The integration of two major cricket leagues in Cumbria is a step nearer.
The Eden Valley Cricket League (EVCL) and the Cumbria Cricket League (CCL) may soon be joining forces for the start of the 2025 season, writes Keith Richardson.
In the latest development, members of the EVCL management committee gave its whole-hearted approval to a proposal that sees clubs from both leagues coming together. This follows a series of talks with officials of the CCL.
The development is being heralded as a positive step forward after attempts to amalgamate three leagues in the county, the other being the Westmorland League, floundered after the latter opted to remain much the same and form links with Lancashire as opposed to Cumbria.
Under the new proposal, the EVCL and the CCL would retain a degree of autonomy while the new structure would be geographically friendly to all clubs.
Under the proposal the CCL would retain primary responsibility for the CCL premier division and, immediately below that, the first divisions (north and south).
The EVCL would be the guiding force for the EVCL division one and division two.
Plus, the EVCL would also be responsible for its existing Sunday leagues, comprising two divisions.
The EVCL management committee approval of the plan needs to be approved at an extraordinary meeting of all EVCL clubs to be held on Monday, February 10.
The CCL is following a similar procedure, and it is hoped that the two leagues can be formally integrated on or around that date, provided, of course, the majority of clubs approve the plan at their respective extraordinary meetings.
The EVCL management committee was very positive about the plan during its discussions and feels it is the way ahead, and that there will be strength in numbers. In fact, there are hopes that the new league, once established, may attract other clubs and will present greater opportunities for sponsorship, funding and wider support.
Importantly, the proposed new structure would provide a pathway for any club to have a route from the lowest division to the top.
It is also felt that all clubs will eventually find their true level within the system.
An initial proposal on how the new look integrated structure will look in 2025 is as follows:
- CCL Premier Division (countywide): Cockermouth, Keswick, Furness, Whitehaven, Millom, Wigton, Dalton, Workington, Cleator and Egremont.
- CCL Division 1 north: Wetheral, Cockermouth 2nds, Workington 2nds, Caldbeck, Carlisle 2nds, Lanercost, Threlkeld and Staffield.
- CCL Division 1 south: Haverigg, Egremont 2nds, Seascale, Whitehaven 2nds, Vickerstown, Hawcoat Park, Millom 2nds and Furness 2nds. (Two other teams, Haverigg 2nds and Cleator 2nds may also be added to the equation).
The idea is that in the above eight-team CCL first divisions, all the teams would play each other home and away and there would then be a play-off between clubs to determine promotion and relegation issues and provide more matches.
- EVCL Division 1: Langholm, Rockcliffe, Keswick 2nds, Stainton, Wigton 2nds, Edenhall, Lanercost 2nds and Temple Sowerby (again there would be play offs.
- EVCL Division 2: Nunwick, Patterdale, Wetheral 2nds, Braithwaite, Carlisle 3rds, Gamblesby, Scotby and Caldbeck 2nds (plus play-offs).
- The EVCL would also continue to run its Sunday League which, currently, is as follows: League 1 – Lanercost, Dumfries, Penrith 3rds, Stainton 2nds and Wigton 3rds.
- League 2 – Keswick 3rds, Caldbeck Colts, Irthing Vale, Lanercost Academy and, potentially, Edenhall 2nds and Staffield 2nds.
