Lancashire League Handbook 2015

21 Jack. Jack has also agreed to undertake the task of producing the fixtures from next season and I wish himgreat success with this. There are 4 awards, best 1st team scoreboard, best tea room, sportsmanship and the captain's award. This year's scoreboard award was again very close with three clubs tying for 3rd place on 96.66% East Lancs, Enfield and Rishton. In second place 98.46% were Bacup but the winners with 100%were – Rawtenstall. The second award, Best Tea roomhas seen the standard has go up again. In 3rd place with 98.46%were Ramsbottom. But we didn't have a second place this year as we had a dead heat for top spot and they couldn't be separated as they both scored 100% so the joint winners were Rishton andTodmorden. The Joe Collier Trophy is decided by the marks awarded by Umpires at each match for the sportsmanship of each team and is based on a total of both First & SecondTeamMarks. Eleven Clubs achievedmore than 90%. This year in 3rd place were Colne with 95.53%, in second place Todmorden with 95.96%and the overall winners with 98.37%are Bacup. The last award, theAlick Ormerod Trophy is again marked by the umpires but this one is on the effectiveness of first teamcaptains. Bacup andTodmorden tied for second place with 98.4%. But the overall winner for 2014with 99.23%was East Lancashire. The 2015 season will be my tenth as Secretary and the undertones appear to be to look towards change. An approach was made to the Executive from the Central Lancashire League to consider a possible merger and Clubs asked that we meet with them to see what was on offer. On reporting back to our Clubs it was decided that such a move would not be appropriate at this time. It was thought however that we must, as a League keep in touch with what is happening in adjoining Leagues and the Executive will serve the Clubs in this respect and report back accordingly. 2017 will be our 125th Anniversary and during the coming months we will be looking towards a programme in celebration and therefore it seems that any change would be unlikely before then. We have a reputation of being the best League in Lancashire, it does not necessarily mean we need to become a “Premier League” to retain that reputation. We do things well and if we keep doing that we will retain that reputation. I submit my report for your approval.