Derek Kay (March 2009)
Spring has sprung ‑ Clocks have moved forward ‑ Easter is fast approaching and doubtless cricket whites are being dusted down and brought out of hibernation ready for the 2009 season to commence. Grounds are being readied, boundary boards whitened, sightscreens being wheeled back into position with silent prayers being offered at every Club for a Season of sun so that we can consign the truly awful weather of 2008 to a distant memory.
Anyone who knows me realizes that my memory is not the most reliable however even I can categorically say that I cannot remember a worse season than 2008 for rain, more rain and even more rain. I would like to take this opportunity therefore to take my hat off to everyone involved at individual Clubs and at League level for working their socks off to complete their fixtures as best as possible ‑ Groundsmen, volunteer rain‑cleaners, Team Managers, League Administrators, Coaches, players and of course parents & grand‑parents for all your hard work and commitment in such difficult conditions and trying circumstances ‑ Thank you.
Nevertheless, despite the weather we still managed to see some exciting and excellent cricket throughout all age levels. At Under 18's Farnworth Social Circle CC were simply unbeatable all season winning the League title by a comfortable margin and then adding the Jake Tatlock Cup for a double winning year congratulations to all players, Coaches and Officials at FSCCC ,and as an interesting aside no fewer than 4 members of their U/18 team played for the Club's 1st Xl in the Lancashire Knockout Final ‑ well done. It was pleasing to see Little Lever CC back towards the top of the League at Under 18's level as the finished Runners Up.
At Under 15's age level Bradshaw CC had a superb League season winning the Championship by a clear margin having gone undefeated throughout ‑ well done to everybody concerned for a fantastic achievement. In the Mervyn Porter Cup however it was Greenmount and Heaton who contested the Final and with an excellent all round performance on the day it was Heaton who deservedly won the match and the Trophy.
The Under 13's age level was extremely close fought throughout the whole season with 2 Clubs playing the entire season unbeaten (Heaton & Greenmount) and another 3 Clubs only losing the one match (Bradshaw/ Horwich/ Westhoughton). However it was Heaton CC who finished the season as Champions and just for good measure they also appeared in the Harrison Cup Final against Bradshaw but on this occasion it was Bradshaw who ran out Winners off the last ball of the match!! Many congratulations to everyone concerned ‑ winners and nearly winners ‑ and good to see Greenmount CC back towards the top of the table. Also many congratulations to the Under 13's InterLeague team who won the Peak Sports Inter League Competition ‑ well done to all concerned.
The Walkden Festival at Under 11's age level was won by Bradshaw CC and congratulations to everyone concerned in organizing, arranging, staging and playing the matches.
One of the many highlights in a season is being able to announce the winner of the prestigious Most Promising Under 16 Player of the Year at the Senior Presentation of Awards Evening and I was delighted to present this years award to a very worthy recipient ‑ Andrew Lane ‑ who had a magnificent season in a wide variety of competitive cricket. To all those who have helped Andrew along the way, give yourselves a pat on the back‑but specifically to you Andrew, very many congratulations and good luck in the future.
It was particularly apt that as I was writing this report I happened to be watching the TV coverage of the One Day WI v England series in the Caribbean and would you believe it ‑ the match was interrupted by rain (deja vu) ‑ and a studio discussion ensued between David Lloyd, Ian Ward and Graham Thorpe (newly appointed Coach at Surrey CCC). Part of their chat centred around the old chestnut of County Cricket ‑ too much, too little, new ideas, old initiatives ‑ but more specifically about what was the objective of each County Club ‑ and was it part of their brief to produce future England Test and/or International cricketers. Now although I'd love to get involved in that discussion, it did set me thinking about the same points and views and objectives at our level ‑ at Bolton League level ‑ at Club level ‑ what are we trying to achieve, have we determined what our objectives are, are they the same or different at each Club, and at League level, can we incorporate those differences into our overall objectives, have we set out what our objectives are ‑both short term and longer term ‑ is the current setup, structure and format of our cricket conducive to achieving our overall goals. I certainly don't profess to know all the answers but I'm certain that given the massive commitment and dedication we all put into Bolton League cricket, whether that be at our own Clubs or at League level, with all the (new) Rules & regulations we all have to adhere to, or at least work towards, then it would perhaps be worthwhile to know that the effort we are all putting in is progressing us towards an overall aim or aims.
As I stated in my opening paragraph ‑ now is the time to look forward to a new Season but before wishing everybody good luck in 2009, may I thank a few people in particular for all their hard work last season ‑ Mrs Hobbis for all her efforts in getting the results into the press, all Inter League Managers ‑ Team Managers ‑ League
Administrators ‑ Coaches and Officials ‑ in particular Mike Buckley for his ongoing dedication and commitment to the role of Junior Secretary ‑ and to Bill Stevenson who has earned a well deserved rest from his official duties as League Treasurer ‑ thank you Bill.
May the sun shine.
Best wishes
Derek Kay
League Chairman
March 2009