THE SWB Commercials Saddleworth and District League, formed in 1899, will cease to exist later this month.
The annual meeting on Thursday, October 29 will be the final chapter in the 116-year history of the league as the dawn of a new era beckons.
Eleven of the Saddleworth League clubs are joining 13 from the CLL to form the new Pennine Cricket League – only Droylsden, South West Manchester, Wythenshawe and Whalley Range are leaving for the Greater Manchester Cricket League.
It’s the end of an era, one tinged with sadness and also one of excitement over the new league.
Saddleworth League chairman Eddie Bayliss explained: “It is sad our league has been in existence for well over a century and the people who have supported it during that time have done a fine job.
“You have to progress and I am looking forward to the new league. Hopefully we will carry on with the same traditions which have held us in such good stead in the past.”
Mr Bayliss believes the new league, that will comprise of two divisions of 12 clubs, will be great from a competitive perspective with promotion and relegation.
Champions Saddleworth, Glodwick, Greenfield and Austerlands will be in the premier division and the remaining clubs in the first division.
Mr Bayliss added that it is “fantastic” that brewers J W Lees, long-standing sponsors of the CLL, have agreed to pump £100,000 into the new league over the next four years with an option to extend for a fifth year.
And he is also delighted that Saddleworth League president Roger Tanner will hold the same position in the Pennine Cricket League.
“Roger has been president of our league for 58 years and it will be great that he will be the figurehead of the new league. He has always supported our league so I am pleased to have him as president of the new league,” explained Mr Bayliss.
Meanwhile, Saddleworth’s first team have finished the season with an unprecedented five pieces of silverware.
They completed the domestic treble of league, Tanner Cup and Pro Elite Sports Twenty20 competitions.
And on top of that they have also won the Brennand Cup for accumulating most points in the first and second divisions and also the J K Bacon Trophy, a subsidiary played over the last six league games.
Saddleworth’s second team was pipped for its championship title by Friarmere on the last day of the season.
