Lincolnshire County Cricket League Official Handbook 2001

LINCOLNSHIRE CRICKET BOARD PREMIER LEAGUE Way back in 1972 I attended a meeting with members of the South Lines. & Border League as representative of the Lincolnshire County Cricket League which included Geoff Robinson, Martin Maslin and Jack Marsden. We recognised that within our League standards were reducing and that what was required was a Premier League taking in the best clubs in the County. Unfortunately this, along with a number of attempts failed to achieve what would have been a monumental step forward for Lincolnshire Cricket and would had it been achieved, turned out to have been visionary. It has taken the emergence of the E.C.B. to cajole and push this development forward and achieve something which had actually been within our grasp and it would probably have seen cricket in Lincolnshire having a lot higher profile. For me personally Premier League Cricket some 28 years later is an achievement. It is now in being and the first season has been highly successful and everybody participating according to my feedback has thoroughly enjoyed it. Bourne was the first Lincolnshire Cricket Board Premier League winners but had to fight all the way with Grimsby Town, Messingham and Sleaford all being close contenders throughout the season. There were some outstanding performances throughout the season with Ian Dawson's 183*, Richard Hewitt's consistency averaging 73 and there were 8 century makers and 93 fifties. On the bowling side Steve Bradford averaged 11.53 taking 53 wickets with Mark Fell having figures of 8 for 38, Steve Bradford 7 for 11 and Paul Butler 7 for 33. There were 22 players taking five wicket hauls and this was achieved by Steve Bradford five times with Pete Wood, Mome Van Schalkwyk and Rob Girdwood achieving it three times. The wicket-keeping award went to Nigel Dobbs with 25 victims whilst most catches went to Nick Chilvers. The Umpires Award was won by Julian Simpson and the Scorers Award by Mrs. Roberts. This season sees the introduction of the feeder leagues and those clubs in contention for promotion will need to ensure that they meet the necessary criteria for Premier League Cricket. A new cup competition has been put in place to play for the "Bews Brown" County Trophy. This competition is to be played on a Regional basis in four areas with 16 teams participating including Cleethorpes, Appleby-Frodingham and Bracebridge Heath together with Alkborough, Hartsholme and Owmby. The winners of each area will come through to a semi-final and final, which will be played after the League season has finished. It would be wrong of me not to mention Radio Lincolnshire for their live coverage of all Premier League matches this last season and it is hoped this coming season that those leading matches in the feeder Leagues will also be covered. Anybody who is prepared to report upon their clubs matches to Radio Lincolnshire each Saturday should contact the Lincolnshire County Cricket Board's Offices on 01522 688008. Finally we should not forget the Umpires who have done an excellent job and I would remind all Captains and players of their responsibility and duty to play within Lhe code of conduct and spirit of the game remembering that umpires do the job because they enjoy cricket as much as you do as players. Wishing you all a good season. Tony North Chairman Lincolnshire Cricket Board Premier League.