Shepherd watches over CLL revamp

LAKE Garage CLL officials have taken another important step towards revamping the cricket league.

They have appointed David Shepherd, former league chairman and life member of the league, as head of the steering committee which will explore a new format for the league.

That could either involve maintaining the existing 16 clubs or perhaps trying to recruit new members to create a two-division framework.

New deputy chairman Gary Sewell will also be on the steering committee while nominations are being sought for others who are prepared to sit on the body.

When the steering committee eventually makes its recommendations for the future, the league’s management committee has ruled any changes will require the backing of 75-per-cent of the 16 existing clubs.


THE CLL will provide a record number of players for Lancashire’s junior teams in the summer.

Five CLL juniors have been included in the Lancashire under-19s squad for their warm up matches for the new season.

Crompton’s Aquib Zulfiqar and Matty Taylor, from Werneth, are joined by Adam Smith (Rochdale), Martin Harlow (Rochdale) and Tom Hardman (Heywood).

The under-17 squad features Scott Butterworth (Rochdale), Curtis Maguire (Littleboro) and Grant Jones (Middleton).

And in line for the under-16s are squad players Harvey Fitton (Norden), Dev Kumar and Josh Lenihan (both Monton).


NORDEN’S Nick Brierley is the new captain of the senior CLL representative team. Brierley replaces Heywood’s Bobby Cross who declined the post this year.

MIDDLETON’S John Fielden is hoping a day-long course for scorers at Rochdale Cricket Club on Thursday, April 16 (10am-4pm).
The course is free of charge and Rochdale are even providing complimentary refreshments at lunchtime.

It is being held during the school holidays because many of the scorers at clubs are children, though it is open to any scorer wanting to brush up on their knowledge of the game.

Further details are available from John Fielden (0161 643 4328).


AUSSIE all-rounder Ken Skewes, a right-handed batsman and left-arm seam bowler, is the new professional at Middleton.

Ashton are still without a paid man, though they are on the verge of capturing a target from the West Indies.

It has been a winter of frustration for Ashton who had re-signed last season’s Sri Lankan professional Ian Daniel only for him to cancel when his wife became pregnant.

And lightning struck twice when Aussie replacement Kelby Pickering also called off the trip when his wife became pregnant.

They also had two other Aussies lined up only for them to instead join clubs in Hertfordshire and Ireland.