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Honorary Assistant Secretary's (Youth Development)
Report for Season 2006
During the 2006 season, it was grand to turn on the television and see young players, Northern League players representing their counties in the County Championship, Twenty/20 competiiton and the other short versions of the great game.
Having cut their teeth in the Northern Premier League, they all seemed to have made a jointless transition into the first class game.
The names of the players were listed in last season's handbook and it is not neccessary to repeat the list, but to congratulate Chorley's Tom Smith on his seemingly lightning transition from amateur and club pro through to being on the verge of the National side down under this winter.
The trials for the Under 19 Federation squad are currently taking place as I write and I'm glad to report that nine Northern League players have been invited to the nets at Old Trafford.
I'm sure that they will give a good account of themselves.
Last year Chris Clarke of Darwen attended the L.C.C.C. Academy and this year after an impressive season in the Federation team Michael Baer of St Annes and Ghurav Dhar of Chorley have been invited to be members of this elite squad.
We wish them well.
On the Inter League front, 2006 was again rather disappointing with our Under 15's in the Michael Roche Trophy fallinf at the first hurdle.
Drawn to play the unfancied Manchester Association at Stanley Park, Blackpool, the Northern League bowled and fielded exceptionally well and dismissed the visitors for 170.
Jonathan Miles of Barrow had the fabulous figures of 5 for 5 and Dipech Patel of Preston made his off breaks tell in taking 3 wickets.
Then the rain came and no further play was possible.
In the replay at St AnnesI'm afraid things went awry and the Manchester Association score of 280 - 5 was way beyond our means and again we bowed out in round one.
The recent response from the clubs recommending their young players for the Federation trials has been, as reported above an obvious success.
In a recent conversation with the Under 15 League side manager/coach, David Reddy, he made it quite clear that the lack of success in the Michael Roche Trophy was, in main due to the lack of recommendation of suitable players by the clubs.
Last year's team was made up of players from no more than four clubs and I can't help thinking that there are many good youngsters missing out on a chance to compete against the best in the county.
So come on, let's have a lot more names to David Reddy so that a healthy competition for places is created.
My report in last year's handbook ended with the hope that the lack of Inter League cricket on the Under 18 level did not have a detrimental effect on the development of our young cicketers.
I hope my report this year makes you feel that the Youth development is in good hands and I'm sure that we can expect many more success stories in the years to come.
Clive Henderson
Honorary Assistant Secretary - Youth Development
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