A new beginning in 2011 saw the League move to four
divisions with no separation between first and second elevens. The League
welcomed Pinkneys Green and hope they enjoyed their first season with us. They
may have noticed I enjoyed batting against them………………….
We now have 21 clubs, the most in the League’s history, with
two now only fielding one eleven.
It was with sadness that the Executive Committee accepted
the resignation of Ken Clark (Wargrave) as League Secretary, a post he had held
for many years. Ken feels that some Clubs are not dealing with their problems
in an acceptable manner and found it left him with no alternative but to
resign. I thank Ken for being a tremendous support to me personally and wish
him well for the future.
May I add that I have found this season a great strain due
to so many League cricketing problems and it certainly affected my enjoyment in
playing the game. As an Executive we must ensure that cricket is enjoyable for
all our players and we will take every action to make this happens. We will
also point out to the SGM, when the ECB document is discussed, that Clubs and
Captains must take full responsibility for their members either playing or
spectating
Unfortunately we had a couple of incidents in matches and
the League had to form a disciplinary sub committee to deal with a most
unsavoury incident in one of these matches. Due to the upsurge in problems the
League are looking to adopt the ECB Disciplinary code in full for the 2012
season and this will be proposed to an SGM in the New Year.
Some clubs are finding it more difficult to raise enough
players for two teams and there will be more than one proposal from Clubs at
the SGM to slightly change the way we play in an attempt to alleviate the
problem in the future. We may not all agree with the proposals as a way of
encouraging more young people to play but we do all have to work together to
find the answer.
The League Champions for 2011 are once again Taplow and we
congratulate them on their comfortable success. Last year’s Champions Wraysbury
finished runners up with Chalfont St Giles and Winchmore Hill relegated.
A full list of divisional winners, runners up, relegated
teams and the individual performance winners can be found on the League
website.
Penn and Tylers Green won the Knock Out Cup beating
Wraysbury in a well contested final. Our thanks go to Wraysbury for staging the
final and making it a most enjoyable evening.
At the Presentation evening we awarded Vice President’s
badges to:
Iris Midlane for her support to the League with
special mention of her late husband John who was a superb League Chairman.
Tony White (White Waltham) who is standing down after
many years as an active League representative
Tom Rooks (Wraysbury) who has been a tireless worker
for his Club, as their League representative and a great support to the
Executive in many ways.
We thank them all for their hard work and wish them well for
the future.
The League Representative X1 lost an exciting first round
match at Dunstable Town CC against a very strong Bedfordshire County Sunday
League. The players did the League proud and my thanks to them all especially
Ed Pettman (Taplow) for organising most of the team and for captaining. A job I
hope he is looking forward to continuing for us in 2012.
My thanks go to Gaye Massey (Treasurer) for her continued
hard work in helping to keep the League running smoothly and to Mike Walton who
has taken to the role of Results and Fixture Secretary wonderfully. He has
further developed the League website to include many extra stats which has had
a wonderful impact on the profile of the League.
Thanks also to Audrey Hardy (Chalfont St Giles) for once
again being the League auditor.
My thanks to all League representatives who give their time
for Club and League and trust they will be looking towards taking the League
forward into the future.
Thanks to Winchmore Hill, Pinkneys Green and Taplow for
hosting meetings
Thanks to Morrant Group Ltd who continue to be our sponsors.
I am willing to stand for re election and continue to see
the role of Chairman as an honour. There have been occasions in the past season
when I have questioned my desire to continue, but I feel we have to move the
League forward and I would like to be involved in putting things right.
