Secretary's Report for Season 2013
The 2013 season proved to be a fantastic year for cricket and my congratulations must go to Leyland C.C. for winning the Division One Championship and Morecambe C.C. winning Division Two.
Barrow C.C., were again runners-up in both Leagues. I am sure their time will come soon. The Readers Cup honours were awarded to Blackpool C.C. in Division One and Leyland C.C. in Division Two.
Netherfield C.C. won the TWP Wealth Twenty/20 competition and went onto host and represent the Northern Premier League in the ECB Twenty/20 competition. Unfortunately, they were beaten by Ormskirk C.C. in the area final. My thanks go to all the clubs and their respective committees who hosted finals in a very professional manner.
Once again, we played host to the M.C.C. at Darwen C.C. in July. I must thank all the Committee and supporters of Darwen C.C. for staging a truly magnificent match, which was duly noted by the M.C.C.
I must thank Clive Henderson, the match Manager for the Northern Premier League, who had an enormous task of trying to raise a team. To the clubs for releasing their players and finally to the players who represented the Northern Premier League with pride and dignity and of course who won.
We also played in the Twenty/20 Inter League Competition at Nelson CC hosted by the Lancashire League. Again, my thanks go to Clive and Sylvia Henderson and also to Brian Standing for all their work on the day.
This coming season we will be hosting the competition at Blackpool CC on the 25th July 2104. I do hope that the entire League will support this event and that we will be successful in winning the competition.
Off the field I must congratulate all our clubs and their players as the League introduced new discipline rules at the start of the 2013 season, bringing us in line with other Premier Leagues. This proved successful, as on the field, discipline was the lowest for many years. This has been noted by Paul Bedford, head of Non-First Class Cricket at the ECB. Congratulations to you all.
I do believe that the 2014 season will be very exciting with the arrival of Penrith C.C. into the League. I must at this point welcome the players, committee and supporters of Penrith C.C. to our League, which I am sure, will be a very successful partnership with the Northern Premier League.
At the end of the coming season, Fleetwood C.C. and Morecambe C.C. will start much needed ground repairs to their wickets and outfields. Both clubs have been successful with their funding bids and the League will give them every help in completing their fixtures in both divisions. I hope in the Spirit of Cricket all our clubs can accommodate both clubs to fulfil their fixtures in the 2014 season.
This coming season again will see many rule changes. The introduction of clubs being able to sign an oversea amateur instead of a professional will be interesting. There are also new rules regarding rain interruptions. We are working closely with the umpires during the pre-season, and hope that all clubs will understand the importance of getting this rule correct if needed.
I must at this point thank the Executive Committee of the Northern League Umpire's Federation and all the League Umpires for their help and co-operation. On your behalf, I must thank our League and Cup Sponsors - Chorley Building Society, Readers Balls and TWP Wealth who have all agreed to sponsor us again for the 2014 season.
My sincere thanks go to all the League Executive for their help and co-operation throughout the season. I certainly could not carry on with my roles without their help and support. A special thanks must go to Richard Edmondson for all the work he does on Play cricket and checking the scorecards. I also must thank John Kettlestring and Tony Dawber for editing the handbook for the 2014 season. This is a mammoth job and I am duly indebted to them both.
On a personal note, off the field, the 2013 season has been very difficult and devastating with the loss of Jim in September '13. I must thank the entire League and supporters for their many letters, cards and messages of condolence. Jim was very proud to have been made a Life-Vice President of the NPL at Barrow CC in 2013. As many of you will know it was down to the League Executive and Jim, who was Vice Chairman and Chairman of the Premier League Committee at the LCB, who was instrumental in the Northern League receiving their Premier League status. Jim contributed so much in every aspect of the game, and he will be sadly missed by all of us.
Enjoy your cricket
Ann Gilfoyle
SECRETARY
