Historic Lancashire League Merger Moves Closer (1 July 1999)
In what can only be termed a sensational interview with the Manchester Evening News Pink newspaper, the Chairman of the Central Lancashire League, Bob Dearden, has put his wholehearted backing behind the idea that the Central Lancashire League and
01-Jul-1999
1 July 1999
Historic Lancashire League Merger Moves Closer
by Andy Searle
In what can only be termed a sensational interview with the
Manchester Evening News Pink newspaper, the Chairman of the
Central Lancashire League, Bob Dearden, has put his wholehearted
backing behind the idea that the Central Lancashire League and
Lancashire League should merge into one league with a
two-division structure and promotion and relegation.
The two leagues are perhaps the most well known club cricket
leagues in the world, having hosted over the last century some of
the greatest names in the game of cricket from Sydney Barnes to
Alan Donald. "I think it is agreed that there are too many
varying standards among clubs," said Dearden. "...should we make
a formal approach to the Lancashire League to initiate talks
about a possible merger?"
The merger idea is not a new phenomenon. Already several leading
clubs and players in the two leagues have expressed a desire to
breathe new life into competitions which recently have suffered
from the increase in the amount of international cricket played
around the world. The big names are no longer available to the
clubs as professionals, and consequently the standard of overseas
player has declined with spectator interest dropping as a result.
Many clubs coast along with nothing to play for for most of the
season, so the addition of promotion and relegation may well
re-invigorate interest in the one of cricket's most devoted areas.
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