Minutes of the Management Committee Meeting held at Ripley Castle - Tuesday, March 24, 2009


Graham Hyde (GH), Jeff Watkins (JW), Eric Houseman (EH), Bob Skaith (BS), Tricia Heard (TH), Barry Gill (BG), Justin Park (JP), Tony Whittaker (TW), Peter Crack (PC), Chris Newton (CN), Ben Drummond (BD), Martin Blackham (MB), John Barrett (JB), Anton Lodge (AL)


for absence received from Bill Kitson, Steven Coombs, Isabel Peel, Dion Wood, Roger Deakin.


of the meeting held on January 27th 2009 were accepted as a true and accurate record.


There were no matters arising from the last meeting.


• TH wished to send the Management Committee’s best wishes to Dion Wood with respect to his wife.
• It was decided to approach Bishop Monkton CC with respect of them hosting this season’s fixture against the MCC. TH to contact the secretary of the club.
• The offer of Life Membership of The League to Erik Thompson was accepted via a letter.
• Sessay CC 3rd XI are to play their first fixture at their HOME ground in Sessay due to their 1st XI starting a week later in the York Senior League (YSL). This venue would also be used on May 16th when the YSL have a free week of fixtures.
• TH has arranged for the embroidery to be amended on some Cup Winners shirts sourced from Lords International.
• TH hopes that player transfers and details of overseas players can be published onto the League web site.
• TH has arranged a scorer’s course aimed at young players who may be called upon to score for part of a game. The course will be run on two Saturdays, 29/03 and 04/04 at Killinghall Cricket Club. Roger Schofield has put in allot of effort into making the course a success.
• TH received a letter from Hilary Oliver who is the scorer’s representative within the Yorkshire Region of the ECBACO. She wishes to identify all qualified scorers within the Region.
• TH received an invitation to attend a cricket forum in Leeds on 30th March.
• TH reminded all Committee members about the pre-season meeting to be held on Friday 4th April at Ripley Town Hall. 7.30pm start. JW reported that Barry Canham was to give a presentation on the Spirit of Cricket.


• GH reported that the handbook for the 2009 season had been completed and was with the printers. Delivery is hoped for by 1st April but assurances have been made that it will be available for the pre-season meeting.
• GH reported that the handbook was completed and sent to the printers 1 week earlier than the agreed deadline.


• Balances as of close of business on 21st March: Current Account £2588.32, Deposit Account £8312.14
• All outstanding bills and invoices had been paid.
• Nothing outstanding
• ECB insurance is paid
• BK and Val Kitson had chased those clubs from the Junior League who still owed subscriptions and 1 team, Galphay had subsequently paid. 4 teams still outstanding amounting to around £870.00


AL had nothing to report.
Sharow had now opened their new showers.


• It should be noted that the qualification for overseas players who ARE classed as overseas are – anyone who can play for England can play as a non overseas player in the Nidderdale League. Full directives can be found on the ECB website here http://static.ecb.co.uk/files/regsgovqualification2009-10438.pdf
• Europeans – those with European passports are classed as overseas.
• Hampsthwaite have registered a player who is of New Zealand descent but is classed as non overseas as they have been living and working in the UK since 2001.
• Newby Hall has inquired as to the status of Lenny McKittrick but TW requested additional information from the club which is yet to be forthcoming.
• Burnt Yates have registered Ian Winwood who is Zimbabwean but has an Irish passport – he is classed as non overseas
• Sharow have submitted details of Mel Green, brother of their previous overseas player from New Zealand.
• Generally, TW had not experienced any problems with the registration and qualification procedure.
• Anton Lodge made comment about an overseas player doing local coaching work. This is not allowed under the Youth Mobility Scheme which most Nidderdale League overseas players would be here under.
• 17th April is the deadline for registration of overseas players.


MB had nothing to report


• JW reported that there would be 27 umpires this season with 6 on standby.
• There may be problems during July and August with umpires being away on holiday.
• Another umpire has been removed from the list due to injury.
• The local Umpires Association met recently and JW was asked to bring to the attention of the Management Committee the issue of sightscreens being moved, and the boundary being moved as a result when a bowler changes from over to around the wicket. Roping off should be done properly. This will be mentioned at the pre season meeting.


• The date of the pre-season meeting for the Ground Committee has been set for 2nd April at Studley Royal CC.


• 96 teams are entered into the junior leagues in 2009
• Numbers are slightly down on 2008.
• Knaresborough Forest have entered teams in two age groups
• Handbooks are being printed
• There is a shortage of new blood onto the committee and as such Ken Coad has taken on a number of joint roles.
• A webmaster has been recruited to keep the web site up to date and a password supplied by Ackrills
• All representative fixtures have been sorted for all 4 age groups with grounds fixed. In the process of obtaining umpires.


Nothing to report


• Only one more weekend of fixtures remain to be played before the finals on 4th April. The quality of the cricket played this year has been excellent. Over the season many games have gone to the last ball with some exceptionally high scoring rates. It is intended to publish a ‘best of’ performance table after the finals as encouragement to those clubs who have been showing steady improvement over the years but not quite succeeded.
• The fixtures which were rescheduled due to the floor resurfacing, from 22nd February to 23rd March had, unfortunately to be cancelled due to shortage of players in three of the teams; this was partially due to it being Mothers’ Day. All games were classed as drawn.
• For the finals we have a situation never seen before, the under 15 play off will be between Studley Royal A and B teams. The tie on points for second place involving Pannal B, having been decided on averages.
• The Under 11 is the same, the highest scoring points being Harrogate A with maximum 32 points playing Harrogate B, clear with 28.
• Although there are still games to play in the Under 13 age group, the leaders cannot be caught resulting in Studley Royal A to play Harrogate A.
• The only league yet to be decided on the last day of play, is Under 9s. Of the 6 clubs, only three have completed their fixtures and everything is to play for. This, along with finals day, should produce some very exciting matches.
• As yet we have not encountered any problems with the roof repairs and hope that this remains so until after our finals.
• Following consultation with Bob Skaith, those clubs which have not settled their accounts have been contacted and assurances given that the payment will be forthcoming.


Nothing to report


Nothing to report


• 27 teams are now registered
• 25 of them are overseas
• 40 league clubs have volunteered their facilities
• A few more “character” grounds are needed such as Lofthouse and Crakehall
• Nidderdale League are to enter 2 teams
• Anton Lodge has had an approach from two London based sides.
• Some teams from Europe would be nice
• Sir Thomas is to circulate a “local package” to local leagues. A good value package of £75 per team
• Date of the competition is 8th to 15th August 2010
• Monday 20th April a subcommittee is to meet at Ripley Castle at 7.30pm


• Speaker, Devon Malcolm, Entertainer, Mike Farrell
• Costs are expected to be below budget
19. ANY OTHER BUSINESS – ALL
• AGM minutes from 2007 and 2008 are to be uploaded to the league web site.
• Bob Skaith gave details of a sponsored bike ride in aid of cancer research that his son is undertaking asking for sponsorship by the league. It was decided that it may be setting a precedence for other fund raisers but it was felt that the Management Committee could contribute individually. See APPENDIX A.
• Eric Houseman gave detail of the next 364 lunch where John Major will be guest speaker.


Monday 11th may 2009, Ripley Castle 7.30pm

Archives