Stockport Cricket Club

CHAPEL PRESS
CHESHIRE COUNTY CRICKET LEAGUE

MINUTES OF THE COMBINED AGM & LEAGUE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON WEDNESDAY, 25 JANUARY 2012 AT BOWDON CC


Present:
As per attendance sheet.
Apologies:
Elworth (Associate) and John Bygate (Deputy Chair).
Absent:
Of the full member clubs Oxton and Sale failed to attend. (Associates are not obliged to attend but a
good number did so).

AGM (1) DEATH OF MEMBERS

The Press Secretary read out tributes to fifteen Cheshire cricket people who had died in the last year.
They were: Adam Kendrick, Robert Vincent OBE, Lilian Bourne, Malcolm Lees, Tony Green,
Jennifer Dean, Jack McKenzie, Jimmy Elliott, Dennis Southall, Ernest Ford, John Haddad,
Keith Woodcock, Eric Davis, Liam Chronnell and Richard Houghton. He asked to be notified
of any further deceased. A minute’s silence was observed. The obituaries will appear in full in the
2012 handbook but in the shorter term they are appended to the end of these minutes.

AGM (2) MINS (AND MATTERS ARISING) OF 36th AGM [26 Jan 2011]

The minutes were signed as a true record. No matters arising.

AGM (3) CHAIRMAN’S REMARKS (David Humpage)

The Chairman thanked all the Officers for their valued contributions. He said this was a large
League and readily appreciated the volume of work they had to absorb. He acknowledged
the very significant contribution that the retiring treasurer, Brent Wilkinson, had made over the last
17 years and wished him well. He also thanked Gary Dixon who was stepping down as Junior Chairman
for his enthusiastic efforts in the last few years.

AGM (4) SECRETARY’S REPORT (Geoff Wellsteed)

Administratively it has been a fairly routine year and nothing of real note to share. However he did want
to emphasise the importance to the league of sponsorship monies and the important part that clubs
can play in helping to promoting the companies that provide funding. Displaying the league sponsors
company logo on a club website and paperwork etc. was a positive contribution. The league
was extremely grateful to Chapel Press and Red Insure for their continued financial assistance and
urged clubs to look at other inventive ways to support them.

AGM (5) TREASURER’S REPORT

Brent Wilkinson presented his final set of accounts. He was delighted to be able to report a ‘profit’
for the year and and overall reserves of £45k. Amazingly club subscriptions had not increased during his
17 year tenure. Harry Sharrock asked about the debtors figure of £10820. In reality the bulk of the
amount was the unpaid annual ECB grant (subsequently received after year end) but a number
of clubs owned varying amounts – Mobberley £237, Tattenhall £237, Timperley £327,
Birkenhead Pk £225, Bowdon Vale £53, Hawk Green £27, High Lane £45, Mossley £100, Northwich £134, Rylands £39, Tranmere Vic £39 and Wallasey £64. Reminder letters to be issued.



The accounts were unanimously adopted (proposed&seconded Bramhall/Bredbury).

AGM (6) CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

The Chairman regarded the three proposed changes to be no more than a tidying exercise.
Voting was done en bloc and unanimous. (Proposed and seconded – Macclesfield/Bollington)

AGM (7) ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Again the meeting accepted the Chairman’s invitation to re-elect all the officers en bloc
as no new nominations had been submitted and the existing post-holders were prepared to stand
again. The exceptions were the positions of Treasurer and Junior Chairman. The Cricket
Committee proposed, respectively, Andrew Woods and Hash Maitra and both were unanimously
elected (proposed& seconded – Urmston/ Stockport Georgians)

AGM (8) HONORARY LIFE VICE-PRESIDENTS

The meeting was invited to ratify the announcement the Secretary had made at the
annual dinner about this esteemed status being conferred on David Humpage and Mike &
Wyn Talbot-Butler. The vote was, unhesitatingly, unanimous.

AGM (9) ELECTION OF CRICKET COMMITTEE MEMBERS

On a two year cycle, Cricket Committee members Peter Bolger (Hyde) and Chris Finegan (Neston)
were up for re-election. Both were re-elected, unopposed, unanimously.

AGM (10) ELECTION OF AUDITOR

Long-standing auditor, Steve Murrills, was unanimously re-elected.

AGM (11) SUBS FOR 2011

The clubs readily accepted the Treasurer’s recommendation not to increase the annual subs.

AGM (12) AOB

None.



………Attention was then immediately turned to the League Management Meeting



LMC (1) CHAIRMANS OPENING REMARKS

The Chairman opened the meeting by drawing attention to the importance of Clubmark and
warned clubs about the ramifications of non re-accreditation. He urged clubs to review
their existing status and do whatever was necessary.

LMC (2) MINS OF THE PREVIOUS LEAGUE MANAGEMENT MTG (23 Nov 11)

These were accepted and signed as a true record. No matters arising.


LMC (3 & 4) PROPOSALS FOR CHANGE TO RULES/REGS.

To keep things simple the Chairman suggested that voting be split into three distinct parts –

• proposed change to the match format.
• 2nd XI Cup to be played as a T20 KO competition.
• All tidying up proposals.

The meeting agreed and voted as follows…28 – 6, 24 -6 and unanimous.


LMC (5) SENIOR CRICKET SECRETARIES REPORTS

Only the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary, the Competitions Secretary and the 3rd XI Sunday Secretary contributed. Geoff Wellsteed asked clubs to consider approaching cup sponsor, Red Insure, seeking an insurance quote. A good number of clubs had done so to their financial advantage. Assistant Secretary, Tony Morris, reminded clubs that he had responsibility for adjudicating on player eligibility issues and cases of doubt should be referred to him. Mike Talbot-Butler asked defaulting clubs (Alderley Edge, Bollington, Bowdon, Cheadle Hulme, Christleton, Hyde, Irby, Macclesfield, Marple, Nantwich, Poynton, Urmston, Warrington and Widnes) to let him have club personnel changes imminently so the handbook entries could be updated in good time. He also invited the submission of adverts and photo’s for inclusion in the handbook. Further debate was needed about how to best collect the pitch marking data captured by the umpires. Peter Lawson pointed out that the 3rd XI fixtures were always difficult to draw up and it had been necessary to make a good number of changes to the fixtures circulated with the AGM papers – the website should be regarded as the most update to date source.

LMC (6) JUNIOR MATTERS (David Vallance)

2011 had been a good season and the presentation evening held in September had been very well attended. On the other hand club administration was, generally speaking, inefficient and slow. Clubs were asked to look at this issue given it is a recurring theme. Reader balls were being used in 2012.

LMC (7) TREASURER’S REPORT (Brent Wilkinson)

Given the expansion of the ball contract to accommodate the provision of junior balls it was expected that an additional rebate would be forthcoming from Readers.

The new Treasurer, Andrew Woods, can be contacted at –

Andrew@hargreaveswoods.co.uk

Hargreaves & Woods
Chartered Accountants
Cholmondeley House
Dee Hills Park
Chester
CH3 5AR
T : 01244 400 219
D : 01244 305 305

LMC (8) UMPIRE AND DISCIPLINARY MATTERS (Ian Greensmith)

Overall the 2012 umpires panel would be much the same in terms of size but had accommodated some churn by
virtue of promotions, retirements and the recruitment of new members. Names were invited for both umpire and scorer training courses. Scorer (ECB) grading was also on offer. A meeting with the ECB Umpires Senior Officer had been arranged for March when the contentious subject of pitch marking would be debated.

LMC (9) WEBSITE (Darren Sutcliffe)

Clubs were urged to get ahead with player registration on the website NOW. It is important that registration data is comprehensive and accurate. In previous years some clubs had taken some unacceptable ‘shortcuts’ re dates of birth and addresses. Any club in doubt about the procedures were invited to call or email Darren. Compliance with this mandatory ECB system was rigorously monitored by the ECB and our ‘financial share’ is potentially threatened by inadequate completion. Promoted clubs, Marple and Widnes, were offered help, if required, by the webmaster. The registration form for Overseas players could be found on the website.

LMC (10) GROUND REPORT (John Bygate)

No report, John Bygate was absent having had a road accident on the way to the meeting.

LMC (11) DINNER (John Bygate)

Set for 5 October. Speaker confirmed as former Leicestershire wicketkeeper Paul Nixon. John Gwynne will again be the MC.

LMC (12) WIDER CHESHIRE ISSUES

The Chairman mentioned a 4Cs initiative and the potential availability of three Sunday fixtures pools within the county – North/Central/East. Entries for the Cheshire U13 competition need to be submitted to Jane Williams and U15 applications to Mike Tyerman.

LMC (13) AOB

The Chairman had invited Brian Boys to set up a sub-group to explore options for the introduction of laptop scoring. The first meeting was scheduled to take place next week. Some ECB funding had been secured and the objective is to have all PREM clubs scoring electronically by the END of the 2012 season. It was expected that clubs would be provided with the necessary training and supplied with hardware, software and the appropriate licences but that they will need to address power supply issues and incur the necessary cost. The implementation programme is expected to be done on an incremental basis.

Although not a matter for the League a question from the floor sought clarification about the type of ball that could be used in the Cheshire Cup competition – David Humpage said the 4Cs would clarify the position. As things stand the regulations only refer to a Grade A ball and some clubs had (legitimately) arrived with a Dukes rather than the League favoured Reader ball. Roger Moss mentioned the availability of certain bargain price kit at the Adidas Factory Shop, near Stockport gas-workers.


DATE OF NEXT MEETING:

The pre-season meeting at Warrington CC on Wednesday, 11 April. 8pm.

This is the pre-season meeting at which balls and handbooks are available for collection. It is expected that each club is represented by not only their League representative but also by some or all of the captains of the respective XIs. The League is very anxious to maintain high standards of discipline and ensure the Spirit of Cricket is recognised and, directly, wishes to address captains who must appreciate their primary role and responsibilities for these subjects. We accept this is a ‘big ask’ but it is a vitally important issue.







There being no further business the Chairman closed the meeting at 9.12 pm. with thanks to Bowdon CC for the use of their facilities.


Geoff Wellsteed
Secretary
0151 625 6470
07765 347599

Signed as a true record Chairman/Date





2011 – 2012 OBITUARIES

The Editor is sad to record the deaths during the past 12 months of many good men and women who rendered splendid service to clubs in the Cheshire County League past and present or who were well known within the wider circle of cricket in the county.
Thanks are expressed to family and friends who provided information about the deceased and apologies are offered for any omissions.

ADAM KENDRICK
A long-serving member and former player at Poynton, Adam Kendrick died aged 35 on May 2nd. 2011.
Adam was the club’s unofficial photographer and was a hugely popular man offering much in time and effort.

ROBERT VINCENT CBE
Popularly known as Robbie, Stockport Georgians’ former player and chairman died on June 3rd aged 67 after a long battle against cancer.
A Bramhall man, Robbie was appointed CBE by the Queen in 2001 for his outstanding work in setting up a United Nations War Crimes Tribunal to investigate the genocide in Rwanda four years earlier. A man with 40 year’s experience in law administration, he always managed to find time to indulge in his favourite sport, for a club with whom he grew up.
Robbie toured the world on behalf of the UN and was known by VIPs throughout the globe. His his son Steven tells the story of the evening when he had to call his farther out of the shower after a Georgians home match: “Hey! Dad … phone ….there’s a guy for you who says his name is Kofi Anan”.
Steve and his brother Mark both still play for Georgians.

LILIAN BOURNE
The widow of Douglas Bourne, the league’s esteemed chairman from 1985-95, Lilian Bourne died at a Stroud Rest Home on July 30th aged 87.
Lilian was buried next to the husband, to whom she was married for more than 50 years, at Cuckfield in Sussex, where now lives their eldest son Tom, a leading Harley Street gynaecologist.

MALCOLM LEES
One of the fastest bowlers to emerge in Cheshire club cricket since the Second World War, Malcolm Lees died in hospital at Congleton on August 19th aged 71.
Malcolm came to the fore at Northwich in the late 1950ss, then joined Winnington Pqrk where he formed a lethal opening partnership with Trevor Gibson and helped the club win the Manchester Association title in 1960-64-65.
He moved on to serve as a professional in the North Staffordshire League with Congleton and Kidsgrove, playing for Cheshire in 1975.
A tall, handsome man, Malcolm taught at Congleton High School for many years.

TONY GREEN
An Alderley Edge blue blood, Tony Green died at Macclesfield General Hospital.on Aiugust 7th aged 71.
A Cambridge University graduate, Tony played in every adult team at Alderley Edge from the 1st XI to the Over 40s and later became a popular club umpire and a fixture secretary who gave no ground in any dispute.
He was one of a small band of 25 loyal members upon whom vice presidential status was bestowed for services to various sections.
Second XI players whom he had been umpiring two weeks earlier, formed a guard of honour the day after his death as a token of respect.

JENNIFER DEAN
A Cheshire County Club life member and regular supporter at home and away games in the past, Jennifer Dean died aged 80 on August 9th. A Davenham farmer’s wife, her funeral at Delamere Parish Church was attended by past and present players with whom she was well known for her kind words of cheerful encouragement.

JACK McKENZIE
Jack McKenzie died at the tragically early age of 18 in a road accident in Chester on August 12th and all club teams observed a minute’s silence prior to their games the following day. Jack had been a promising junior cricketer at Boughton Hall.

JIMMY ELLIOTT
A leading Chester Boughton Hall player in their post-war days in the Liverpool Competition, Jimmy died aged 79 on August 12th.
He went on to play in Chester’s 2nd XI for many seasons, was in their Cheshire Cup-winning team in 1974 and continued enjoying mid-week cricket. He was a dental mechanic by profession.

DENNIS SOUTHALL

A well-known personality off the field at Chester, Dennis died aged 85 on August 14. He will possibly be remembered by many visitors to Boughton Hall for his superb bar work in the old pavilion – he was the man with the remarkable head of white hair.

ERNEST FORD
One of Stockport’s finest post-war cricketers, Ernie Ford died on October 16th, aged 87.
Born in the town and educated at Stockport GS, he was the club’s highest post-war run-scorer as well as representing Cheshire in 1955. A letter to Ernie’s son Richard from Cambridge Blue and Cheshire legend Don
Sm ith was read out by the Rev. Andrew Lythall at the funeral service at Stockport Crematorium. Don wrote:
“When I joined Stockport at the age of 14, very shy and in awe of the cricketers well settled there, it was Ernie and George Selby who helped me bed in. They did so in a no nonsense way and provided I behaved properly, I was accepted. This became a great influence in helping me learn about real cricket and to behave in an adult manner.
“Those early years at Stockport were the most enjoyable and educational of my cricketing life. I enjoyed watching Ernie play many fine innings; he always batted properly and was more concerned about the team’s needs than his own. His skill and grace were a pleasure to behold and from which I tried to learn. Just as important was his bravery against very quick bowlers, such as Roy Gilchrist against whom he never took a backward step.
“Just as great was his influence in my enjoyment of the game, always finding the right words of encouragement.. Practice was always important at Stockport in those days and once netting was over there was much to do on the slip cradle at which Ernie and George and John Selby were the stars. It was a big boost for me to join in - and as a youngster to learn not to show pain or any other weakness.
“He was a proper cricketer and gentleman whom I am very proud to have known”. he concluded.

JOHN HADDAD
John Haddad who died on November 9th aged 84, was a member of the League’s 23-strong initial panel set up in 1979. He became chairman of what had by then become known as the Umpires & Scorers Association from 1985-95 and remained an active member until 2009, when he had to step down due to the onset of dementia.
A retired engineer, John was a keen rotarian and travelled widely to represent the Bramhall branch at conventions.
His funeral service at Bramhall Parish Church was conducted by a member of the current umpires panel, the Rev. David Stoter.

KEITH WOODCOCK
Like his father Bernard and elder brother Tony, Keith Woodcock, who died in a Davenham care home on December 1st, played Minor Counties cricket for Cheshire and was a one-club man with Winnington Park, whom he served for more than 40 years, finally as chairman.
A quality left-hand batsman, Keith came top the fore at Sir John Deane’s GS, then Liverpool University and represented the Combined Universities in 1960. He scored two half-centuries on his debut for Cheshire in 1963 against Warwickshire 2nd at Edgbaston and continued to play 1st XI club cricket into his 50s.
A school-teacher by profession, Keith served at Chester and Widnes schools until taking early retirement in 2002. His death occured on November 30th in a Davenham care home aged 72.

ERIC DAVIS
Durham-born Eric who died on December 1st aged 92 was one of Cheshire’s oldest surviving players, having appeared in Minor Counties cricket in 1939. A leading batsman at Chester Boughton Hall in both pre-and post-war periods, Eric was an outstanding all-round sportsman, being a prolific-scoring batsman in the club’s Liverpool Competition days. He was also a gifted amateur footballer, playing for the Lancashire FA and Everton in addition to being a low-handicap golfer at Sandiway.

LIAM CHRONNELL
Former Poynton, Bowdon and League Colts XI cricketer Liam Chronnell was found dead at his Whalley Range home on December 11th at the tragically early age of 33. Liam left a devastated family, also a partner Caroline and young daughter, Olive. Liam came through the junior cricket ranks at Poynton as one of an excellent crop of players in the late 1980s which included current club captain Paul Gould. An ever-improving off-spinner, he went on to play for Cheshire at every level from Under 13 – 19 and starred in John North’s North-West Colts Trophy-winning teams in 1994-5-6-7. He also played for the North of England. After making his 1st XI debut aged 16 in 1994, his chances were restricted in 1995 by the arrival of fellow spinner Andy Greasley, but he still played in many games that season when Poynton won the 1st XI title and the Cheshire Cup and he was named the League’s Young Player of the Year.
In 1996, he moved to Bowdon and was a regular member of the team which won the 1st XI title for the second successive year. Liam then entered a career in journalism and cut his teeth as a trainee on the Stockport Express, before joining the Salford Advertiser, covering the Reds’ Super Rugby League games when, with many matches taking place in the summer, his cricket career was effectively ended.
He moved on to the Macclesfield Express and was one of the best of all sports editors I ever dealt with. .Always looking for something different, Liam then joined the Bolton Evening News as a sub editor also reporting on football, cricket and boxing in that city. Liam was a founding member of FC United of Manchester, the non-league football club formed by disaffected Manchester United fans at the time of the Glazer family take over. Paul Gould describes Liam as ‘a well-liked person, very honest and extremely humorous and he will be greatly missed in sport and journalism’. Bolton Wanderers manager Owen Coyle was moved to say: “We were extremely saddened to hear of Liam’s death. He was a regular at our press conferences and was a likeable, engaging man”.

RICHARD HOUGHTON
The death occurred on December 27th aged of 55 after a lengthy illness of Rick Houghton, among the most polished batsmen to serve Grappenhall in the post-war era. Rick was an integral part of arguably the best team the club ever fielded, in the 1980s when they won the Manchester Association title three times in 1981-82-87 and the HC Smith Trophy final at Old Trafford also three times in 1982-85-87.
An accountant by profession, Rick was a top all-round sportsman, also excelling at football and golf. He leaves two sons and is also survived his father Stan, a former club president and mother, Ruth, two sisters and a younger brother.
His funeral at Walton Crematorium on January 12th was attended by many of his former colleagues,


End