Long-serving all-rounder Jimmy Snee, these days playing for Lincolnshire County Cricket League division two team Messingham 2nds, has come up with some proposals he reckons will improve things. These are Jim's personal thoughts.
1. Saturdays for LEAGUE fixtures only. Obviously some clubs would still have
to play the odd Sunday fixture as they do now, due to ground availability.
2. George Marshall Trophy to be played as a COMPULSORY CLUB competition. By my reckoning
there are over 50 teams in the league but only 32 CLUBS. Games to be played on
both Bank Holidays in MAY then at dates to be fixed into the calendar by the League, Each
round to be drawn after completion of previous round! Final: August bank holiday. This would
do away with any player qualification issues.
3. Bob Welton Cup: Optional for CLUBS to enter and to be played as a T20 format.
Games to be played during June over 3/4 weeks on a midweek night. Regionalised
groups to reduce travelling to an absolute minimum. If you get a map out and pinpoint teams you will see that potentially if all 32 CLUBS entered you could have
8 groups of 4, with very limited travel. 8 TEAMS would qualify and you could
still have a regionalised 1/4 final and semi-final draw, to be played early July, once finalists are known. Final to be played at a neutral ground with a
3pm start on a Sunday.
Obviously the above format would depend on who enters the competition and
what travelling would be involved.
