Cricket: Clubs vote to scrap players' rule
NORTH Staffs and South Cheshire League clubs have voted to scrap the rule which cast a shadow over last season.
Players were prevented from featuring in any other league – a regulation which was carried by 44 of the 48 clubs just 12 months ago.
However, eight clubs suffered points deductions for flouting rules after players were found to have been featuring in other competitions on Sundays.
Premier Division sides Cheadle and Little Stoke, Division One trio Leycett, Blythe and Norton, plus third tier Newcastle and Hartshill, Woore and Eccleshall all fell foul of the rule this summer.
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In a bid to clarify the situation, league officials balloted clubs proposing to scrap the ruling ahead of the 2013 campaign.
And at last night's annual meeting, at Burslem Cricket Club, the move was rubber-stamped with 27 voting in favour and 18 against.
Three clubs failed to submit their ballot papers by the required time.
It means from next season, players are free to perform in any other league, as well as the NSSCL, and not be classed as ineligible.
Clubs are still only allowed to register and play one first-class contracted player or overseas player, with no replacements allowed.
The transfer window which runs in the last week of May remains, as does the rule that no new player can be registered after June 30 without the league manager's permission.
Cheadle were the first to be punished last season, and were docked 76 points after then-Derbyshire all-rounder Garry Park played in the Lancashire League for Rochdale. Cheadle lost their battle against relegation.
Little Stoke lost 126 points, although they finished in the relegation zone and were demoted anyway.
Division One Blythe and Norton were also hit with 124 and 149 penalties for their involvement in proceedings.
Norton dropped down a division, although Blythe kept their place in the second tier after Leycett were docked 129 points.
Newcastle and Hartshill were stripped of their Division Two title after being found guilty and hit with a 148-point deduction.
Ashcombe Park were subsequently promoted as champions, with Alsager moving up into second place and making the step up.
Bottom-of-the-table Eccleshall had 165 points chalked off, while the 40 points docked from Woore ensured they were relegated back into Division Three after just one season.
Comments
by BOBBY333
Monday, November 19 2012, 12:40PM
“Owdun... nobody is disputing the cricketing talents.
On the pitch runs itself, the talent will always be there!
OFF the pitch........ is and has been the problem for a number of years, if you dont realise that then you've been walking round with corks in your earholes for a long long time!!
All this years problems arose through poor management and communication.
The rule 37 should stand in my eyes BUT anyone who was found guilty of breaching rule 37 should have been punished.
None of this rules for 1, rule for another!!
This has led to all the nonesense over the last 2-3 months!!”
by jonno56
Monday, November 19 2012, 7:21AM
“Methinks Owdun has some involvement with the management setup of the League considering how he defends them against any criticism.”
by Owdun
Sunday, November 18 2012, 10:43PM
“Artur... what a strange person you are !
You would rather go whingeing to some external quango to complain about the League rather than make a positive gesture to help get the League up and running.
The league officers were all democratically voted in at last Thursday's AGM - where were you ???
Our League is probably one of the strongest cricketing leagues in the country - having produced many fine cricketers - both young and old.
I'm sure this will continue into the future when you see some of our fine young cricketers.
We've all got to work together for the sake of all league cricketers to ensure our high cricketing standards are maintained - not, like you, stirring up people to complain.
"Justice to prevail" - what on earth are you on about ?!”
by arturodiario
Saturday, November 17 2012, 8:17AM
“In order for justice to prevail against the discriminatory attitude of your archaic league officers make your complaint via this link: http://tinyurl.com/bmfad5y
This is a government body and is duty-bound to act.”
by BOBBY333
Friday, November 16 2012, 10:42AM
“One good thing to come from this years AGM is the clubs were allowed to vote on individual rules!
The days of EN-BLOCK voting have gone, and as illustrated last year cause major problems.”
by arturodiario
Friday, November 16 2012, 10:21AM
“The Staffordshire Excelsior League? Sounds exciting.”
by CecilBranch
Friday, November 16 2012, 10:17AM
“Does this mean that players will be able to play for one club in the NSSCCL and another in the proposed Staffordshire Excelsior Cricket League to be formed by the breakaway clubs and other clubs in the area? This questions demands immediate clarification of the rule, not reinterpretation in 10 months time.”
by BOBBY333
Friday, November 16 2012, 10:14AM
“Common sense prevails!!
Maybe a tad too late for the clubs who fell foul to the rule in 2012!!”