ANTHONY AXFORD BOLTON CRICKET LEAGUE
MINUTES OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE MEETING
TONGE C.C.
24th JUNE 2013
Apologies: M Buckley, the Treasurer, and Kearsley C.C. Little Lever were not represented.
Minutes of the May Meeting: The minutes had been circulated previously and were agreed to be a correct record.
Matters Arising: The Chairman has contacted a number of people to look at the ECB Strategy, including younger members of the League. A date for the inaugural meeting has not been set. Mr Hutchinson suggested this body also look at expanding the League.
A proposal to replay matches from 18th May did not receive support from all clubs. Following on from thoughts from Mr Kay, the Secretary suggested that unless specific reserve dates were included in the fixtures, then matches should not be replayed. When the fixtures for 2013 were drafted, club opted to start the season a week later rather than leave a day free.
Correspondence: Details of the ECB National Player Survey had been sent to clubs. The Secretary requested clubs ask their players to support this.
A Telegraph article on HMRC and one from the LCB on Cricket Club Security had also been emailed to clubs.
Clubs looking to acquire the services of a quality overseas player rather than a professional have been directed to Cricketshed.com.
Another application had been received from a club wishing to join the Bolton League.
Finance: Bill Elkin and Derek Kay outlined their proposals for the 2014 Handbook, which would be produced by the Sponsorship Committee on a more commercial footing. Details were handed to clubs at the meeting. The Secretary reminded the Committee that around 80 copies of the Handbook were distributed free of charge, recipients including umpires, the press, other cricket bodies and League officers.
The Sponsorship Committee would oversee the compilation and production of the Handbook.
Mr Bannister requested a review of the trophies, and there was a request that the junior fixtures should be in larger print.
Rules would no longer be included in the Handbook, but each club and the Umpires’ Association would receive one free disc and could take copies of the rules from this.
Umpires: The Secretary read a letter from Walkden C.C. regarding umpires’ match fees. The contents of the letter have been discussed by the Umpires’ Association.
Clubs now receive a weekly update on late or missing umpires’ marks.
Umpires have been advised by their Association not to start or resume a game when it is raining quite heavily.
Another course covering the LBW law is to be arranged in the near future.
Some clubs have been reported to the Ground Committee.
Clubs are asked to consider if they would like the 17’’ guide lines for wides.
R&C Report: Mrs Knott reported Little Lever are making progress with their junior section. This was backed up by Mr Fallows.
Kearsley‘s withdrawal from age groups is being considered.
Egerton’s penalty for withdrawing their Under 15 team as per the Rules was varied on appeal, and in 2014 their first team will be deducted one point for each match forfeit after the first two.
An under 18 match between Westhoughton and Eagley was ruled void by the R&C and Appeals Committees as the reduction in overs exceeded that permitted in the rules in the respect that the clubs agreed to play ten overs each when there was time for a longer match.
Horwich have received a warning for missing an Under 11s match.
The Chairman thanked Mrs Knott and noted the Sub-Committee system appears to be working well.
The following players have transferred; J Wainman (Astley Bridge to Eagley), S Malik (Astley Bridge to Tonge), D Burke and G Hall (Eagley to Egerton), J Snowden (Heaton to Egerton), D Lever (Bradshaw to Heaton), T Ruck (Little Lever to Egerton).
Mr Venn on behalf of Eagley C.C. said what may or may not happen from discussions ongoing within the League, and most importantly when, Eagley are considering proposing a rule change concerning the necessity for Bolton League clubs to engage professionals, making it optional only.
In response to another question from Mr Venn the Secretary said he felt that if a club wished to transfer to another league the Bolton League should not try to enforce the League Cricket Conference or ECB Rules and should allow the club to join another league as soon as they wished.
There followed discussions about the timing and decision making process about such a proposal to relax the rules on professionals, and how the League and it’s to be appointed sub-committee should deal with the situation.
Tracey Brooks said not all clubs were compliant with recording matches and results on Play-Cricket. Offenders will be reported t the R&C Committee for action. Clubs need to add their junior cup fixtures.
Juniors: On behalf of Mr Buckley the Secretary reported that all clubs attended the last meeting, a date is to be arranged for the U18 play off between Kearsley and Bradshaw which was affected by the weather, results are generally being submitted on time and a discussion was held on the future of BCL junior cricket.
The Under 18 inter-league team lost to the Lancashire County League in a well attended match a Roe Green. The next match will be at Heaton C.C. on 14th July. A venue is required for the home game against the Bolton Association on 11th August.
The next meeting is 7.30pm on 25th July at Bradshaw C.C.
Mike Hall will discuss inter league selection policies with Dave Tattersall and John Hutchinson on behalf of the senior and junior teams respectively.
Disciplinary Reports: There are two reports pending, including one relating to comments on the Boltoncricket Forum.
Mr Milne said Heaton C.C. have not been happy about the Disciplinary Committees’ procedures and means of communication. He also said that certain sentences were too long for amateur players in an amateur game.
Mr Hutchinson said he felt that the Disciplinary Committee had been compliant.
The Chairman stressed to all Sub Committee members the importance of following procedures precisely.
Ground Reports: Mr Waterworth said there will be brief visits to all grounds in the near future, with the main areas of concern being boundaries, footholds, covers and scorebox operation.
Mr Hutchison congratulated members of the ground committee on their alacrity when asked to carry out an inspection at a junior match.
A request to have 30 yard fielding circles instead of 25 yard at the Hamer Cup final was turned down. There may be a proposal to have 30 yard circles at all grounds from 2014.
Inter-League: The Semi-Final against the Ribblesdale League will be at Salesbury C.C.
ECB: The Secretary reported on a meeting of representatives from the Greater Manchester Leagues.
Cricket Balls: Karen Knott has taken a dozen balls to be tested in first and second team matches in the coming weeks.
Date of Next Meeting: 29th July.