Bassetlaw Cricket League Annual General Meeting 2002 - conclusion

Following on from this was the Treasurers report from Mr. Peter Neale which was extremely humerous but told the members that the Leagues finances were in a healthy state and another major point was that the fines were down £200 on the previous year which as Mr. Neale said ‘Was a very good sign, because clubs were doing things correctly’. Mr. Neale added that he hoped this trend continued.

The election of officers and the Management Committee then followed with all the major positions being re-appointed en-bloc.

Richard Martin then introduced the new president for 2003 which will be Mr. J. B. (Brian) Wilson of Retford C.C. and Teversal. He went on to say that Brian was highly respected by everyone in the game and that he has served the league with distinction for many years. Mr. Tony Wilkinson of Wilkinson Home and Garden Stores the League’s major sponsors was elected as vice-president and will take up the presidency in the league’s centenary year 2004.

Mr. Mervyn Griffith (Arnold C.C.) paid a terrific tribute to Richard Martin for all his work as President this year and his overall work for the league for many years and stated that he hoped it will long continue.

The proposals for changes to the rules then took place and this went as follows:- The first proposal on behalf of the Management Committee in respect of matches where the away side have traveled was passed and is now to read ‘If the away side has traveled the appointed umpire(s) shall assess the ground conditions shall allow play to commence at the request of both captains, unless deemed dangerous, and if the captains disagree, shall decide whether conditions are suitable for play.

A proposal by Pilsley C.C. for an alteration to the points where declarations are concerned failed to raise a seconder. A proposal by Papplewick and Linby regarding the time of commencement of matches was removed by the proposer in favour of a similar one from the Bassetlaw Umpires Association. This propsal read ‘ Matches shall commence at 2.00 p.m. in April to July and at 1.00 p.m. in August and September (at 12.30 p.m. in September for Division 1) was passed by the narrowest of margins 27 votes to 26.

Another proposal by the Management Committee that the tea interval be extended by five minutes was accepted almost unanimously.

A proposal by Arnold Cricket Club stating that ‘A club seeking to approach a member of another club to move, should notify the player’s present club of its intention prior to entering into any negotiations with the player concerned’ narrowly found favour with the meeting by 27 votes to 23. Two other proposals one backing up the rule just passed which invoked disciplinary measures on clubs breaking the rule on the one just passed was rejected as was a proposal from Papplewick regarding that a side who were a member of the Nottinghamshire Premier League should have the same privileges for its second XI which then becomes its first XI in the Bassetlaw League. The final proposal from Arnold to increase the number of professionals from one to two appearing in the same match failed to raise a seconder.

The Annual Dinner will be held at the Masonic Hall at Worksop on Saturday 29th March 2003 and applications for additional tickets should be submitted now .

Mr. Bev. Norris the fixture secretary stated that he was a little behind with the fixtures for next season owing to the uncertainty over Division 1. He also stated that some clubs had yet to send back their proforma which should be done immediately.

Mr. Geoff Holden then made an impassioned plea for more would be umpires to come along to the training courses and see if they would like to have a go. He stated that it was impossible to staff all matches and that some games simply had no umpires at all which was extremely regrettable.

The final item on the agenda was reached when Mr. Mike Smedley the President of the Bassetlaw Umpires Association introduced Mr. Ian Thompson of C.F.C. Ltd. who spoke of the Bassetlaw Cricket Partnership which is a new initiative which supports clubs in the league and umpires. Mr. Thompson then presented Mr. Smedley with a cheque for £1000 to start the partnership.

Mr. Richard Martin then read out a letter from the widow of the late chairman Mr. Eric Adwick thanking everyone for their help at this sad time.

The meeting then closed at 4.20 p.m.