Lancashire League Handbook 2014

21 This year's scoreboard award was again very close, so close that their was a tie at the top resultingwith Rishton and Enfield sharing the award. The second award, the Tea Room of the Year saw Bacup in 3rd place, relegated to Second place were Colne leaving us with newwinners, Todmorden. 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 TeamMarks. 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% were Accrington. There was a second new trophy donated by the Ormerod family in remember of Alick. Anyone who knewAlick knew his ethic of fair play. Under the spirit of cricket, the responsibility for fair pay starts with the captains and we suggested that the award could be made to the captain gaining the best marks from umpires with the League Executive making the final decision. This year the award went toMatthewWalker of Colne. At last years AGM, Clubs agreed that the Executive should look at possible expansion and despite discussions and a workshop at Haslingden it was finally decided that we would stay as we are. Several Leagues in Lancashire are looking at expansion in 2015 and the LCB are facilitating a meeting to look at the overall picture. Already in 2014 the Manchester Association has lost several clubs and has been forced to fold leaving some Clubs still looking for a league to play in. We have been a 14 Club League ever since our formation in 1892 and any changes would mean either playing more games or splitting into 2 leagues. Two other Leagues in the area have expanded in the last year or so and have found it not to be without problems. I would urge caution and common-sense if we are to look at this again, we do after all have the reputation of the League to consider.