, as this does not appear to have been covered.
Finance; The Chairman welcomed Chris Monks and explained that a financial report will be available once the handover from the previous Treasurer Bill Stevenson is complete.
Umpires; Representatives from our Umpires Association proposed expenses be increased for the next two seasons to £35 per match, £12.50 if the game was called off within one hour of the scheduled start, £25 if a match was called off before 4.30pm and £15 per evening for continued cup matches.
After some discussion including reference to increased water rates, insurance contributions, expenses in other leagues and a two-tier system it was agreed the umpires should consider taking full responsibility for run-rates and an increase to £33 in 2009 and £35 in 2010. Representatives were also asked to take the proposals back to their clubs.
Karen Knott stressed the importance of Umpires’ Report Cards being completed as this would impact on officials standing in external KOs or higher grades of cricket. The Chairman gave an assurance the imposition of penalties for non-compliance would be given active consideration by the R&C Committee.
Representatives were asked to consult their captains to see if Wednesday 8th April would be a suitable date for an Umpires / Captains meeting. The lack of captains attending and the content of previous such meetings was discussed.
A list of pre and post match tasks for team captains and club administrators would be drawn up.
Mrs Knott is willing to run ACO Level 1 and / or scorebook entry courses if there is sufficient interest.
Axford Indoor KO; The Chairman congratulated Astley Bridge on defeating Tonge in the final, and thanked the organisers, officials and Gemma and Craig for scoring and operating the scoreboard.
The dates for 2010 at Bolton School will be 10/17/24/31 January. Refreshments may be available.
Previously Kearsley had beaten Walkden in the Lancs Area Final, and will play the Yorkshire winners.
Juniors; All clubs have entered teams in the U18, U15 and U13 competitions. Cup draws and draft fixtures will be available very soon.
The League will be running specialist coaching sessions rather than nets this winter.
There was a very poor attendance at the meeting.
R&C; As Little Lever had organised an overseas cricket tour on the first weekend of the season it was unanimously agreed the matches from 19th April would be played on 17th May, unless all the games from 19th April are rescheduled as agreed previously. There would be no extension to 17th May.
The Secretary is awaiting confirmation of the fixed dates for the Cockspur 20/20 from the LCB before more progress can be made.
Three clubs, Bradshaw, Heaton and Tonge provided three year’s figures and other supporting information for Craig Duxbury, Gary Garner and Adam Street respectively. Following lengthy discussions about the standard of professionals, previous professionals who had been refused by the Committee and problems with overseas professionals, a separate vote was taken on all three players. All were accepted as pros for the 2009 season, subject to CRB clearance. Two other clubs who indicated they were considering signing non-first class players were asked to provide three year’s statistics by the February meeting, or earlier.
(In three seasons at Baxenden, David Parkinson has the following figures – 2006 - 637 runs @ 35.39 and 26 wickets @ 29.92, 2007 – 962 runs @ 53.44 and 37 wickets @ 16.38, 2008 – 766 runs @ 40.32 and 15 wickets @ 23.37)
The Secretary said that for as long as he could remember non-first class players had been subject to acceptance by the Committee, based solely on their ability as a cricketer, and he felt that some guidelines should be produced soon after the start of the 2009 season.
The Chairman warned clubs there was only limited time to sign overseas professionals, and he has some information on the required procedures.
Hamer Cup Draw; (Birtwistle Cup teams reversed)
Byes; Tonge and Horwich (Byes 2010 Eagley and FSC)
Astley Bridge v Farnworth
Kearsley v Little Lever
Heaton v Greenmount
Westhoughton v Walkden
Egerton v Eagley
Bradshaw v Farnworth S.C.
Handbook; Peter Stafford still requires club officials and junior team managers. He is also short of the second team catches and wicket-keeping figures for FSC, Greenmount, Heaton, Horwich, Little Lever and Tonge.
Election of Sub-Committees; The following Sub-Committees were elected;
Registration and Competitions – M Hall (Chairman), S Ainsworth (Bradshaw), G Salt (Eagley), A Bowker (Greenmount), S Merry (Horwich), S Parker (Westhoughton).
Discipline – Tony Hayes (Chairman), S Bannister (Egerton), S Thomson (Kearsley), D Barlow (Tonge), P Garnett (Walkden), E Smith (Umpires’ Secretary).
Ground – D Morris (Chairman), J Halton (Astley Bridge), J Greasley (Farnworth), G Waterworth (Farnworth S.C.), R Sandiford (Heaton), B Hardman (Little Lever).
Officers;
Registration Secretary – R Fallows.
Inter-League Selection – D Tattersall, P Tebay and Captain.
Curators of Trophies – M Buckley, D Morris.
Handbook Editor and Press Secretary – P Stafford.
Sponsorship – D Kay (Chairman), F Hinks, R Sandiford, D Tattersall.
LCB Scout – R Dearden.
Cricket Balls – D Morris, R Sandiford.
Discipline; An Eagley player was banned for one match of the Indoor KO.
Ground; David Morris handed clubs copies of an unsuccessful proposal at the 2007 AGM regarding grounds and facilities. He explained that although the proposal failed, overall the majority of clubs were in favour of most of the suggestions, and suggested it be used as a basis for future improvements.
Wigan C.C. are selling their old scoreboard numbers and anyone interested should contact Dave.
Admin; The Secretary had circulated a letter from Chris Higginbottom of the ECB’s play-cricket website. All clubs already have a link to the site and it is hoped that initially clubs will use the facility to register all players eligible for senior cricket. Clubs can also post senior and junior results and scorecards.
Mike Hall said it is the duty of the R&C Committee to uphold the League’s Rules. Penalties other than fines may be imposed for repeated administration transgressions.
The Registration Secretary may be asked to contact clubs to give them the opportunity to quash rumours that they may in breach of League Rules.
Life Member; Derek Kay had sent out a letter proposing David Morris as a Life Member. The Committee approved this.
The Secretary suggested that in order to streamline our ‘Honours’ system, winners of the Hubert Pendlebury Award should automatically be made Life Presidents.
Any Other Business; Rod Sandiford said he is awaiting invoices for the cricket balls.
The Chairman said Child Welfare would be on the agenda for the February meeting.
Date of Next Meeting; 23rd February.