Bolton Cricket League review of the season – the clubs have their say on 2016

One division of 21 clubs was not seen as ideal by many but it has been competitive in the main and resulted in an even split of two well-matched divisions for next season.

There were many fine achievements, not always resulting in trophies but in the case of Lostock for instance, a team which few expected to trouble the established Bolton League teams only to surprise them by finishing a superb sixth.

Then there was Tonge. They had not won a game the previous year and struggle to field two teams as they cope with financial restrictions and the proximity of other clubs who attract most of the juniors in the area.

Tonge battled through, showing great spirit and developing a young side, and when they beat Standish in their last game of the season the celebrations could scarcely have been more joyful had they won the league.

That latter achievement was performed by Farnworth Social Circle who were by far the standout team of the year, followed by Walkden who were runners-up in the league and earned prestigious silverware for their own trophy cabinet by beating Social Circle in the final of the Hamer Cup.

The other two competition winners were Westhoughton and Horwich who took the honours in the Twenty20 and 40-Over competitions, respectively.

Now we look forward to what promises to be an intriguing season of two divisions with the added thrill of promotion and relegation as well at title chases and probably three cup competitions including an expanded Twenty20 competition which was a great success in its first season as a properly organised event this year.

Before all that, here we look back at 2016 and the views of the clubs on their season and on what changes they would most like to see introduced by the league.

ADLINGTON

Jon Howells, captain

We underachieved this season. We knew going into the season we were at least one batter short and it proved to be the case as we were bowled out cheaply too often.

Some of our big players did not perform. The highlights were last-ball wins against Eagley and Daisy Hill, beating Horwich, and our first ever Twenty20 campaign.

The low points were two abject defeats to Lostock and being knocked out of the Twenty20 on a bonus-point rule defeat.

We enjoyed playing at some new grounds but wish we could have played more Bolton League teams at home as we beat all three we played against.

I would like the league to reform the bonus point rules, and also bring in more progressive bowling restrictions that make captains think more and encourage greater strength in depth and participation.

If one bowler could bowl 20 overs and no-one else more than 10 it would require a minimum of four bowlers.

I would also like it to be mandatory to have a professional in both divisions.

Astley Bridge

Barrie Cryer, chairman

Our first team did not have the season we all hoped for, however the loss of certain key players through the season certainly hampered us.

That included the night our young cricketer, Hashim Akhtar, collapsed after suffering a brain haemorrhage. This certainly brought home what really is important.

Our progress in the Hamer Cup, reaching the semi-final was a welcome distraction from a difficult year and it was a great pleasure to host the final.

This meant so much to our club and I would think it would be the same for other ‘smaller’ clubs to be given this chance in the future.

I would like to see the league’s rule makers decide on the league format, promotion, relegation, fines, bans, etc, before the season starts and then stick to whatever is decided for the whole season and beyond.

This must allow for how new teams entering the league are catered for.

Atherton

Calum Barlow, captain

We had a tough start to the season, playing all the top sides apart from Farnworth, but it was good to challenge ourselves against the best.

With such a young side I feel we learned a lot. We came close to beating a few bigger sides and we took positives from those games to produce a good run from June onwards which saw us challenge for the top 10 up until the second to last game.

We have seen it as a transitional season and although it was tough not to make the first division we feel we can have a real crack at gaining promotion at the first attempt.

I hope it is voted in that teams are allowed to have a pro and an overseas next season. I understand it is not the view of everyone but we are ambitious and want to be playing in the top division. Being allowed a pro and an overseas can only improve the standard of the league as well.

Blackrod

Joe Pryle, captain

It was a typical up and down year as a club, but on the field the general consensus has been that the move to the Bolton League was a positive step, with more local games providing further stimulus.

Our game at Horwich was an outstanding advertisement for Bolton cricket and we took some time to get over that close defeat.

We made a great comeback to push for a top 10 spot and during this period pulled together as a proud team. By continuing to blood youngsters, our club is improving and it looks promising that we will have a sustainable future.

Cricket is struggling to retain players for many reasons, perhaps earlier starts – 12.30pm – could allow time for more families to socialise after games and generate more revenue for clubs in the process.

Bradshaw

Nick Lester, captain

We were inconsistent to say the least. After a poor start when we lost four of our first five games, it was pleasing to see us bounce back and finish in the top eight to guarantee top division cricket and a place in the Lancashire Knockout next year.

We showed in the middle section of the season that when things click we are a tough team to beat.

There is plenty to work on for next season.

It was also a great effort from our second team to finish runners-up in their division with such a young team.

One thing I would most like to see brought in next season is plans to be put in place for all clubs to have roll-on covers by 2018. I would also have greater restrictions on bowlers’ overs. Maybe two bowlers can bowl more than 10 overs but no more than 15, meaning that four bowlers must be used.

Daisy Hill

Steven Chilton, captain

Daisy have given a fair account of themselves and surprised a few of the old Bolton League sides.

Unfortunately, we missed out on the prized top-10 finish, but the weather cost us the chance of playing some of teams we felt were beatable therefore costing us vital points.

We much enjoyed the new league and visiting new grounds, and look forward to next year’s challenge of getting promoted to the top division.

I would like to see the league actively and openly attract new teams and introduce some form of enhanced cup competition which possibly the Cross Cup could be played for.

Darcy Lever

Jimmy Walsh-Hill, captain

If I am being totally honest our finishing position of 16th is pretty much what we expected.

However, we are disappointed not to have finished a few places higher.

Had a few things been different and we had our full-strength side out all season, we could have won one or two more games and been in the mix for the top half.

I think we are in the correct division, though, for where we are as a team and as a club.

Sneaking into the top half could have been potentially harmful to the club’s development in the long run, and it is now something for us to gradually work towards.

It would be good to see facilities improve across the board, in particular the decks we play on.

There are not many great tracks in the Bolton League. Maybe the league or the Lancashire Cricket Board could lend a hand in providing expertise and advice to clubs where it is needed, perhaps via running practical cricket groundsmanship courses for those who are interested.

Improving the tracks would massively improve the standard of cricket played in the league.

Eagley

Ian Wainman, first-team manager

Being written off by some – including the local press – as a team capable of finishing in the top 10 spurred the team on.

A combination of youth, experience, a top professional and a fantastic team spirit was the basis of our success.

We were guilty on a few occasions of letting teams back into the game after being in a strong position, which we cannot afford to do next season.

One thing I would most like to see brought in next season is fixtures set up to accommodate the distinct probability of days where no games are played due to weather. There are only 18 league games a season now, and this is a determining factor these days.

Farnworth

Simon Booth, captain

Farnworth have done quite well this year despite being heavily hampered in our league campaign by the weather.

Only losing three league games and losing in two cup finals late on in 2016 was very hard to take, but overall I am very proud of our journey to make it to the finals.

Hand on heart, we probably did not do ourselves justice in the final weeks of the season, but can take plenty of positives from our cup performances, and we have managed to create a fantastic team spirit among the first and second team players which can only bode well for 2017.

Next season I would like to see the league bring in CricHQ – a live online application that lets everyone have a live view of any match being played.

I would like to see a guideline brought in where the opposition stay for a drink after the game. That’s how it used to be, and should be in the future to bring more togetherness to the league.

I would also like to see the return of overseas amateurs. They give clubs a buzz, junior cricketers get the experience of working with young Aussies, West Indians and other nationalities, while the standard of cricket is ultimately improved tenfold.

Farnworth Social Circle

Matt Parkinson, captain

FSC have once again proved they are a fantastic team.

The great thing for me is even before the season people were touting us as favourites when other teams have spent big money.

We even asked a couple of amateurs in the league to come and join us as professional but they chose alternative amateur roles no doubt on more money than we could offer as a professional.

I hope they look longingly into their empty trophy cabinets.

More than any other club in the league we are a true team, and the social in Farnworth Social Circle is very apt.

If I was pushed the thing I would like to see brought in would be roll-on covers for every ground to try to provide better wickets.

Then you will need a good committed groundsman to go with it.

Currently our green semi-covered wet wickets are not dangerous. When you start making hard decks with less preparation you may get some issues.

But if you’ve never broken a finger here and there you’ve never really played!

Golborne

Tom Pantak, captain

It was a season of what might have been. Our bowling unit performed well for most of the season but was let down by our batting most weeks.

Losing games by a few wickets defending scores of less than 130 shows that with a few more runs we could have finished a few places higher up the league.

It has been enjoyable visiting some new grounds and playing some tough teams. Hopefully next season we will get some proper cricket weather.

I might not be popular saying this but for me the standard of umpiring needs to improve.

We have both benefited and suffered this season due to poor umpiring decisions. Nobody’s perfect but it is disappointing for players when these decisions occur.

Heaton

Gary Garner, captain

I am really pleased with the season. From where we were over the past few years for the first and second teams to get into the top division is a very special effort.

We reduced the club’s budget and brought in players who were not getting a good chance at other clubs.

I had every confidence in their ability to get us where we wanted to be. The best part is that we were all together as a club with everybody being involved and wanting to know how everyone had gone on in each team.

After games the first and second-team players were all together in the bar and it was not a case of us and them.

I would make all games 40 overs with five bowlers bowling eight overs each, with coloured clothing and a white ball.

Then it is not difficult to get a black sheet for sight screens, music and announcements at all grounds and and barbecues, pretty much like Twenty20.

We would get more people watching and having five bowlers gives more people a game which we need to do otherwise we will wind up with no juniors coming through.

Horwich

Phil Ingram, captain

Our aim prior to the season was to finish in a Lancashire Knockout place and have a good cup run. We achieved both so it was a successful season.

We suffered a little with our pro Brett Pelser missing six weeks through injury, but he has really helped us improve the club and takes an active part with the young players.

All of our younger players have improved and will only benefit from what they have experienced in 2016.

With our second team winning the league and cup double, it has been a successful season for the club.

We really enjoyed the T20 competition. Quality cricket in front of big crowds. The league really need to expand this competition as much as possible in 2017.

Kearsley

Darren Whittle, captain

Our objectives at the start of the season were to finish in the top 10, qualify for the Lancashire Knockout, win the league or cup, for the second team to compete and finish in the top 10, and to provide competitive junior cricket.

We achieved the first two and we were runners-up in the Twenty20 which suggests a good season at Kearsley.

This was all without a regular pro for the first half of the season.

The second-team objective was achieved with some good late-season performances and the last objective was achieved with some outstanding junior performances.

As a league I would like to see CricHQ and the Bolton Association cups introduced.

As a club I would like to see Kearsley lads who play elsewhere playing back at Kearsley.

Little Hulton

Darren Mullineux, club representative

We felt going into the season that if we could put out our strongest 11 we would be competitive.

Unfortunately through holidays, work commitments etc this was not the case.

We started poorly and lost three games early on that we thought we should win. We had a spell half way into the season where we put in some decent performances but fell away again when important players were unavailable.

We are happy with the promotion/relegation for next season, and hope it provides good competitive cricket in each division with close games.

Lostock

Geoff Earle, captain

I am very pleased with our performance this season and we have achieved our objective of finishing in the top half. Add to that reaching two semi-finals and obviously most people would see that as being relatively successful in our first season in the league.

We have faced some tougher opposition this year and have certainly learned a lot from it as can be seen by our results at the back end of the campaign when we surprised one or two sides.

It certainly gives us a good platform to build on, and our aim is to continue to progress as a team heading into next season.

One thing I would like to see introduced are bowling restrictions in both league and cup games so that one player cannot bowl right through the innings.

Standish

Paul Hassan, vice chairman

While this season has been challenging in terms of the level of cricket given our current playing strength, administratively and socially it has been extremely enjoyable.

Regrettably, our first-team performances fell some way short of even our modest pre-season ambitions, although we were handicapped by the absence of a professional, the disappointing return from our overseas player and the departure of senior players before and during the season.

The second team competed well, and we are quite pleased with a mid-table finish, despite losing players to the first team each week for the reasons already stated.

We hope with continued investment in our infrastructure, facilities and junior cricket we can improve the level of our cricket, and return it to that of previous years.

As we are leaving the Bolton Cricket League to join the Palace Shield on behalf of Standish, I would like to thank all the members of the Bolton Cricket League and the executive for affording us the opportunity to play in the league in 2016. We will be very sorry to not only say goodbye to our old friends from the Bolton and District Cricket Association but the new ones we made during our season in the BCL.

Tonge

Danny Delvard, captain

Tonge have made progress this season. We have focused on a group of young players such as Connor Lord, Danny Holt, Cory Schofield and George Leather to name a few.

The team spirit evolved which had a positive effect throughout the club. There were some highs, unbeaten in September and Lord representing the league.

We start 2017 on the back of a win, and the 140th anniversary party which was a fine effort by Paul and Gill Schofield.

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The professional situation was unhelpful in the first six games, the rained off matches also. Our plans for 2017 are to attract young players who fancy establishing themselves in first-team cricket.

Anyone who wants a chance can give me a call. Lord is a great example of how players can develop at Tonge.

In the future I would like to see the return of winning and losing draws as my belief is that this helped players understand the need to bat their allotted overs and make bowlers earn those crucial wickets, rather than throwing them away.

I believe too many players try to smash an innings rather than building one at the moment.

Walkden

Jonathan Fowler, captain

I am very happy with the season. As captain taking over from a very disappointing season last year I knew things would not be easy.

My aim was to create structure and get the boys playing for the club and for each other.

The goals at the start of the season were to finish in the top four and win one cup – ideally the Hamer Cup.

The squad agreed these were realistic goals. With the right mindset we could achieve this, and we did.

We managed to get a good pro who turned out to be a gem for the club in every way. But as good as he was the rest of the team really stood up this year with bat and ball.

I am so proud to have led this team this year, and even happier for the team and club that we managed to achieve the goals we set out and bring home a well-deserved trophy.

I hope that next season we allow teams to have both an overseas pro and an overseas amateur which I believe will strengthen the league.

Young talented players always look up to good pros, and good amateurs are always looking to do well to make it further in the game (whether they are local or overseas).

I understand we are trying to develop local talent but why make it easy for them to make it into first teams? They should work hard and earn their place.

Especially the top division next year, we should aim to make this one of the strongest leagues around.

Westhoughton

Rob Houghton, captain

Finishing third has to be seen as a good finish. We had a few indifferent performances and having five games called off due to the weather stopped any real attempt at winning the league.

The highlight of the season had to be winning the Dixon Air Conditioning Twenty20 competition which became a great tournament with some fantastic fixtures.

Coloured kits, pink balls and, at most grounds, music meant the competition was a great advert for Bolton League cricket. It was also nice to finally win a trophy after various runners-up spots in recent years.

Looking forward to next year the thing I would most like to see is some decent weather! Although, of course, that is out of our control.

I’m looking forward to playing teams at least twice in the league set-up which will only improve the competition standards.

Congratulations to all the sides in 2016, a big thank-you to the countless volunteers and officials who get the game on, winter well and see you all in 2017.