Lancashire League Handbook 2013

21 This year we recruitedMr Jack Bottomley asAssistant Secretary and Jack took on the role of collating the marks, another greatly appreciated help to me. Many thanks to Jack. The three awards are, best First team scoreboard, best tea room and overall sportsmanship. This year's scoreboard award was again very close with the winners pipping East Lancs, the awardwith 63marks froma possible 65went to Enfield. The second award for best the tea room went to Mrs Keggs ladies at Colne, 59 marks out of a possible 60, 98.33%. Bacup were in third place with 93.33% and second with 93.85%were again Todmorden. The good news is that Umpires and scorers will have an extra five minutes this year to enjoy the teas which have undoubtedly improved since Ivan Smith introduced what was originally known as the pie award. Ivan wouldn't have worried about losing the five minutes. His version of the tea interval was “Tea Interval starts when I sit down and ends when I've finished” The final award, 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 & Second Team Marks. This year in 3rd place were Nelson with 95.23%, in second place East Lancashire with 95.68% and the overall winners with 96.94%areAccrington. There has been a great deal of discussion and expectation during 2012 as to the need for change to Lancashire League Cricket. Next year there will be a major rule change in that bowlers, including professionals will be limited to the number of overs they can bowl in League games. This should support the second of the Objects of the League and some may add in some way to the fourth. These are “To foster and develop local amateur talent” and “To control Professionalism”. Sadly the days of the top name Professionals appear to be gone and their future within our game has been part of the aforementioned discussions. That will be a decision for the future, as will many other aspects of how the League develops but we have been around for 120 years and we must be careful not to change just for change sake. As I enter my 40th year associated with the League and my 8th as Honorary Secretary, I truly hope that any decisions made by the Clubs are taken in line with the great traditions of the League and with the best interests of all players, members and spectators inmind, those of the past, the present and the future. Here's hoping for a drier 2013. I submit my report for your approval.