Chairman's Report 2017
It was a great honour for me, after serving on the Nortyhern League Executive Committee (NLEC) to be elected Chairman of the Northern Premier Cricket league in January 2017.
My period of tenure follows on from Norman Poole who gave many years unstinting service as our former chairman and it is fitting that his significant contribution was marked by him being elected a Life-Vice President of the NPCL.
Running a League is like running a club alot of helpers are required all working on a voluntary basis undertaking specific tasks and responsibilites towards the shared goal of a successful season
With many changes of personnel on the NLEC at the start of the year it has been a steep learning curve and it has been a pleasure to see how everyone as worked hard towards organising, encouraging and helping clubs to prosper as much as possible of difficult times for the demestic game.
The 2017 seasonprovided plenty of challengers. It started preseason with the clubs coming to grips with the new Home Office om Managed Migration and how this applied to overseas players that they wanted tp appoint.
This was a daunting task and a great deal of time was taken up by the Registration Secretary of the NLEC making sure that correct documentaion was submitted a task which simply could not have been achieved without the co-0peration and determination of indvidual clubs concerned
During the season we experienced what now seems to be an annual problem with professionals and overseas players as a good number arrived late due to visa difficulties and left early to attend training camps in their own countries.
This as led to an ongoing discussion about the future of professionals and overseas players within the NPCL and the NLEC have recently sent a questionnaire to the clubs and the outcomes of that will inform our ongoging debate
A perennial problem for the NPCL has been the issue of discipline on the field of play. It is important that we continue to strive to ensure that the game is played in the correct spirit.
During the 2017 season ther have been fewer disciplinary offences reported by umpires and those reported were ably dealt with by our new Disciplinary Chairman
A framework for dealing with disciplinary offences is in place and it is important that umpires are fully supported following any report of breaches of discipline and where appropriate firm action taken
More can be done and the organisation of pre-season meetings on a regional basis including club captains, chairs, umpires and members of the NlEC to stress the importance of disciplie and responsibilities may help
The most significant event in the history of the Northern Premier League has been the momentous decision following discussions in 2016 and 2017 to forge a link with the long established Palace Shield in the best interests of local cricket.
This is an exciting and positive step forward and there is no doubt there is good will from both organisations and a great will to work together to make it succeed.
This developement means that we now have the optional promotion and relegation between the First Division of the NPCL and the Palace Shield Premier Division
This generated a tremendous amount of interest in the outcome of the matches right up to the end of the season ib both leagues.
The last round of matches in the NPCL were very exciting as any one of three teams could have been relegated
In the event all three of those teams won their final matches which meant Kendal and Lancaster were relegated and after it was confirmed the top two of the Palace Shield Premier Division namely Garstang and Fulwood & Broughton indicated that they wished to take up their option of promotion
The NPCL are very sorry to see Kendal and Lancaster, both founder members in 1952 drop out of the league and wish them well for their forthcoming season in the Palace Shield Premier Division, whilst at the same time we welcome Garstang and Fulwood & Broughton to the NPCL and hope they enjoy their experience
Another aspect of the link with the Palace Shield that all NPCL's Second XI's will from 2018 season onwards play in the Palace Shield structure providing an opportunity against different clubs on different grounds.
The Umpires of both the NPCL and Palace Shield have grasped the new opportunity afforded by the link and already have merged into one Association - The North West Association of Cricket Officials
This has not been done without much hard work and ensures with have umpires of a consisyent standard available across both leagues.
For the first time this year within the NPCL our main Cup Competition was the Twenty/20 and a new format saw three 'Round Robin' with a Final's day for both First and Second XI's
This was a great success and no doubt that this was a far more successful way of running the competition which was sponsored by Readers. They with the Chorley Building Society have sponsored the NPCL for a number of years and their support is invaluable and is very much appreciated.
Congratulations go to the winners of our various League and Cup Competitions
Netherfield were dominant in the NPCL securing the Championship with three games to go and they also won the Twenty/20 Competition whic was a magnificent achievement
Leyland First XI won the 40 over Cup Competition which for the first time was sponsored by Benchmarx Kitchens.
We were very grateful to them and hope that this is a start of a productive relationship with themselves and the NPCL
Leyland Second XI again won the Division Two Championship - the last ever winners within the NPCL - while Blackpool Second XI were dominant in the Cup competitions winning both.
Congratulatons to all of you and also to all our runners up and teamss that played inthe Twenty/20 Finals days
The 2017 NPCL season has been a demanding one for all those involved whether players or officials, but the new cup format and the significant link with the Palace Shield as provided us with new impetus and galvanised all of us into action whatever our rolrs
The NLEC are determined to provide leadership for the clubs as we focus under the new structure on our role as a Premier League that as high standards to uphold, maintain and enhance
We must all strive for excellence both on and off the field of play and the 2017 season saw a significant start in the process.
It goes without saying that the future of the NPCL lies with the ensuring the wellbeing of junior cricket and this year great pride was taken from the juniors once more representing the NPCL in junior representative cricket.
We all know how important it is to nurture develope and encourage our juniors and we continue to ensure that we are doing enough for our good young players
It is worth discussing whether we should consider such as rule changes such as further restrictions as overs bowled by a player to allow young players to 'participate' rather than make up the numbers
In July this year Englands Women's Cricket team won the World Cup in exciting fashion and this generates tremendous intrest and focus on expanding the woens game
The ECB are encouraging all Premier Leagues to capitalise on the interest generated and want all league to grow womens cricket, and while we do have some womens crickrt teams in the NPCL we need to find ways to increase the number of women playing and form more teams
The ECB are keen to provide more incentives for this to happen and we should consider how we can make best use of them when more information is provided
As with the end of any season there are a few issues that arise that might benefit fron further exploration and consideration such as player representation on the NLEC and allowing more players to play the game either by way of 'loan systems' or at lower levels teams joining together
A positive atmosphere where new ideas and suggestions can be considered fostered and enacted demonstrates the strength of a strong and active league.
Finally it remains the case that we will not attract or retain good players without providing quality wickets. The NLEC is committed to helping clubs improve their grounds and wickets and a 'pitch suvey' has been undertaken which will hopefully provide information and show ways forward for improving the quality of wickets
The 2017 season has provided much for me as Chairman to reflect upon. The NLEC along with the clubs will have many decisions to make about the future.
Whilst it is often easy for the clubs to form a new shaped by self-interest the best decisions are when we make them together in the context of what is in the best interests of local cricket and this is the starting point for planning the 2018 season
The Northern League as had a demanding and busy season. we've risen to the challengers 2017 has provided and are moving forward in much better shape
Chris Lavery, Chairman
