STATEMENT FROM THE LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER LEAGUE ISSUED TODAY, FRIDAY OCTOBER 12
The Readers Lincolnshire ECB Premier League aims to create a second division for the 2014 season in a bid to meet a growing demand for promotion to the higher level.
During the 2012 season, the league has seen an upsurge in clubs seeking advice on how to meet the criteria for promotion and members of its Development Sub-Committee are now working with a number of these clubs to help them achieve the necessary standards.
However, as league chairman Colin White explained, with only one promotion place per season available for each of the two feeder leagues – the Lincolnshire County Cricket League and the South Lincolnshire & Border League - even when the criteria is met, not all clubs can achieve their ambition to move up to Premier League level.
“We have at least three clubs this year that would like to come up but can only take two,” he said. “One of these has been working for four years towards meeting the criteria but having achieved it, they then only finished second in their league.
“We think the introduction of a second division will go some way towards solving this problem as well as being a major step forward for Lincolnshire cricket.
“Initially, we are looking at two divisions of 10 with promotion and relegation between the two divisions but we would not be a closed shop as there would continue to be promotion and relegation to and from the feeder leagues.”
Initially, eight teams are being sought to form the new division along with the two who finish bottom of the ECB Premier League in 2013.
Potential sponsors for the new division have already been identified and the aim is to raise as much funding as possible to finance the setting up of the new division and to assist clubs with travelling expenses and with any work necessary to meet the ECB criteria. This would be in addition to funding already received from the ECB for clubs in the existing Premier League for which additional sponsorship is also being sought.
ECB League secretary Ann Boulton believes that some clubs are put off Premier level cricket by the size of the county.
“It is a long way to travel right from the north of the county to, say, Market Deeping or Bourne but teams only go to these grounds once a season; it’s not as if they’re going extra distances every week” she said. “Most of the grounds are no further away than those in their existing leagues.
“This is a real challenge for the ECB League but more particularly for clubs who want to give their young players a chance to play at a higher level. The Premier League was formed to encourage junior cricket on good pitches and this new division will carry on that policy.”
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Will Scunthorpe Town be admitted to the 2nd division?
ReplyDeleteNo-one has been formally invited, as far as i'm aware, but Clubs (including Messingham I thought) have be asked to express interest. So, the answer to your question is, we're not sure exactly where we stand at present.
ReplyDeleteLet's hope that the formation of this extra division ( if it goes ahead ) does not mean a fall in standards . The present League set up of one ECB Premier League and the feeder leagues works if champion clubs in those leagues meet clearly defined criteria and the setting up of a second ECB Division may not improve standards but will certainly put extra pressure on clubs and more importantly on players as the time commitment to travel long distances on country roads to play at a level no better really than they presently enjoy . Many players , particularly those with young families , would probably spend little time with the family because of the time constraints put on them playing in such a league . Those wishing to play at the "Top Level" can always join a club playing ECB League cricket now or improve their present club / facilities / playing surfaces / junior sections to achieve the perceived higher level . Let's all hope that common sense prevails and clubs / players aren't steam rollered into a decision which may not improve standards but might in two / three years actually be seen to LOWER them .
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