HAPPY NEW YEAR

Date: 1st January 2014

Lots to look forward to in 2014

We wish a happy, peaceful and successful New Year to all our 41 Clubs, officials, members, players and supporters.

We thank you for the overwhelming support throughout 2103 and will continue doing our utmost to provide competitive cricket at an appropriate level for all those that wish to play the game.

The following is an adaption of the Chairman's Report to the AGM - printed below on behalf of the Management Committee

"In 2013 the management committee have been supported by a particularly excellent Cricket Committee with membership from the Highfield, Leigh, Formby, Ainsdale, Sutton and Wavertree clubs and we look forward to an equally active contribution from the six new clubs who, on rotation, will form the Cricket Committee in 2014.

Just before the season started Med Imaging Ltd came on board as our new sponsor having agreed the Competition’s largest ever sponsorship deal over three years and we thank them, not just for their financial support but for backing the Competition at a particularly difficult time.

Now to the cricket in 2013 and it is appropriate to recognise the achievements of two of our Premier Division sides for their performances on the Regional and National Stage. Ormskirk reached the final stages of the ECB National Club t20 before losing out in a bowl out in the final to Wimbledon. Northern had another excellent year lifting the Lancashire KO Trophy at Old Trafford after success against Bamford Fieldhouse, again in a bowl out, to top off their 2013 Premier Division title and the win over Ormskirk in the final of the Ray Digman Trophy. New Brighton were beaten finalists in the Cheshire KO Cup. Highlights from the League programme saw Birkenhead Park and Rainhill reach the Premier Division and Sefton Park and Wavertree promoted to Division 1. Congratulations to the 2^nd X1’s at Bootle, Birkenhead Park and St Helens Town on winning their Divisions and also to Sefton Park 3rds, Merseyside Sports and Cultural Club, Southport and Birkdale 4ths, Lytham 3rds and Northop Hall 3rds on their League successes. New Brighton won the Chester Cup and Sefton Park claimed the new format Embee Trophy.

The Junior and Colts cricket programme continues to expand and in January 32 boys benefitted from 10 weeks coaching through the Player Development Programme. In 2014 36 youngsters from 27 clubs are set to embark on the programme. The representative match programme also continues to grow with 11 games played at U12, U14 and U17 level, including a highly successful three match series against the Isle of Man Colts. Thank you to Wallasey, Liverpool and Alder for hosting the matches and to Andy Barlow for coaching the team. Sadly the U21 game against the MCC was rained off but it remains in the calendar. Expenditure on Junior/Colts cricket continues to rise and is one of the largest areas of spending by the Committee as can be seen in the accounts. Senior Representative Cricket returns to the Competition in 2014 with our successful application to join the Readers Lancashire Inter-League KO. The L&DCC Colts will compete in the Readers Inter League round-robin tournament with the 12's and 14's once again playing in the LCB managed competitions.

The Competition is littered with individual achievements and we pick out just a few. Congratulations to Simon Kerrigan on his England Test Debut and his recent inclusion in the England Lions squad to tour Sri Lanka. There were five Outstanding Service to Cricket Award (OSCA) winners from our league this year (5 out of the 9 County Awards) and well done to Dave Jones (MCUA), Jonny Firth, Andy Barlow, Allan Green and Chris Weston. We currently have four girls in the England Women’s Development Programme, Rachel Dickinson, Ellie Threlkeld, Erin and Lucy Staunton-Turner and Jimmy Dixon continues to represent the England Deaf Team. Over 40 boys and girls from the Competition earned County honours with NE Wales, Cheshire and Lancashire in 2013 with the Lancashire U15, U16, U17 and U19 captains, James Seward, John Dotters, Matt Critchley and Matthew McKiernan all coming from our League.

We have players to be proud of. We have clubs to be proud of. We have a League to be proud of.

Med Imaging L&DCC Management Committee

1 January 2014