Northern League: Chorley fixture chaos (30 June 1999)

30 June 1999

Northern League: Chorley fixture chaos

Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Chorley CC have been plunged into fixture chaos which leaves them facing the prospect of playing two cup finals simultaneously next Sunday.

The problem was triggered by last Sunday's washout of the team's National Knockout Cup regional final at Morecambe, for which the reserve date was next Sunday.

But this clashes with the final of the Northern League Vaux Samson Cup for which Chorley are due to travel to St Annes.

Morecambe could only offer today as an alternative date for the National Knockout match, which would have left Chorley unable to field several key players because of work commitments.

St Annes are reportedly committed to match sponsors for the Vaux Samson Cup final and are thus unable to agree to a change of date.

Chorley chairman Norman Poole explained: "We have spoken to Morecambe, St Annes and even Lord's in a bid to achieve a compromise. He said: "But no-one can offer us any help. So we have no alternative but to take the first XI to Morecambe next Sunday and send the second XI plus professional Josh Marquet, who is ineligible for the National Knockout, to play St Annes. Its far from ideal but we have just got to get on with it."

Either Chorley or Morecambe will go forward to the National Knockout stages and the last 16 of the club cricket championship and the Windsor Park club clearly do not want to jeopardise their chances of making a fourth appearance at Lord's in such a prestigious competition.

But the club's second string will certainly find it tough at Vernon Road against in-form St Annes, who are currently pressing Northern League leaders Darwen very strongly in the race for the title.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)