Overtures are being made for a major revamp of cricket leagues in Cumbria with a view to implementing a pyramid system for the benefit of all clubs.
The plan – which could be introduced for the start of the 2025 season – would essentially involve the amalgamation of three existing leagues in the county, the Cumbria Cricket League, the Westmorland League and the Eden Valley League, writes Keith Richardson.
Representatives of the ECB (England Cricket Board) in the shape of leading figures from the ECB’s arm in this county, Cumbria Cricket, are currently holding a series of consultative meetings with management from the various leagues.
As a member of the Eden Valley Cricket League (EVCL) management team I attended a meeting at Wetheral CC on Monday evening when the ECB representatives, Bob Simpson (director of cricket), Peter Wilson (operations manager) and David Fallows (performance lead), put forward initial ideas as to how the new set up would work.
They then asked for initial observations on the draft plan.
During a positive and constructive debate, the proposal was well received by the EVCL management committee who agreed to inform member clubs of possible developments and to take part in future meetings.
In addition, Cumbria Cricket will eventually be staging a series of consultative workshops for cricket clubs, officials, players and supporters to attend so they can get more information and enter the debate.
The Cumbria Cricket (ECB) team has so far met with the management teams of the Cumbria Cricket League (CCL) and the Eden Valley and is soon to meet representatives of the Westmorland League.
Running in tandem with the proposal is a Cumbria Cricket League (CCL) plan to make the CCL a premier league under the banner of the ECB which alone would be a major step forward.
On top of that, the formation of the new league would be the biggest single change and development in Cumbrian cricket for many years with virtually all clubs in the county (except a few who currently play in the Lancashire-based Northern League, for example Kendal, Netherfield and Penrith) coming together under the same banner.
It is hoped that those clubs would ultimately be encouraged enough to join the new set up.
One of many objectives would be to strengthen the structure and participation of cricket in the county at all levels, including women’s and girls’ cricket and junior cricket.
Leading clubs would provide the best players to strengthen the county set up which, in recent seasons, has received greater grassroots support because of a more Cumbrian-centric plan.
It is contended all clubs, no matter how big, small, ambitious or, simply, content in their own environment will benefit from being united under the one banner.
The more ambitious could move from the very bottom of the tree to the top if they so wish.
The objective would be to have the pyramid plan in place for the start of the 2025 season with the position of clubs and teams in the structure being based on their performances next season (2024). In the lower two divisions of the four-division structure it is the intention to have more regionalised, travel-friendly cricket.
The proposal is still in its very early stages and there is clearly a lot of debate and consideration to be given to it in the weeks and months ahead. However, if it is to be given the green light then clubs and leagues need to reach a broad agreement before the start of next season.
On a personal note, I hope that the scheme – in a final shape or form – ultimately gets the go ahead. I think it will be good for cricket at every level in the county and lead to a stronger and more united administration that is more likely to withstand the challenges cricket faces.
In the final analysis though, it will all be down to the leagues and the clubs to embrace the changes and run with them.
