SOMETHING that is accepted historically in the Palace Shield, and more recently in the Greater Manchester Cricket League is the best club second teams can compete with the weaker first teams.

At the moment in the GMCL, Glossop, Whalley Range, Clifton and Prestwich second teams are competing with, and are even placed above, some big name former Central Lancashire League first teams such as Werneth, Ashton, Elton and Radcliffe, while Whalley Range are in the same division as former Ribblesdale League first team Edenfield, and both second teams are a full division above Worsley firsts who were recently playing in the Bolton Association.

I feel a combination of first and second teams is something the Bolton League should be considering over the next couple of years.

The top division would comprise 12 teams, all with professionals. The second tier would have up to eight first teams and a minimum of four second teams, making up a further division of 12.

In the lower division, professionals could be optional. As is the case now, two teams would be relegated and two promoted.

The highest-placed second team would continue to be awarded the Howarth Cup.

The team finishing bottom of the division would be relegated to Division Three.

There would be 22 matches in each division, played on Saturdays from late April to mid September.

Divisions Three and Four would be based on the current Ribblesdale League structure. There would be eight teams in each division.

Teams in Division Three would play each other twice and the teams in Division Four once, and the teams in Division Four would play each other twice and the teams in Division Three once, giving each team 22 matches.

One team would be promoted from Division Three to Division Two, and one team would be relegated to Division Four. One team would be promoted from Division Four to Division Three.

The Hamer Cup would still be contested by first teams, and the Birtwistle Cup by second teams, irrespective of their divisions.

Unfortunately, because of the additional number of league matches plus the T20 games, there would not be sufficient time to continue the Peter Stafford competitions.

However, I would not advocate mixing the teams without playing a competition involving some first and second teams on an equal basis to test my theory.

The trial could take place in a restructured Peter Stafford competition next season.

The competition would be run on a league basis rather than on mini-leagues followed by a knockout at present.

Based on the clubs’ final league positions this season, the top division would have the top six teams from the Premier Division.

The second division the bottom four clubs from the Premier Division and the two promoted teams from the Association Division.

The Third Division would contain the clubs finishing third to eighth in the Association Division with the bottom two first teams being joined by the top four second teams.

The remaining second teams would form the lower divisions on a similar basis.

If I am wrong about the poorer first teams and better second teams being able to compete with each other, the idea for leagues of mixed teams would be abandoned, and the Peter Stafford Competition could continue on a league basis, with promotion and relegation.

This would give clubs a guaranteed 23 matches a season plus T20 for the first teams.