Premier League is way forward

Peter Skuse: good idea

Cricket
SURELY the time has come to give Premier League cricket a go.

A properly structured competition which encompasses Lancashire or Greater Manchester would benefit the game.

Other counties have taken the courageous step and it has worked. How about here?

I’ve watched the Saddleworth and District Cricket League for 10 years and it has become far too predictable.

Bamford Fieldhouse, containing their half-a-dozen or so ex-professionals, are on course to win their third straight championship. The way they are going, Andy Barton can dish out the beers by the end of August.

The other 12 teams are playing for second place. It’s a situation, that suits neither Bamford nor any of their rivals.

Tradition can be a good thing, but on occasions the best policy is to be bold.

Put the cream of Lancashire or the Greater Manchester club cricket scene in one pot, followed by conferences in a pyramid system, or divide the county into four sections.

Competitive cricket for all, that’s what we want.

Mark Stafford, president of Shaw CC, would welcome dialogue on the subject.

Speaking personally and not on behalf of his club, he said: “We can’t afford to do nothing. If there is an opportunity to talk about it, then great.

“We need something to take us forward from where we, because I’m worried about local league cricket.

“We need a consistent and sustainable league, which may mean cutting back at both ends of the ability spectrum.

“At the moment Bamford Fieldhouse win everything, but is that good for the league as a whole? I don’t think so.

“There is also the fear that if Bamford leave the league, the likes of Saddleworth, Heyside and Greenfield may follow suit, then what would happen to the rest us.”

Peter Skuse has spent a decade at Saddleworth as captain and professional.

He reckons the idea of a Greater Manchester Premier League could well get off the ground.

Skuse (pictured inset) said: “I can see a lot of stumbling blocks and it would have to be thought out very carefully.

“I’m all for taking cricket forward, but it has to have Lancashire Cricket Board approval. It would be sad to see other leagues break up.

“If four or five leagues were involved in a Greater Manchester Premier League, then I can see it working, but to include all of Lancashire would create problems.

“I know a couple of guys who play for Darwen in the Northern League and when they have an away game they set off at 11am and sometimes don’t get home until 10pm.”

It’s fine playing against the likes of Paddy McKeown and Simon Marshall week in week out, but it’s nice to beat them once in a while.

Come on. Let’s turn the talk into concrete proposals.

BAMFORD Fieldhouse will host this season’s Tanner Cup final on Sunday, August 16.

Uppermill captain Matt Taylor called “heads” but the coin came down tails.