Chairman's Report - 1997

John Hutchinson (March 1998)

This is my first report for the League Handbook since being appointed junior Chairman at the Annual General Meeting in December 1997.

It would be remiss of me not to start by paying tribute to the dedication and commitment over many years of Ray Taylor and John Roberts, who retired from their positions as junior Chairman and Junior Secretary respectively at that December meeting. Of course, both Ray and John will continue to be closely involved in Bolton League cricket, Ray as League Secretary, and John as a selector for the Under-18 inter-league side, a junior team manager at Tonge C.C. and, needless to say, as coach and mentor to numerous junior players throughout the area.

Looking back over the 1997 season, it proved to be quite a fruitful year at Inter-League level. The Under-18 team once again won the Brian Hollows Memorial Trophy match on Spring Bank Holiday Monday against the Bolton Association, before being beaten in a bowl-out by the Central Lancashire League in the semi-final of the M.E.N. Knock-out, following a downpour at Tonge.

The Under-15 team, following on from the highly successful Under-13 team of 1995, won the Michael Roche Trophy, beating the Bolton Association in a low-scoring Final at Bolton Indians C.C. This was no mean achievement, as the Bolton League side which appeared in the Final was missing no fewer than seven of its regular players, most notably captain Andrew Bowker, wicket-keeper Chris Evans and left-arm spinner Chris Barrow. Later in the season, the League team easily defeated the Bolton Association in the Derek Slater Trophy match held at Astley Bridge, winning by a margin of seven wickets with numerous overs to spare, Chris Evans top-scoring with 54 not out.

The Under-13 inter-league side managed to regain the Teddy Gerrard Trophy, defeating the Bolton Association by one match to nil in the three-match series, with one match abandoned due to rain (on the same day as the Under-18 semi-final) and one match tied. The final match at Daisy Hill C.C. was a nerve-tingling affair. It looked to be going the Association's way before a flurry of late wickets from the bowling of Nigel Hallows and Alex Dunn, supported magnificently by wicket-keeper Daniel Guest, left the match tied at 105 each.

I would not expect the inter-league teams for 1998 to be quite so strong as last year, but neverthless I'm sure we are all looking forward to another string of exciting matches in the season to come. On the League front, Farnworth Social Circle won the Under-18 League and Cup double for the third time in the last four seasons. Indeed, this was the fourth consecutive season in which Circle have carried off the Jake Tatlock Trophy. This is a fine tribute to the work which has been put in at that club, not only by Under-18 manager jack Ashton, but also by the various junior team-managers at the younger age levels in years gone by. This was reflected in large measure by the club's success in obtaining £140,000 of lottery funding from the English Sports Council for the construction of new facilities in December 1997. Congratulations to all involved.

The Jake Tatlock Final featured a fine all-round contribution by Bradshaw's Myles Cunliffe, but it wasn't quite enough on the day. At least Myles had the not inconsiderable consolation of winning the Manof-the-Match Award. In the League, Eagley, who managed to inflict defeat on Farnworth Social Circle, something of a rarity in recent seasons, deservedly won the fight for the runners-up spot.

The Under-15 section was dominated by Astley Bridge, as indeed had been the corresponding Under-13 competition in 1995. They stormed away with the League title, remaining unbeaten throughout the season, and completed the Cup and League double in a tightly- fought Mervyn Porter Final against Kearsley. The latter victory was secured by a fighting innings of 34 by Man-of-the-Match Tim Rees, who showed a calmness and assurance well ahead of his years (he was only 12 years old at the time) as he steered his side home.

Astley Bridge also won the double at Under-13 level, this time rather more easily. Their high-quality all-round side dominated the League throughout, before comfortably disposing of Little Lever in the Harrison Cup Final. Astley Bridge's Under-13s were also successful in winning the Lancashire Knock-out Competition, before losing out narrowly in the later stages of the National Competition. Many congratulations to them on this excellent achievement.

One new innovation in the junior cricket programme for 1997 was the introduction of organised Under- 1 l's cricket. The clubs involved, Astley Bridge, Bradshaw, Farnworth Social Circle, Heaton, Horwich, Little Lever and Walkden. (plus Chorley C.C. from the Northern League), all found this to be enormously beneficial, and I would invite the other member clubs to consider entering teams in the Under- 11's competition in years to come. The Under- 11 season culminated in a one-day festival held at Walkden C.C. on August Bank Holiday Monday. This proved to be a tremendous day, exceptionally well organised by the Walkden officials, with Horwich C.C. taking the Frank Hinks Senior Trophy, beating Bradshaw in the Final.

Another innovation came in March 1998 with the introduction of a School of Excellence for Bolton League players aged 16 and under, generously sponsored by Fort james Ltd. This provides a unique opportunity for eighteen of the League's more talented players to experience top quality coaching and instruction over a dedicated weekend in the calendar, and the venture will, I hope, be repeated in the years to come.

Once again, the Bolton League provided a large number of players for the various Lancashire teams at junior level. Those selected were: Under19's Schools: Matthew Cuff (Egerton), Christian Walsh (Famworth SC) and James Holt (Heaton).

Lancashire Cricket Federation (Under-19): Matthew Parkinson (Farnworth SC & Heaton) captain, Philip McDerrnott (Eagley) and Richard Sellers (Westhoughton).

Under-17's: Philip McDermott and Richard Sellers.

Under-16's: Chris Evans (Bradshaw).

Under-15's: Chris Evans, Chris Barrow (Farnworth SC) and Daniel Rees (Astley Bridge).

Under-13's: William Halton, Tim Rees and Andrew Kerr (all Astley Bridge).

Under-11's: Martin Ainscough (Horwich), Nick Woods (Horwich) and Christopher Tye (Astley Bridge). N.B. Chris Evans also represented the North of England, and England Schools, at Under-15 level. Congratulations to all these players.

1998 will also see a significant change to the format of Under-13's cricket as played in the Bolton League. At it's Annual General Meeting in December, the League voted to switch from pairs cricket to a traditional game, based, to a large extent, on the Under-15's rules as they already stand. This move brings the League into line with the recommendations of the England & Wales Cricket Board, which wishes to see the 'pairs' format used as an introductory game for boys and girls aged 11. and under.

Finally, may I just repeat one thing, which I said at the junior Presentation Evening in November. Without the loyal and dedicated service of club stalwarts throughout the League, we would not have the flourishing junior Section which we do have. Loyalty and dedication are qualities which cannot be bought, and I would ask all junior players to remember this as they progress onwards and upwards through their cricketing careers.