THE proposed Greater Manchester Cricket League has sparked a wide debate about what direction amateur cricket should being going in.

The proposal could see a new league come in with something like 10 divisions with promotion and relegation spanning throughout.

It could also see the end of up to 10 established leagues including the Bolton League and the Bolton Association which have each around a century of history behind them.

The idea has been raised in a bid to solve problems which have been raised about the state of local cricket for many years.

Some people think it is a good idea, some think it is a bad idea and some just want to wait until more information is known before they make their minds up.

But one thing it has done is focus minds on the state of amateur cricket and what should happen in the future to improve it.

We asked people to give their views on the subject, and here is the response we received:

Martin Kay

Chairman of the Greater Manchester Cricket League Steering Group and chairman of the North Manchester Cricket League for 15 years wrote:

MANY of the cricket families from Bury and Bolton have been coming to terms with passing of one of our own, Derek Kay.

A great cricket servant, he was an influential character around the Greater Manchester Steering Group, which is examining the potential behind the united Greater Manchester Cricket League concept.

Throughout my professional life working within the field of sport and culture, dealing with all range of sporting clubs, professional players and administrators, great amateur players, great coaches, a huge voluntary sector and a multitude of national governing bodies of sport I have always believed that working together is always the way.

It is the most complicated way of working and sometimes it’s not the fastest but the process generally brings the best rewards, best understanding from all involved and the best results for recreational sport.

It would be easy to say that all things within our cricketing structures are failing but we must not forget that there are some great examples of cricket development through some clubs, leagues and districts.

But I feel that common problems are in danger of outweighing these positive examples.

From a North Manchester Cricket League perspective 20 years ago I saw Elton All Saints CC, Edenfield CC, Brooksbottom CC, Waterbarn CC (Stacksteads) and Glodwick CC all move on with strength to compete at a more senior level.

Over the past two years I have witnessed Westleigh Methodists CC, Robinsons CC, and Cheetham Hill CC all close. There are serious rescue plans in place at Elton Vale CC and Irlam CC, and I anticipate others will require this dedicated support very soon.

For decades there was always a defining defensive buffer between the amateur leagues and senior leagues and that was more about size being power.

Not any more. There are similar problems and similar challenges but we can also offer common solutions if we come closer together.

I listened with interest to the cricket debate on Bolton FM last week where one member of the panel [Martin Axford] said that he was still playing on Saturdays because "the club did not have enough numbers to field two teams some weeks because youngsters are busy doing other things".

It was an honest comment but also an interesting insight into where playing numbers at some of our senior league clubs are at.

I accept everyone’s comments about the numbers of juniors being up, but why are they not transferring to seniors?

The sad demise of the Manchester and District Cricket League was the catalyst for the joint work that we are seeing and it is so good to hear opinions from all sides of the argument. And it’s only January!

My honest belief is that by June all leagues and clubs will have a greater understanding and be in a much more clear position, allowing for some informed choices.

If leagues continue to work independently then we will continue to hurt each other.

Early last year three of our senior leagues were looking to expand independently. As we have around 125 competitive clubs in Greater Manchester where would these extra clubs come from?

Simple, from each other’s leagues!

It is a crazy way of working, so why not accept the problems as a group of leagues, strengthen all league structures together and look to do something really creative and exciting?

Just think for a moment about collective bargaining on balls, ground equipment and shared umpires – suddenly the potential offer could be so supportive to all and with much added value in many other areas.

What gives the Steering Group the mandate to continue its work? 125 clubs were contacted by letter in June of 2013 and were canvassed for their opinion on whether this work was important to them.

Ninety nine gave a positive response with one negative.

Then at a meeting at Old Trafford which was attended by independent sports consultant John Eady from Knight Kavanagh Page, there was a unanimous mandate given from all attendees with no alternative view offered. That’s strong support isn’t it?

I firmly accept the comments about history and tradition, and everyone is mindful of how the leagues have evolved, but the Manchester and District Cricket League was also steeped in history and tradition.

Around the Greater Manchester Steering Group, members have been drawn from all GM League executives (with the exception of the Bolton and District Cricket Association*), their clubs, their umpires associations and players.

They are all looking at the potential for the future.

Where the steering group felt there was expertise outside our area, we have brought it in. As in business we have looked to provide the best possible project team.

By definition the Lancashire Cricket Board are our national governing body of sport, therefore any movements of this scale without their support is just not wise or acceptable.

As a steering group we will need support and advice in many areas such as National Cricket Strategy and Regional Cricket Strategy.

If we are looking to tap into potential from national schemes we need people to inform us about them and add weight to our requests.

The Lancashire Cricket Board committees are populated by our league and club officials so in many areas it’s our own people governing.

As long as the leagues continue to ask for help I’m advised we will get it unconditionally which should give us all strength and comfort.

The GM Steering Group will meet on the last Thursday in the month for the next three months with provision for one more meeting if required.

Most leagues and clubs are accepting that some form of change is inevitable, it’s just what it looks like that is unknown.

My old mate Derek Kay saw what was coming 10 years ago but the timing was just not right at that time.

We as a group of leagues and individuals now need to see this work through to the best of our ability and then let’s judge whether the concept can transform into something more tangible.

*Bolton Association Management Committee has withdrawn from the Steering Group but their clubs continue to work within the working groups.

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Harvey Tammam, of Tottington, and Walshaw CC third team captain wrote:

THE negative reaction to the new structure seems strange as nothing has actually been proposed so far.

Ongoing discussions are attempting to set up dialogue so that the best decisions are taken with regards to the future of cricket in Greater Manchester.

Why would anyone want to prevent local cricket from improving?

An immediate response is that there is nothing wrong with how things work at the moment.

Unfortunately this myth needs to be quashed as soon as possible.

An alarming drop in the number of people playing recreational cricket says differently.

There are fewer players available to play cricket and the availability of many of those who do play is being reduced. Work, family commitments and playing or watching other sports all contribute towards us having to offer something different to keep people playing cricket.

Elite cricketers want the best players to compete against the best with the best facilities and without having to move clubs or leagues to do so.

Elsewhere, others want to encourage non-players to take up cricket or ex-players to restart playing cricket.

They also want to make it easier for current players of any ability to play at an appropriate level so that there is competitive cricket for everyone from the best players all the way down to those who simply play for fun.

Finally (and perhaps most importantly) we need to cater for junior cricket by ensuring that children are offered regular, exciting matches that progress seamlessly into senior cricket so that no-one is lost on the way.

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Roy Cavanagh MBE, life Member of the Bolton Association wrote:

IF cricketers in the Bolton area really want change it is staring them in their face.

Over the past 20 years I have spoken at length at ways of bringing together clubs in the town.

Always the dissenters’ overruled others. It makes sense, therefore, that if you cannot do what those who wish for change want locally, why bother looking further afield in a Greater Manchester?

IF you want change, with promotion and relegation, devise a system where the 32 clubs in the two present Bolton leagues – the Bolton League and the Bolton Association – come together in a pyramid of three divisions called The Bolton Association of League clubs.

The existing Association clubs could still play for the Cross Cup, the League clubs for the Hamer Cup.

A new cup (the Axford Cup?) could be played FA Cup-style for all 32 clubs.

First and second 11s would be sorted, and juniors would play in a regionalised league across the area for which the umpires are already in place, as I am sure the administration would be.

The only tricky subject is who forms the top league of the three at the beginning, but that is a much smaller issue than it would be if seven or eight leagues were to fight it to decide who would be the top teams to start off a new process.

Local cricketers in Bolton could all just keep things as they are and try to improve the present situation.

Choose well people...

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Andy Dunning, of Salisbury, Wiltshire, and an exiled Heaton supporter wrote:

I THINK it could work, but the travelling would be a concern for me.

Heaton to Astley Bridge is no problem but Heaton to across the other side of Manchester could be.

It is something that Bolton League players, supporters and officials are not used to.

The name of the [proposed] league concerns me.

Those two words "Greater" and "Manchester" can make me physically sick when I hear them.

Perhaps we could name the league the South Lancashire League.

The Lancashire leagues are famous throughout the country, so if we are all going to merge let's use the word Lancashire in the title.

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Mike Berry, first team captain of Denton West CC in the Lancashire County League, wrote:

AS a player I am very excited by the idea of a pyramid structure coming to Manchester.

For many seasons I have competed at the highest level I can for my local club.

This level is restricted by our current format. I am loyal to my club and look forward to raising my children through Denton West CC.

This loyalty keeps me from moving to find "premier" cricket.

Maybe Denton West wouldn't make it to the top, but at least we would have a chance to give it a go if the proposal goes ahead.

A pyramid structure, if planned correctly, could improve playing standards and facilities right across the region.

Players finding a level that is competitive and spectators enjoying close meaningful fixtures right through the season is something we can aspire too.

Playing the same faces week in, week out and obvious mismatches in ability are just some of the current issues.

Let's give those at the LCB and in the steering group a chance to publish a format that can do the Manchester area proud.

We can't rule it out before we have even seen the idea can we?

I, for one, would love Lancashire CCC to be plucking juniors from our Manchester leagues and giving them contracts rather than them being pushed to Liverpool, Cheshire or Lancashire.

Imagine the junior footballers of Manchester having to move to Liverpool to play at a higher level. No I can't either.

Neil [Bonnar, head of sport at The Bolton News], I have been following your coverage on twitter and I think it's great you are getting the debate in the public eye.

If the players get chance to see this coverage I think there is a real hope for improvement.

We are indebted to officials on committees in our leagues, but they can't protect their own positions or history.

They have to let the players decide and move with the times.

We have an area filled with ambitious clubs and great travel links around the M60. We have hard working officials in every single one of those clubs. To say this might ruin local cricket is either naive or scaremongering.

We have all the foundations for a terrific structure. Let's see the prospectus, have our say and build something better.

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Danny Hornby, of Bury, and a Walshaw Cricket Club player, wrote:

WE need to wait and see how it is going to work before we all decide on whether it is a good idea or not.

It should be left for individual clubs to decide whether they want in. The league officials will all try to put their own spin on it to try to preserve their 'history' and not necessarily improve the standard of local cricket.

There are pros and cons, obviously, but it may stop the rumour mill and merry-go-round every close season because players want to play against different teams and go to different grounds, to stop the monotony of going to the same grounds year on year.

Players are more likely to stay with a club if they can achieve promotion. It may take a few years to find your level as a club but it makes every game competitive rather than a team possibly having nothing to play for come the end of May because they are out of the cup and have lost a few league games.

Competitive cricket is what we are all after, whatever level we play at.

Whether it is the GM Cricket League or individual leagues trying to make changes, something has to be done. Players have been saying this for years.