MANAGEMENT MEETING MINUTES

24^th FEBRUARY 2014 at TONGE C.C.

ANTHONY AXFORD BOLTON CRICKET LEAGUE

Apologies – Chris Monks and Eric Smith.

Present – Mike Hall (MH), Mike Buckley (MB), John Hutchinson (JH), Derek Kay (DK), Karen Knott (KK), Warwick Milne (WM), Ray Taylor (RT) and Bill Elkin (BE) representing the Junior Committee.

Minutes of the January Meeting – These had been circulated and were accepted as a correct record.

Matters Arising – It was agreed the Code of Conduct for Captains would be raised at the Umpires / Players meeting, but the document would not be implemented by the Bolton League as it only covered measures and procedures that were already in place.

The Chairman (MH) reported in detail on the meeting called by the Lancashire Cricket Board at Old Trafford to discuss League Cricket in Greater Manchester. It was agreed that because of the uncertainty faced by leagues and clubs in GM as attempts at expansion by other leagues in the County had not necessarily met expectation, and other leagues were attempting to expand without guarantee of success, the Management Committee’s Three Year Plan would not incorporate any similar plans of expansion. The Bolton League would continue to work with the LCB and monitor the progress or otherwise made by surrounding leagues, but internally would be looking to maintain 14 sustainable clubs by seeking to improve grounds and facilities, review junior cricket and consider other options for our internal competitions. At the moment there don’t appear to be any County lead plans for a Greater Manchester Premier League, but clubs will be kept informed.

Malcolm Venn with be Eagley’s representative on the R&C Committee.

The meeting with club Groundspersons will be arrange for March.

DK to organise.

MB said progress was being made on the Handbook. If clubs have not updated their officials or junior team contacts it will be assumed they have not changed from 2013.

RT and MB are still awaiting the consolidated League Rules begun by Frank Hinks.

MH to remind Mr Hinks.

Egerton had been defeated in the Northern Area Indoor final in Durham.

Correspondence – RT had circulated electronically the following;

LCBAO business plan,

Welfare Category Update and Child Welfare Courses. By season 2015 all Bolton League clubs will have to have Clubmark,

Pitch Map coaching app,

League Cricket Conference Minutes,

Links to other Play-Cricket sites which demonstrate the adaptability of P-C,

Details of funding organisations,

RT is working with Westhoughton C.C. on a proposed rule change affecting our competitions. He will report back to the Management Committee in March when other suggestions may be put forward.

RT read an email from Westhoughton regarding a proposed waiver of rule, which will require the unanimous consent of the other 13 clubs at the April meeting; Rule 13 “A player qualified for England under current ECB regulations may be deemed an eligible player notwithstanding the fact he is selected for a first class county providing he does not act as a sub-professional during the season.”

Finance – Anthony Axford have agreed to sponsor the League again in 2014. No-one was certain if clubs have been asked to place a senior cricket ball order.

MH to contact Chris Monks to discuss this and the clubs’ standing orders.

Juniors – MB, BE and MH met with Little Lever last week. The club are experiencing difficulties raising under 15 and under 18 teams and may not be even able to find sufficient players for ‘red’ teams. As it is four years since Little Lever produced an under 15 team the matter was referred to the R&C Committee to deal with under their guidelines.

KK to arrange.

There will be an Introduction to Umpiring course aimed at junior team managers 7pm to 9pm at Tonge C.C. on 9^th April.

Umpires – An introduction to scoring course has been arranged has been arranged from 7.30pm to 9.30pm at Astley Bridge C.C. on 11^th March. Clubs are reminded that under the new rules clubs must have a competent scorer and anyone new to scoring is requested to take a scorers course.

The Umpires / Players meeting will be held at Farnworth Social Circle from 7.30pm on Thursday 27^th March. Clubs will be fined £25 for each senior team not represented by the team captain or a player from that team.

RT to remind clubs earlier in the week.

Registrations – MB will be releasing a spreadsheet later in the week for every club to complete and return. The purpose of this is player registration only. Play-Cricket will still be used for the submission of results. Evidence will have to be provided that players not born in the UK are eligible to play in the Bolton League. For a player resident in the UK this would normally be in the form of an attachment proving the player is on the electoral register.

Concerns were expressed about the availability of the Kearsley professional.

KK to discuss with Kearsley.

Date of Next Management Meetings – 24^th March, 7pm at Tonge C.C. including discussion of Ground Committee proposal and initial three year plan proposals.

Date of General Committee Meeting – 14^th April, 7.45pm at Tonge C.C. To be preceded by a Management Committee Meeting at 7pm.

RT to remind clubs after the March meeting.