Bamford booted out

CRICKET: BAMFORD Fieldhouse face an uncertain future after they were thrown out of the Versasteel Saddleworth and District Cricket League last night.

Clubs voted 10-4 in favour of ejecting the reigning champions at the end of the season.

The league's executive committee called the special general meeting for what they said were Bamford's continued flouting of the rules. Each club delegate, including Bamford’s, was given a vote.

Bamford chairman Andy Barton was not present at Uppermill CC, but said: "This is absolutely unbelievable. I will speak to my solicitor and see what avenues we can pursue. This is not over by any means."

The club’s representative, Barry Gilligan, was denied the chance to read a statement on behalf of the club before the vote. One delegate said he had already been given a mandate by his club over which way to vote.

The letter said Bamford didn’t accept it had a “history of wilfully disregarding the league rules” or that the standards of discipline shown by the club were lower than any other league team”, or sufficient to warrant expulsion.

It added that the club’s "positive contribution to the league" included helping other clubs and the use of their Hollin Lane ground for representative matches.

After the vote, Mr Gilligan appealed to the league to allow Bamford to remain until the end of next season, to allow tim to find another league in which to play. The request was refused.

He later claimed there had been an "agenda" against Bamford and that the incident that led to the vote —the first team's no-show on the reserve day of the first round of this season's Tanner Cup, due to them playing an ECB Cup-tie instead – had been used as "vehicle" to expel them.

Bamford had initially received a three-year ban from the league’s cup competitions, reduced to 12 months and the fine halved to £250 on appeal.

Mr Gilligan went on: "Jobs are at stake here. Between 10 to 15 people work at the club, from the groundsman and bar staff to the scorers.”

Bamford is the first club in the league’s 115-year history to be forced out. Chairman Eddie Bayliss said it was a "sad day" for the league but they would consider an application from Bamford to return in the future.