Fixtures for the 2022/23 Cumbria Shield League have been released, but it’s been a mammoth struggle to find appropriate dates.
Cumbria Shield League secretary John Crichton has had to overcome a host of requirements to finally come-up with a workable fixture list.
He said: “You wouldn’t think fitting 144 Cumbria Shield League fixtures into a possible 28 weeks would be so difficult.
“However, with three clubs wanting Shield fixtures to mirror First team fixtures; two clubs only having one pitch so their fixtures had to be exactly opposite to their first team fixtures, and the other four clubs wanting either opposite to firsts or a mixture, it’s been a struggle.
“Then you have to take into account that with the exception of Windermere, the other eight clubs’ first teams are split in two different first team leagues, one league of which only has fixtures up to the end of 2022 and not beyond.
“Even now the fixture list sent out may mean that what has been arranged for 2023 onwards may cause issues for the five Cumbria League teams regarding fixtures and venues.”
Club and county representatives had earlier met at Penrith to discuss the prospect of splitting the Shield fixtures into two groups – Carlisle, Aspatria, Keswick, Upper Eden and Windermere as one, and the other being Cockermouth, Whitehaven, St. Benedict’s and Egremont.
Because of everything outlined by the Shield League secretary after the first month that has been impossible to do.
Consequently some clubs fixtures are not what traditionally would be home, away, home, away fixtures. Some clubs have runs of home or away fixtures which the secretary had taken three attempts to eradicate, but it’s proved impossible to do given all the related constraints.
As discussed also at the Penrith meeting, the following clubs are looking to pick up friendly fixtures to potentially fill in blank Saturdays – Ambleside, Creighton, Hawcoat Park, Wigton and Workington.
The opening games will be played on September 3 and are: Upper Eden v Windermere and Egremont v Whitehaven.
