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Secretary's Report for Season 2003
Darwen with their strength in depth backed up by the good all round qualities of their pro Keith Semple took the Championship for the second year running.
They beat off the challenge of a number of clubs with St Annes leading the pack in second place.
St Annes also won the 2nd Xl Championship, perhaps the beginnings of a resurgence of their fortunes as the time and effort spent on younger players begin to pay dividends.
Leyland Motors were runners up in the 2nd Division.
Preston after seasons in the doldrums must be much heartened by their mid table finish.
Morecambe in scoring 314 against Chorley broke the League's record for the highest score.Chorley replied with 250 runs.
Perhaps an indication of the effect of a good summer on pitches and outfields.
The League was extremely delighted to accept the offer of sponsorship of coloured clothing from thwaites for the League Cup Competition This competition guaranteed each club five games with the group leaders qualifying as semi-finalists.
A large crowd watched Morecambe beat Netherfield in the final. This was the first occasion that a senior league has played a competition in coloured clothing.
Though some at first were doubtful, the introduction of coloured clothing was a success.
There was genuine interest and enthusiasm from the players and the innovation will continue next season.
The League very much appreciates the support given by thwaites who also funded the prize money for the League Cup.
thwaites's continuing commitment to the development of cricket is shown by their innovation and sponsorship of a 20/20 competition for the 2004 season.
Several Leagues have been invited to hold their own competition and there will be a finals day for the winning clubs from each League
The League team lost to the Bolton League in the first round of the Manchester Evening News Trophy A report is elsewhere in the Handbook.
The Rawcliffe's Intersport Awards for the leading amateurs were gained by Phil Dennison (Morecambe) who scored 820 runs, Peter Stephens (Morecambe) with 54 wickets and Neil Senior (Chorley) who took 29 wicket keeping victims.He was also awarded the new Malcolm Beaty Trophy for the leading wicket keeper. Alan Bolton took the Umpire's award.
The leading professionals were Atif.Ashraf of Leyland Motors with 928 runs at an average of 61.86 and Geoff Love of St Annes with 64 wickets at an average of 11.96.
The League is proud of the development of its younger players, many making their mark in Club 1st Xls and some being very successful in County and other representative teams.
Stephen Croft of Blackpool, Lancashire's outstanding performer at U/19 Level has been awarded a scholarship by the County Club.
In spite of the League's and the LCB's efforts there has been no progress in meeting the ECB's criteria of developing a feeder league structure and it is possible that the League could lose Premier League status.
The League decided to advertise for clubs. Barrow applied immediately and are welcomed into the League, joining us from the Lancashire and Cumbria League.
Though season 2004 will be played with thirteen clubs, hopefully this is a transition stage in the recruitment of enough clubs to enable the League to split into two divisions.
A minimum of three more clubs will enable the League to offer a fixture list that will have a variety and quality that will be attractive to players and spectators.
Norman Brown after forty-eight years connected with the Northern League as a player and administrator has stepped down as Chairman, his replacement is John Cotton of St Annes C.C..Norman has been made an Honorary Life Member of the League.
A tribute is elsewhere in the handbook.
The AGM passed a number of changes to rule that tidied up some inconsistencies and problems in the playing conditions of the League and the League Cup.
A new rule was introduced to prevent teams having to travel in the event of severe weather making play impossible.
A list of umpires available to clubs for confirmation of the decision is published in the umpire's section of the Handbook.
The wording of sections on discipline have been reworded to eliminate some difficulties in their application.
Increasingly e-mail and the web site are becoming a more economic and efficient way of communicating information. The League is indebted to John Kettlestring supported by Chris Banting for the hard work they do in running the web site.
Our thanks also go to Gerry Wolstenholme whose reports have become a much looked for feature.
The League is grateful for the support and coverage given to recreational cricket by the local newspapers and radio.
Though we do not have a main sponsor for the League we are extremely grateful to Rawcliffe's Intersport supported by the Blackpool Gazette for their funding of the Amateur Awards Scheme.
Funding is a problem and so far we have failed to attract a sponsor.
In order to raise funds to maintain and develop the League the Executive were faced with a choice of either raising club subscriptions or holding a money-raising event.
A Sportsman's Dinner will be held during the season.
Clubs will be asked to sell a minimum number of tickets.
Thanks to all who have helped or contributed to the running of the League.
John Cooper
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