Lancashire League Cricket

[Dressinggown]

Lowerhouse confirm signing of the current professional Dan Salpietro for a further season.
.
Top stuff.

[Somethingfishy]

Of all the signings made recently this ranks as one of the best. Brilliant news. He's been exceptional not only on the pitch but off it. A model pro. His interview on the House podcast was inspirational stuff.

[Burnley1989]

Will likely lose Tom Walker so we do need to find another good seamer for next season and I think we can compete for that top spot.
Take away those first 3-4 games we've been very consistent, but the league table doesn't lie and I'd say 3rd spot is probably about right in what's been a very enjoyable season

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Not linked to the pro news but why do people think the gap is so huge between the two divisions?

[ŽižkovClaret]

Not linked to the pro news but why do people think the gap is so huge between the two divisions?

Crowds / Facilities = Revenue = ability to compete

Some clubs will punch above their weight, especially if they get a better than expected pro and/or a decent crop of youngsters coming through, however its no surprise to see the likes of Lowerhouse/Burnley/Clitheroe etc there or thereabouts and not really in much danger of dropping down anytime soon.

[Somethingfishy]

Will likely lose Tom Walker so we do need to find another good seamer for next season and I think we can compete for that top spot.
Take away those first 3-4 games we've been very consistent, but the league table doesn't lie and I'd say 3rd spot is probably about right in what's been a very enjoyable season

Well we will miss him from after this weekend as he goes to Australia for the winter to be with his gf. He goes early because her birthday is next week. He has a club out there lined up for their summer too. Bit up in the air apparently whether he comes back for next season or stays in Oz. Be a shame as he's really come on leaps and bounds this season. His batting has improved immensely and that's down to the pro taking him to one side. Turned into a very useful all rounder.

[Somethingfishy]

Crowds / Facilities = Revenue = ability to compete

Some clubs will punch above their weight, especially if they get a better than expected pro and/or a decent crop of youngsters coming through, however its no surprise to see the likes of Lowerhouse/Burnley/Clitheroe etc there or thereabouts and not really in much danger of dropping down anytime soon.

I'd say that's what the majority of the issue is. There is also the issue that the promising players at the lower division clubs get cherry picked by the top division clubs. We've had Tom Walker from Accrington and Charlie Gansler from Bacup as examples. Larger coaching setups and playing a clearly higher standard is a lure.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

Just find it mirrors English football more and more. Always a bit of a shame when the best young players are ‘cherry picked’ in what is essentially local amateur sport.

[ŽižkovClaret]

Just find it mirrors English football more and more. Always a bit of a shame when the best young players are ‘cherry picked’ in what is essentially local amateur sport.

It is on one hand, a local amateur sport as you say, however part of the reasoning behind the restructure was to help make a more succesful pathway for promising players to the county game.

I'd take some persuading that Charlie Gansler, for one, would be better slogging away for Bacup than playing a crucial role ina Worsley cup win.....

[Quickenthetempo]

Just find it mirrors English football more and more. Always a bit of a shame when the best young players are ‘cherry picked’ in what is essentially local amateur sport.

It's far from a amateur sport these days. More like semi pro.

[Andreshotboots]

It is on one hand, a local amateur sport as you say, however part of the reasoning behind the restructure was to help make a more succesful pathway for promising players to the county game.

I'd take some persuading that Charlie Gansler, for one, would be better slogging away for Bacup than playing a crucial role ina Worsley cup win.....

I can assure you the powers that be at Lancashire Cricket don't give a hoot about player pathway, it's all about ECB funding they receive.

How many players from the Lancashire League have played for Lancashire recently? Alex Davies possibly the last one and he was basically from a Northern League Club until recently.

The corridors of power at Old Trafford have always viewed the Lancs league as inferior, and never supported this league. We had a highly promising player a few years ago, and they personally told this player if he was to have any chance of even getting a county second team trial game, he needed to move to the Liverpool Comp league..

Their arrogance, and distain towards Lancashire League players has cost them some exceptional players over the years so although I'm a born and bred Lancastrian, I do hold frustrations against the County when it comes to cricket...

[Andreshotboots]

It's far from a amateur sport these days. More like semi pro.

Of course it is, and it's no coincidence that the 3 teams who are regularly battling it out at the top of the table have highly successful clubhouses therefore have "funding".

Players may not be funded directly, but I can assure you things like free kit and membership, bar cards regularly topped up, summer coaching camps where players keep the money, creating of non existent jobs for an accounting purpose to justify money going out, travel expenses paid at an extortionate rate etc all happen at clubs to "attract," better players from other clubs and leagues.

[helmclaret]

Since the leagues merged a few years ago, there certainly appears to be a lot of money sloshing around at those top clubs.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

It is on one hand, a local amateur sport as you say, however part of the reasoning behind the restructure was to help make a more succesful pathway for promising players to the county game.

I'd take some persuading that Charlie Gansler, for one, would be better slogging away for Bacup than playing a crucial role ina Worsley cup win.....

That’s the point though clubs like Bacup and Rawtenstall believe it or not did win the Worsley Cup and the league!!

[helmclaret]

I am a bit out of the loop but the 90s early 00's seems to produce quite a few county staff/first class players from the Lancs League, but who has made the step up from the Lancs League to the County game it in the last 5-10 years? Seems a long time ago since the likes of Payne, Seal, Clare, Anderson, the Browns, Daggett and Simpson broke through. I still find it hard to understand how Kes didn't make the county circuit.

[Longsidelenny1882]

How Lancashire are playing recently still time for KES upthecolne

[Mondsley]

I am a bit out of the loop but the 90s early 00's seems to produce quite a few county staff/first class players from the Lancs League, but who has made the step up from the Lancs League to the County game it in the last 5-10 years? Seems a long time ago since the likes of Payne, Seal, Clare, Anderson, the Browns, Daggett and Simpson broke through. I still find it hard to understand how Kes didn't make the county circuit.

I seem to recall Kes was offered a County contract. But not at Lancashire. I'm sure I read that quite recently in an excellent book called Sticky Dogs and Stardust by Scott Oliver. It's about superstar Pros who played in the leagues. Highly recommend it to any cricket lover.

[JohnDearyMe]

It is on one hand, a local amateur sport as you say, however part of the reasoning behind the restructure was to help make a more succesful pathway for promising players to the county game.

I'd take some persuading that Charlie Gansler, for one, would be better slogging away for Bacup than playing a crucial role ina Worsley cup win.....

Wonder what Clive of India would have made of such an arrogant and dismissive view of Bacup...?

[Dark Cloud]

Not linked to the pro news but why do people think the gap is so huge between the two divisions?

I honestly don't think it's really as simple as a money thing. Many of the second division clubs have thriving off the field bars and function rooms and get more than decent crowds and generate a good cash flow. I believe (as others have alluded to) the issue is far more to do with first division clubs being able to attract the best young players who come through the ranks at other clubs. In many cases those players will leave less successful clubs just when they are maturing into first team regulars and head in search of playing at the "higher level" should the chance arise. This then becomes a vicious circle to some extent. Tom Walker, Charlie Gansler, Harry Caton are examples which spring to mind. Good second division cricketers definitely get plenty of unsolicited offers from the division one sides.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

I honestly don't think it's really as simple as a money thing. Many of the second division clubs have thriving off the field bars and function rooms and get more than decent crowds and generate a good cash flow. I believe (as others have alluded to) the issue is far more to do with first division clubs being able to attract the best young players who come through the ranks at other clubs. In many cases those players will leave less successful clubs just when they are maturing into first team regulars and head in search of playing at the "higher level" should the chance arise. This then becomes a vicious circle to some extent. Tom Walker, Charlie Gansler, Harry Caton are examples which spring to mind. Good second division cricketers definitely get plenty of unsolicited offers from the division one sides.

‘Attract young players’. I don’t get this and maybe it’s an age thing but you played for your local club with your mates. I don’t remember Rawtenstall poaching youngsters from Lowerhouse (who were usually at the bottom of the league) in the 80’s and 90’s.
As I said it just mirrors the premier league in football the current top teams have to have the best players. Maybe a change in the rules is needed to make it more competitive.

[Dark Cloud]

‘Attract young players’. I don’t get this and maybe it’s an age thing but you played for your local club with your mates. I don’t remember Rawtenstall poaching youngsters from Lowerhouse (who were usually at the bottom of the league) in the 80’s and 90’s.
As I said it just mirrors the premier league in football the current top teams have to have the best players. Maybe a change in the rules is needed to make it more competitive.

"Poaching" I think is too strong a word and I wasn't intending to really imply that as such, but there's definitely much more movement than there used to be and players will go where they envisage more success and a chance of winning things and playing at the higher level and that's where the attraction of the "bigger" clubs comes into play for the younger players breaking through. Unfortunately, as said that can mean the less successful clubs tend to lose their better players and the cycle is difficult to break.

[bfcmik]

‘Attract young players’. I don’t get this and maybe it’s an age thing but you played for your local club with your mates. I don’t remember Rawtenstall poaching youngsters from Lowerhouse (who were usually at the bottom of the league) in the 80’s and 90’s.
As I said it just mirrors the premier league in football the current top teams have to have the best players. Maybe a change in the rules is needed to make it more competitive.

This is what this generation do though, they fully embrace the freedom of movement concept. It is becoming more difficult to envisage a player staying at one club for their whole career if they believe they may get to play for a better or more successful team. And it's not just cricket, but football and rugby too. Even 8, 9, and 10 year olds are looking for transfers!

[Andreshotboots]

This is what this generation do though, they fully embrace the freedom of movement concept. It is becoming more difficult to envisage a player staying at one club for their whole career if they believe they may get to play for a better or more successful team. And it's not just cricket, but football and rugby too. Even 8, 9, and 10 year olds are looking for transfers!

Totally agree with this, I played at my club, because my dad played at my club and I was down there from being a baby. Back then it was a family day out the cricket, most families only had one car so it was a case of everybody going to watch dad play.

That club was engrained in me, and has been all my life, so although I've been lucky enough to play professionally back in the day, I would never have even contemplated playing for another Lancashire League club.

The derby matches especially were fierce, because
It was 10 local lads and a pro playing against each other and we were all in the same boat, our dad's had all played first team cricket and we were taking up the baton.

The difference today is some players, and some still playing have had more clubs than Rory Mcllroy and follow the silverware chances about and have zero connection or loyalty to the clubs they are playing for.

[Buxtonclaret]

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wat ... 949-online

Wonderful old footage here of one of the great Lancashire League derbies.
Some very famous cricketing names around.

My dad and other family are in the crowd. A game I was told about many times growing up.
My great Uncle, Joey Middleton, comes out to bat for the last time playing for Rawtenstall.

[Foulthrow]

I thought you had to live or work within a certain distance of the club you played for? Does that rule not exist anymore?

[Andreshotboots]

I thought you had to live or work within a certain distance of the club you played for? Does that rule not exist anymore?

It certainly used to be like that, with all the player movement it can't be now.
Maybe it's you have to live/ work a certain distance away from any member club now, and with 2 leagues pretty much covering Burnley,Pendle, Rossendale, Blackburn, Hynburn, Calder and North Manchester it's pretty easy for a player to fall into that category..

[Quickenthetempo]

"Poaching" I think is too strong a word and I wasn't intending to really imply that as such, but there's definitely much more movement than there used to be and players will go where they envisage more success and a chance of winning things and playing at the higher level and that's where the attraction of the "bigger" clubs comes into play for the younger players breaking through. Unfortunately, as said that can mean the less successful clubs tend to lose their better players and the cycle is difficult to break.

I would think poaching or tapping up would describe it perfectly.
You won't get many players that are already playing, approaching a club and asking to join.

Captains/first team managers/scouts/committees will all be scouring play cricket searching for players who have done well in other leagues they think they can attract. In time for someone to watch them play.

Then you have players playing against each other and talking them in to joining their clubs etc..

[Stproc]

The financial incentives side of things is being overlooked in this thread. I know it would be nice to think that players move to better themselves but just as in the murky world of pro football, money talks.
I remember very clearly approaching an amateur to come as a pro to my club and he laughed as he was on more money than we could offer and he was an amateur. We then get a bit of an exodus to a new member club a few years ago that was pretty well discussed.
It’s all about the money.

[JohnDearyMe]

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wat ... 949-online

Wonderful old footage here of one of the great Lancashire League derbies.
Some very famous cricketing names around.

My dad and other family are in the crowd. A game I was told about many times growing up.
My great Uncle, Joey Middleton, comes out to bat for the last time playing for Rawtenstall.

That's a great film, thanks

[FCBurnley]

Speaking of cricket it is a big double header weekend at the top of the league. Two difficult away games for Burnley. Darwen with the easier games.

[Steve-Harpers-perm]

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wat ... 949-online

Wonderful old footage here of one of the great Lancashire League derbies.
Some very famous cricketing names around.

My dad and other family are in the crowd. A game I was told about many times growing up.
My great Uncle, Joey Middleton, comes out to bat for the last time playing for Rawtenstall.

Fantastic film. Memories of the old club house and the grass banking at Rawtenstall!

[RMutt]

Fantastic film. Memories of the old club house and the grass banking at Rawtenstall!

You can see the house I grew up in the background of the film.

[Dressinggown]

Fantastic film. Memories of the old club house and the grass banking at Rawtenstall!

Some excellent footage there. Shows the crowds that the Lancashire League used to attract in the day.

I like how one of the umpires appears to be sporting some form of cloak which is almost dragging on the ground.

[Clarets4me]

I thought you had to live or work within a certain distance of the club you played for? Does that rule not exist anymore?

The online Lancashire League Yearbook states that you must live or work within a 10 mile radius of any Lancashire League Club. Obviously with the expansion south to Rochdale, Greenmount etc, that radius will include Bury, Bolton and North Manchester so it covers a much larger area than it perhaps used to ...

A further clarification on former Professionals, playing as amateurs ... if they retire from professional cricket during or at the end of a season, they can play the following season as an amateur if they were previously registered as an amateur at a League Club, or they are over 35, and fit the criterea of any other amateur. If they do not fit this criteria, ie they are under 35, then they have to wait until the following season. For example, Francois Haasbroek finished his final two seasons as a " Pro " at Euxton in the Ribblesdale League in 2015/2016, but played no Cricket during the 2017 season, ( he was under 35 ) before playing as an amateur from 2018, qualifying on both residence & work grounds.

Jimmy Anderson could, should he wish, turn out for Lancashire in the County Championship for the rest of this season ( and God, could they do with him ! ), before rocking up at Turf Moor in April next year to play as an amateur, as he would have been both a " previously registered amateur " and aged over 35 ...

[Hopey]

Will likely lose Tom Walker so we do need to find another good seamer for next season and I think we can compete for that top spot.
Take away those first 3-4 games we've been very consistent, but the league table doesn't lie and I'd say 3rd spot is probably about right in what's been a very enjoyable season

Toxy will slot in just nicely… and I don’t think Tom will turn down coming back. He’s just too keen.

[Hopey]

For anyone wanting to catch end of Lowerhouse stream. It’s here

Homing in on 12 points. Darwen already won. Unsure about Burnley as they are playing at Tod who have no internet (seriously) so the scorecard online stops updating when the scorers phone data runs out or his battery goes!

[FCBurnley]

Burnley were 148 /7 off 48 then score died. And some say that Tod is best ground in LL ! No Wi-Fi ! Seriously

[Hopey]

A comprehensive 12 points for the House. Toxy with 6fer and his best career bowling figures.

[FCBurnley]

Burnley were 148 /7 off 48 then score died. And some say that Tod is best ground in LL ! No Wi-Fi ! Seriously

Correction it was 184 /7

[GetIntoEm]

Still not finished according to play cricket. Shocking facilities

[Blue Skies]

Tod 133/6 Pro gone could be tight but Car Park CC should be fans from here

[Blue Skies]

Favs

[Hopey]

Tod 133/6 Pro gone could be tight but Car Park CC should be fans from here

Chasing?

[FCBurnley]

From what I can see Rickard who opened is still batting and they are about 140 thru 41 overs but no clue what Burnley scored or how many overs that had ? Above might be bs

[Burnley1989]

Go the old fashioned route, ring the bar for an update

[FCBurnley]

Tod looking favs if my info is correct

[Blue Skies]

12 points for the Car Park Cricket Club

[helmclaret]

https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/wat ... 949-online

Wonderful old footage here of one of the great Lancashire League derbies.
Some very famous cricketing names around.

My dad and other family are in the crowd. A game I was told about many times growing up.
My great Uncle, Joey Middleton, comes out to bat for the last time playing for Rawtenstall.

Brilliant footage - Lowerhouse fans should watch that if they want to see a proper crowd!

[Hopey]

Brilliant footage - Lowerhouse fans should watch that if they want to see a proper crowd!

Forgot it’s still 1949

[FCBurnley]

12 points for the Car Park Cricket Club

Hope so Can’t find any result anywhere