U-turn on cards for Micklehurst

CRICKET: FOLLOWING a poor season in the Drakes Huddersfield Frank Platt Championship, Micklehurst could be heading back to the Armstrongs Office Furniture Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The Castle Lane outfit finished bottom of the table, 16 points behind nearest side Hall Bower.

Micklehurst have confirmed a special general meeting at the club on September 27 will have only one item on the agenda: the possibility of leaving the Huddersfield set-up, rather than staying and dropping down a division.

There is no official offer on the table yet from the Saddleworth League, but Micklehurst officials are hopeful of a return, depending on opinions shared at the meeting.

Chairman Steve Delvin said: “In the Frank Platt Championship we travelled 30-odd miles to some of the matches.

“It became too much for players and members. It also had a big impact on our support.

“People stopped watching us because of the expense and inconvenience of travelling such distances.

“Obviously results were not good either, which is another reason people were not coming to watch us very often.

“The special general meeting gives us a chance to discuss the prospect of leaving our current surroundings and, potentially, go back to the Saddleworth League.

“I must stress that there has not been any kind of offer from Saddleworth officials.”

Wherever Micklehurst play their cricket next term, it will be a new-look side.

Delvin explained: “Steve Irons and Mark Chandler have both decided to retire.

“There are one or two players who may be joining the club, but we will have a better idea in the next month or two as to who is going to play for us next season.”