Egerton Cricket Club statement on reasons for joining the Greater Manchester League

"Egerton Cricket Club, founder members of the Bolton Cricket League, has recently made one of the most important decisions in its 150-year history and although the decision was painful it wasn’t taken lightly and the Club as a whole is behind the move to the new GM League.

"As with any Club the Egerton CC membership is made up of different groups mostly volunteers, including committee members, junior and senior players, parents, social members, sponsors etc and it is a whole cross section of these people, who have decided to seek new challenges, not just a few self interested people in a corner. In reaching the decision that we have, much discussion took place, open forums, meetings with parents, circulation of paperwork, to make sure that everyone had the opportunity to access the proposals being considered.

"An issue that continues to be raised on social media and in the Press is the role of Mike Hall, our Secretary and former BCL Chairman. To put the record straight, Mike stood to one side in the decision making process and his only role was to present the information available, just as he did at other BCL Clubs. One other point on Mike is that whilst much has been made of his position on the GM steering group, he did that at the request and on behalf of the members and clubs of the BCL, not himself or Egerton CC, so that BCL had a say in how things were shaped and clubs could make an informed decision when the time came.

"The Club has an ongoing capital investment program which has so far seen a new electronic scoreboard, refurbished changing rooms, a brand new two-lane practice net facility whilst the Clubhouse has benefitted from refurbishments and a new heating system. We will continue to invest in the Club both on and off the field with plans for new covers, outfield drainage and improved facilities for the comfort of our members and visitors.

"However of equal importance we have continued to invest in the future of the Club and in particular our junior section: recently renamed the Egerton CC Junior Foundation we have over 100 kids registered and regularly place coaches into the local schools as well as providing the ground for them to play home matches. We were the first Club in the area to create a Cricket Academy for our juniors and at this time the Club is strong, viable and has excellent links with the local Community so the Club and its members consider it to be in a good position.

"In our opinion, the GM option will provide greater flexibility in moving forward, for example with over 100 juniors we struggle to give them all a competitive game, in the GM League we will be able to put two teams or more into individual age group cricket which is something we intend to do. Yes the issue of travel for juniors was discussed at length and was possibly the only sticking point, but there are some excellent Clubs close by including those in Bolton who have also decided to join the GM set up. The likes of Greenmount, Walshaw, Elton, Clifton, Tottington etc are no worse travel wise than Westhoughton, Walkden or Horwich in fact in many cases they are better. The key for Egerton is that this will result in more juniors playing cricket than at present which can only be good for the game.

"We feel strongly that the decision of the Bolton Cricket League to restrict access to its successful junior set up is not just disappointing for Egerton CC but also for the many boys and girls who want to play this great game of ours but who now might not get the opportunity in the BCL, but that’s the League’s prerogative and possibly an opportunity missed. At this Club we believe in allowing as many children as possible to play the game in a locality that encourages that to happen and not to be restricted by outdated League rules that appear to hold member clubs to ransom and require parents to travel across town in the early evening when traffic is at its worst. We believe that in the future junior cricket will change to a more sensible district based grouping perhaps not even under the auspices of an individual league structure and we are now more than comfortable with our decision.

"Our Senior Cricketers are fully behind this decision and are looking forward to the new challenges ahead, playing on new grounds, improved facilities and competing against teams of a similar standard throughout the season. The opportunity for the Club to appoint a Professional and an Overseas Amateur is something that interests the Club and will be considered fully, the fact that this model has worked elsewhere gives us confidence moving forward.

"Egerton Cricket Club are proud to have made this progressive forward looking decision and relish the challenges ahead, albeit tinged with sadness on leaving the BCL, which as a League we have supported by ensuring competitive teams, providing administrators and offering our facilities on many occasions for representative games. Yes we will miss the Bolton Cricket League and the camaraderie that goes with it but the general opinion is that the GM option will provide strong senior cricket in a structure that will allow us to play at the right level, a flexible approach for juniors and we really do look forward to what is a new era for the Club.

"In summary we feel we have made the right decision for the right reasons we hope everyone else has done the same and wish the BCL well in their proposed restructure."