ANTHONY AXFORD BOLTON CRICKET LEAGUE
MINUTES OF THE MEETING 25th NOVEMBER 2013
TONGE C.C.
Apologies: Chairman and Treasurer.
Malcolm Maybury: The Committee stood in memory of our former umpire.
Minutes of the October Meeting: These had been circulated and were approved as a correct record. There were no matters arising.
Correspondence: The Secretary had contacted clubs to inform them that those without Clubmark this coming season could still enter the National Club Championship and the ECB t20 provided they had entered previously. The deadline for the NCC is 29th November.
A letter from League Cricket Conference concerning insurance and indemnities had been forwarded to clubs.
A sponsorship template sent by the LCB had been forwarded to clubs.
Tracy Brookes said she was monitoring the changes to Play-Cricket but would not be in a position to give a detailed report until the New Year. Information regarding the changes had been forwarded to clubs.
An article from the BBC website about tax relief had been sent to clubs.
The Secretary strongly recommended that because of two errors the wording of Rule 14(i) should be amended to read “Clubs playing without a professional will pay the League 4% of the total minimum overseas seasonal remuneration per match missed.”
Finance: It was suggested that the decision to have the sponsorship money for the cricket balls paid to the League rather than distributed to the clubs be reviewed for the coming season.
Umpires: There is a course at Astley Bridge from 7th January.
There is a possibility that the Bolton League could benefit from the demise of the Manchester Association.
The draw for the Anthony Axford indoor KO was distributed. The draw will also be posted on the Boltoncricket website.
Sunday Fixtures: These were ratified by the Committee. The Secretary explained that as provision had been made for league matches to be rearranged it had not been possible to leave two free Sundays between all rounds of the Lancs KO.
Juniors: The junior AGM will be held at Astley Bridge C.C. at 7.30pm on Thursday 28th November. This will include the vote on amendments to rules.
League Presentation: David Morris said around 140 tickets had been sold. The buffet will be served from around 8pm. Clubs will be invoiced £25 for the raffle prizes. It is anticipated the event will break even.
Hubert Pendlebury Award: One of the clubs graciously offered to withdraw their nomination until next season to allow another nomination to go forward.
Amendments to Rules: The Committee were told which of these had received a simple majority. The voting form will be amended for the AGM.
The Secretary suggested the front foot no-ball proposal was incomplete and recommended the following is added;
“The delivery following a no ball called for a foot fault shall be a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it. If the delivery for the free hit is not a legitimate delivery (any kind of no ball or a wide ball), then the next delivery shall become a free hit for whichever batsman is facing it. For any free hit, the striker can be dismissed only under the circumstances that apply for a no ball, even if the delivery for the free hit is called wide ball. The umpires shall signal a free hit by (after the normal no ball signal) extending one arm straight upwards and moving it in a circular motion.”
The Secretary also suggested that before clubs purchase coloured clothing consideration should be given to only allowing colours on a lighter hue as we will still be using a dark cricket ball. There was a discussion about having names and / or numbers on the coloured kit and the implication of having to wear sweaters over the kit.
There was a suggestion that from 2015 clubs still in the Hamer Cup could sign deputy professionals from clubs who had been knocked out.
The Secretary reminded clubs that if the proposal for the registration of amateurs was to be defeated, several players already in the League who were not born in the UK would not be permitted to play in 2014.
Nomination of Officers: There was a lengthy discussion about the desirability or otherwise of some of the candidates. It was noted that under the proposal clubs would be permitted a maximum of two of their members on the Management Committee, and one club had four nominees. Mr Morris pointed out he was also a member at Farnworth and would be their League Representative. A suggestion that Mike Buckley should become eligible by becoming a member at another club was withdrawn when the Committee agreed without opposition that the membership clause be withdrawn.
Nominations;
Management Committee –
M Hall (Chairman)
R Taylor (Secretary)
C Monks (Treasurer)
D Kay (Vice Chairman)
Additional Members (4) from M Buckley, R Fallows, F Hinks, M Hodgkiss, W Halton, J Hutchinson, K Knott, W Milne and D Morris. Bill Elkin withdrew his nomination.
Towards the conclusion of the AGM members of the committee eligible to vote will be asked to cast a maximum of four votes on the paper provided. The candidates with most votes will be elected. Should there be a tie for the final place(s) there will be a further ballot of these candidates only, with votes being cast for the number of places available. Members of the Committee should be in a position to cast a vote at this stage even if there preferred candidates are not part of this vote. From this stage onward if there is not a clear result the ballot will be re-run with the candidate with the least votes dropping out. If all remaining candidates have an equal number of votes the Chairman will have the casting vote(s).
Nominations (if the proposal for a Management Committee is unsuccessful);
M Hall (Chairman)
R Taylor (Secretary)
C Monks (Treasurer)
Co-Opted Members (3) J Hutchinson, K Knott and D Morris.
Date of December Meeting and AGM; 9th December