Monday 26 September 2011

A FEW IDEAS TO REVITALISE THE NORTH LINDSEY LEAGUE

By Jimmy Snee - veteran cricketer and footballer

My personal oponion is that the Sunday league needs freshening up. How, I'm not so sure. The problem to me is many clubs are stretched on a Sunday, especially with clubs which have 3-4 teams(not having a dig at anyone). Then others just play Sunday cricket, like Normanby Park, Bottesford and Upon-Cum-Kexby.
I am old school, but getting commitment from players is an absolute nightmare.
I have several suggestions and will try to get to next month's Lindsey AGM, however here's a few ideas.

Regionalised leagues, such as:
eg CLEETHORPES, CAISTOR , BARTON, GRIMSBY.

SCUNTHORPE, MESSINGHAM,APP-FROD, N PARK, BOTTESFORD.

UPTON-CUM-KEXBY, EVERTON, MISTERTON.

YOU get he idea, reduced travelling, play home and away, 20-20 format
No teas required, start 2-30, finish by 6pm - home team to provide a drink at change of innings.
Play-offs at the end of the season.

The League fix dates:
All teams play on same day.

I don't think it will discourage clubs - it may actually create more teams. Who knows?
What I can say is there seems to have been quite a few cancelled fixtures, double-headers, teams dropping out mid-season, which leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
Also I think the league would benefit from taking the initiative and gain some credibility for trying something new.
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3 comments:

  1. Anonymous26 September 2011 at 19:53

    I think its a good idea Nige but I think mid-week is the time for 20-20 and I think if the north lindsey league turned into a 20twenty league it would be the beginning of the end of it.

    Maybe increasing the leagues would make it a better prospect? have a 10 team league where everybody just played each team once, no promotion or relegation.

    If not I see Sunday cricket going the way of other counties and just becoming a day of random friendly games. I already suggested that Luddington would be better off pushing to get into the Lincs league instead of wasting time in the Lindsey league

    Brett

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  2. Anonymous26 September 2011 at 23:39

    i agree with the thoughts process especially in terms of travelling - but it must be 40 over cricket. midweek is for twenty twenty cricket. Unfortunately it seems to me that it is those teams in the bassetlaw league area who cant raise a team week in week out.

    can the leagues be regionalised???
    yes ....

    Its a sound idea, and you could even introduce other sections to the league to incorporate teams even further afield, for example teams east of Doncaster such as Rossington and Goole etc...

    However this then means you have Normanby Park likely to be grouped with Appleby Frodingham and Scunthorpe Town, or Messingham or Broughton, which to me seems a little unfair on Normanby Park who use the league to bring on their well coached junior cricketers. To ask them to play against some of the teams that are currently on show in the top flight would be a huge miss match.

    Also what happens to clubs like Broughton and Barton who currently run two teams in the league, would they have to play each other, that then makes team selection very difficult.??

    Promotion and relegation is a must, it ensures that there remains a competitive element about almost every game that is played.

    Jimmy your idea has potential ......

    but there are questions that remain unanswered. If more teams can be encouraged to join from the bassetlaw league area, and a couple more teams in the goole and south yorkshire area could be encouraged to join you could make up regions that look as follows....
    Grimsby & District
    Grimsby
    Cleethorpes
    Barton 3rd
    Broughton 3rd
    Caistor
    Hibaldstow
    Messingham

    Scunthorpe & District
    Scun Town
    Alkborough
    App Frod
    Normanby pk
    Barton 4th
    Broughton 4th
    Bottesford

    Gainsborough & District
    Upton cum Kexby
    Misterton
    Everton
    ?
    ?
    ?
    ?

    Isle of Axholme Section
    Luddington
    Outcasts
    Haxey
    ?
    ?
    ?
    ?

    mmmm then a semi final / final in september with a knock out cup that covers all areas....
    i have talked myself around to this idea....
    It could be an interesting meeting....although i feel its too late for this to take place this year.
    Neil Simpson (Broughton CC)

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  3. Anonymous29 September 2011 at 12:46

    Maybe an earlier start would encourage things aswell. People tend not to want to be out cricketing until 6-7 at night on a Sunday.

    Why not copy Sunday football and have games start at 11am or even 10am?

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