NEW LIFE will be breathed into the sport with the formation of a Greater Manchester Cricket League according to a leading Saddleworth and District League official.
Dave Chaloner believes a new unified set up encompassing the county’s 125 clubs, which currently play in eight different leagues, will make the sport stronger with a Premier League and a pyramid system beneath it.
Glodwick chairman Mr Chaloner, who is representing the Saddleworth League on a steering group set up to explore the formation of a new league with promotion and relegation between the various divisions.
Mr Chaloner, who lives in Greenfield, said: “We have had a series of meetings and they have been quite positive. I am hoping that the new league will take place, possibly in 2016 and, if not then, in 2017.
“The players want it and, in time, you would see it as a better and fairer system allowing clubs to progress to their own level rather than having to apply to join other league and having to jump through hoops.”
Martin Kay, chairman of the steering group, that leagues that decide to remain independent will only serve to hurt cricket at grassroots level.
He said: “Earlier last year, three of our senior leagues were looking to expand independently.
“As we have circa 125 competitive clubs in Greater Manchester, where would these extra clubs come from?
“Simple, from each other’s leagues which is a crazy way of working. Why not accept the problems as a group of leagues, strengthen all league structures together and look to do something really creative and exciting? Surely that is the way?
And Mr Kay believes by summer everyone will have a greater understanding as to how one competition would operate.
Saddleworth League clubs would join together with teams from the Central Lancashire League, Bolton League, Bolton Association, Lancashire County League, North Manchester League, Manchester and District Association and Greater Manchester Amateur League.
Mr Kay added it was the folding of the Manchester and District Cricket League that proved the catalyst for seeking change.
It was back in June 2013 that clubs were first canvassed for their opinions about the formation of the Greater Manchester Cricket League.
