AN EXCITING future lies ahead for local cricket following the formation of the Pennine League.
That is the view of Trevor Harrison, secretary of the SWB Commercials Saddleworth & District Cricket League which ceases to exist at the end of the season.
While sad to see the demise of the Saddleworth League, which was formed in 1899, Mr Harrison believes local cricket will become stronger as a result of the merger between that league and the CLL.
It comes in the wake of the formation of the new Greater Manchester League in 2016 which was originally intended to swallow up eight existing leagues to form one new structure.
But with many clubs having second thoughts, it left the Saddleworth League’s future in grave doubt.
Mr Harrison explained: “We knew we would lose clubs to the Greater Manchester League and the nightmare scenario was that we would have been left with eight or nine clubs and nowhere to go.
“There was no provision made for clubs who didn’t want to join the Greater Manchester League.
“But the merger between our league and the CLL provides a league with 24 clubs (13 from the CLL and 11 from the Saddleworth League) so we can have two divisions of 12 clubs which is what we wanted.
“Yes, we are sorry to be losing the Saddleworth League, but it is good for local cricket that the Pennine League has been formed.”
The only Saddleworth League clubs not joining the Pennine League are South West Manchester, Whalley Range, Wythenshawe and Droylsden.
Moorside and Glodwick, who had been expected to join the Greater Manchester League, have opted to sign up to the Pennine League while Hollinwood are resurrected after failing to be able to field a team in the current Saddleworth League campaign.
Now the framework for the Pennine League has been finalised, league officials from the Saddleworth League and CLL will set about the finer details.
Mr Harrison said: “The main thing is that we have the clubs so we can move ahead.
“Officials from the two leagues are having regular meetings and get on well, and I am sure it won’t be a problem setting up the Pennine League.”
