Clubs' Bulletin no 13 of 2024 - 5 November
2025 fixture planning – action required
The 2025 fixtures have been generated based on the information provided by clubs in their submissions and are currently going through an extensive checking process and coding up to upload to Play-Cricket. We are currently on schedule to release these to attendees at the AGM and upload to Play-Cricket. A reminder of the timelines we are working to:
The Pontefract League have been informed of the numbers that they need use to put their clubs who share grounds in the fixture matrix, however we are awaiting confirmation of their League structure and cannot give further information at this stage.
The Sunday cup dates have been reviewed and aligned where possible with the Bradford League and Heavy Woollen/Crowther Cup and of course the ECB National competitions to try and ease fixture congestion. We do have a couple of bottlenecks, due to our T20 being played on Sunday's (the Bradford League play theirs midweek), but these should be at a point where fewer clubs remain and we will have to deal with any issues on an individual basis. The Sunday Cup Dates should be available at the AGM, if not before.
Sunday cup entriess. Confirmation of entrants to the 40 over competitions are as shown below. Please let me know at competitions.manager@ycspl.co.uk, if there are any errors in this information before the cup draws are held at the AGM. Any withdrawal after this time will be subject to the usual penalities.
The T20 Plate entry will be finalised by the weekend.
Cup finals day venues. We had 30 applications to host cup finals days next season. Thank you to everyone for this significant interest. The Premier Section and Senior Section are currently reviewing these and will make proposals to the LEB for ratification at the next LEB meeting.
Annual General meeting – action required
Please ensure that your club is represented ay the League AGM (Wednesday 13 November; 7.00pm at Shaw Lane Sports Club, Barnsley)
The AGM information has been updated to include the reports from the Equity & Diversity Group and the Women’s & Girls League, and the Cup/T20 seeding proposal.
Please note also that the draw for the YCSPL cup/T20 competitions will take place at the conclusion of the AGM.
Ball orders – action required
To order balls for 2025, clubs will need to use the following links:
Readers balls and equipment – https://kookaburra.formstack.com/forms/south_yorkshire_cricket_league
League presentation dinner & awards night – action required
Please bring to the attention of those attending:
The start time is 6.45 for 7.15 – please arrive promptly as there is a lot to get through on the night.
The dress code for the evening is smart casual – no trainers or sportswear, and only headgear worn for religious reasons.
The bar at the venue is cash and card, but please bring some cash for the raffle, which is cash only!
Payment for places at the dinner should be made by clubs, preferably by BACS, on receipt of our invoice, which will be issued in the week after the dinner – payment cannot be taken by the treasurer on the night.
In addition:
‘In memory’ – we remember those who have passed away in the last 12 months – if we would like us to mention someone from your club, please contact Roger Pugh to check that they are on our list
Due to the larger take-up of places by some clubs, we will reduce the required number of places to be paid for by each club by 50%. This will mean that the minimum charge to all clubs – irrespective of whether the places are taken – will be as follows. If the club's first team is in divisions:
Premier to Two – a minimum of three places to be paid for
Three to Six – a minimum of two places to be paid for
Seven to Nine – a minimum of one place to be paid for
Overseas players – essential information
For those clubs planning on engaging an overseas player in 2025, it is essential to be aware of the latest guidance from ECB, which includes important information on who is a professional and who is an amateur. The YCSPL will strictly enforce these definitions.
We will be reviewing all League advice on overseas players, including possibly the ‘ordinarily resident’ criteria, in the coming weeks.
If in any doubt ask! Compliance.manager@ycspl.co.uk
Scoring courses – for information
Steve Ward is currently working on a programme of scorer training for scorers across the whole of the League. If your club requires any specific training, or advice, on all aspects of scoring, including DLS, please contact Steve on 07919 241148 or steveward62@hotmail.com
Umpire recruitment – reminder of action required
In the last bulletin, we asked clubs for information about club activity undertaken:
• how many new or potential new umpires have been recruited by your club
• what activity has been undertaken to recruit (for example, former players and others approached, advertising/Social Media activity, and any other activity undertaken)
• any feedback from those approached who do not want to umpire (reasons given, etc)
The deadline for information to be submitted was the end of October, and very few returns have been received. We will shortly be assessing what clubs have done, in connection with deciding on levies to be paid, and if there has been no return, we will assume that no activity has been undertaken. Please provide this information to Roger Pugh by the extended deadline of 22 November.
