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Secretary's Report for 1997
In many ways 1997 was a very special season; all English cricket from the Test Match arena through County Cricket, the recreational game and schools cricket is now administered through the England and Wales Cricket Board.
We will eventually witness an improvement in our National teams performance through the efforts of gradual changes at all levels of the game.
At National level we had one of our teams Fleetwood through to the Quarter - Finals of the Abbot Ale Cup and two more Chorley and Lancaster to the area finals.
In the County Competition, St Annes won the L.C.B Cup by defeating Bootle at Old Trafford and Netherfield, once again, won the Cumbria Cup.
Netherfield under the adventurous leadership of Graham Clarke were League Champions for the first time in the Club's history and are to be congratulated.
However, so close was the result that with only a few deliveries left of the last league fixtures of the season three possible teams could have won the league.
Netherfield, Chorley or Fleetwood.
Chorley were eventually runners up for the third consecutive season this time by virtue of the fact that Netherfield had won more games.
In the Cup competition Netherfield won the Vaux Samson beating Morecambe and after a tied game Morecambe won the Vaux Bitter Cup at St Annes.
In the Second Division Fleetwood were Champions and St Annes runners up.
In the Cup competitions St Annes beat Blackpool in the Blackledge Trophy while Morecambe beat St Annes in the Latus Trophy.
In the Third Division Blackpool won both the League and Cup but unfortunately this division has now been disbanded.
The League unfortunately lost some of its stalwarts during 1997.
Ted Friend of Darwen, Alf Alker of Leyland and Ex League Secretary David Duckworth of Leyland and Martin Welbourne of Lancaster all passed away and we are saddened by their departure.
Our Chairman Ken Wilton decided to stand down to become a League Life Vice President after many years of devoted service to the League in various capacities of League Umpire, Umpires Secretary and League Chairman.
We thank Ken and wish him well in his new role.
Norman Brown takes over as Chairman and we congratulate him on his elevation.
Two more of our young cricketers have been awarded County contracts: Duncan Catterall of Leyland DAF by Worcestershire and Gareth White of Netherfield by Northants.
We wish these two youngsters every success over the next few years.
As we enter the final year of our second sponsorship agreement with Vaux Breweries we congratulate Mike Berrieman on the birth of his son and look forward to working with Mike and his team once more.
Our Junior Section received another vital year of sponsorship from the National Westminster Bank.
We thank both our sponsors without whom this League could not effectively function.
We once more had a quiet season from the disciplinary point off view and everyone is to be congratulated in this respect.
Especially we thank our Umpires for another season of excellent service without which our game could not continue at so high a standard.
At the Annual General Meeting several improvements were agreed resulting from the input from the League Working Party.
This will continue to function during 1998 and all Club Officials, players and spectators are urged to offer their opinions to improve our game.
Again Judith and John Richardson have ensured the publication of our results through the various national and local newspapers, local radio and the Ceefax service.
Our sponsors are delighted with all the effort to increase the publicity of our League and we thank each and every one involved.
May I thank all Club Officials, players and spectators for their co-operation during the past year and hopefully again in 1998.
Finally may I thank the League Executive without whose co-operation the operation of the League would bre impossible.
Enjoy your cricket in 1998
David Smalley
Hon. Secretary
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