16 November 2021
Good Evening,
2022 Senior Team Entries
Thanks to all for registering their Senior Weekend Teams, we are just clarifying a few entries as regards their placement for 2022 and then we will
- issue the final divisional structure for 2022 season (Saturday & Sunday)
- request entries for the Senior Cup competitions
- request entries for the 1st XI and 2nd XI GMCL20 competitions
We are aiming for fixtures to be delivered before Christmas.
IMPORTANT - If you have any unavailable dates for fixtures please let us know immediately by mailing webadmin@gtrmcrcricket.co.uk
(Information already held from Ashton, A&T, Lakeside and Worsley)
GMCL Management Structure
The Greater Manchester Cricket League has been in existence since 2015 and during that time has continually looked to develop and improve its offering to its member clubs through a process of listening and an understanding of the dynamics of local league cricket and the changing lifestyles of the players and those volunteers who run our cricket clubs. This has been achieved in part by being flexible in its approach to the rules, regulations and playing conditions of the League.
The GMCL is managed by an elected Board of Directors who have by design operated very much autonomously of the member clubs and in the main have set a direction that has been well received by the member clubs and the Board considers that it has had some successes along the way.
The Board has however recognised the need to review the current operating structure and has produced a report which will be issued to all clubs in due course which sets out the creation of a Cricket Committee with representatives from the different tiers in the league and also representative of the people involved in the game. At this time we will be asking for volunteers to specific roles to support these changes and we hope that people will come forward to help run the league and be representative of all those involved.
ECB Messaging Update
The latest newsletter from the the ECB is linked here please take a look.
It addresses the call for evidence by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket and asks for contributions from everyone in the game to share your views.
Coach Education Webinar
Over the next few weeks, Ross Atkinson will be running a series of webinar presentations for clubs and coaches to help them understand the changes that have taken place within ECB coach education over the past few months, and how they can take the relevant steps on their coaching journeys. The webinars will take place over Zoom.
In addition to the presentation, Ross will also be hosting a Q&A at the end of each session for clubs and coaches to ask questions about anything related in to coach education and coach development.
To book a place on a webinar, please complete the form . A zoom link will be emailed before each session
If you require any further information please contact Ross direct ratkinson@lancashirecricket.co.uk
First Aid Courses
A reminder that earlier this year the ECB gave everyone an extension to their first aid qualification till 30th September 2021 providing that your original qualification had expired since the 1st March 2020.
Please note that an online first aid course will not be accepted by the ECB.
You must do a face-to-face course to meet your minimum operating requirements as a coach. In order to meet the ECB’s standard, you must take a minimum of a 3-hour emergency first aid course.
LCF Guidance Notes
Situations Vacant at Clubs
Wythenshawe CC are seeking a coach for the 2022 season starting in January - see details here
Uppermill CC are seeking a Steward = see details here
Trials for the Lancashire Girls CAG squads
The LCF are holding trials for the Lancashire Girls CAG squads on the below dates at Old Trafford Indoor Centre for both U15s and U18s
U15s
Sunday 28th November : 3pm-5pm
Sunday 5th December : 3pm-5pm
U18s
Sunday 12th December : 3pm-5pm
Sunday 19th December : 3pm-5pm
If you feel there is anybody at your club who would be suitable for these trials, please could you fill out the linked form and return asap to: trials@lancashirecricket.co.uk
U11 & U13 squads are being finalised based on those players who were part of County Age Group Squads in 2021, those that took part in Inter league Cricket for girls and are subsequently being invited to attend the winter programme and those who are attending our Lancashire Cricket Development Centres.
Cricket Development Officer
A vacancy has arisen at LCF for a Cricket Development Officer (Oldham / Rochdale)
If you know anyone who is suitable and would like to apply, feel free to forward on the attached information. Job Description Job Advert
The Lancashire Cricket Foundation are pleased to provide details of the ECB County Grants Fund.
Launched in September 2021, the County Grants Fund aims to support affiliated Cricket Clubs to deliver sustainable projects in the following three areas:
· Creating Welcoming Environments
· Providing Enhanced Facilities and Playing Opportunities for Women’s and Girls’ Cricket and / or Disability Cricket
· Tackling Climate Change
To access the guidance notes in full - including the eligibility criteria for each of the themes above - please click here. Clubs can apply for between £1,000 and £10,000.
Prior to applying, clubs are strongly encouraged to complete our Expression of Interest form this will help us to determine whether your project is eligible, your readiness to proceed and the wider benefits to cricket in Lancashire. The EOI will also enable us to support you with a full application at the relevant time, or to signpost you to other funding opportunities as appropriate.
To assist clubs in identifying where they may need to improve their facilities and to demonstrate why a project is needed, ECB have also produced a ‘Creating Welcoming Environments’ resource. The CWE guide includes some useful self-assessment documents, which can be found below:
Creating Welcoming Environments Guide
ECB Facilities Review Checklist
ECB Facilities Survey
HOW WILL THE COUNTY GRANTS FUND BE MANAGED IN LANCASHIRE?
Eligibility and Prioritisation – The County Grants Fund is an ECB-funded scheme and as such priority will be given to clubs actively engaged in ECB programmes - All Stars, Dynamos, Junior Cricket, Women’s and Girls’ Cricket and / or Disability Cricket - this is clearly communicated within the guidance notes. The ‘tackling climate change’ theme is open to all affiliated clubs. Projects that have been thoroughly thought out, with wider club consultation, partnership funding and use of the ECB Creating Welcoming Environments resource, will be looked on more favourably.
Additionally, clubs will need to achieve compliance on the Safe Hands Management System (SHMS) to demonstrate that basic safeguarding standards have been met.
Non-Clubmark clubs will be asked for evidence that the Club Safeguarding Officer and other volunteers working in roles with children have the necessary safeguarding and vetting checks in place.
Affiliation - Clubs must have paid their LCF Affiliation Fee for 2021 (or must do so prior to an application proceeding) - these are collected in the main via your league.
Club Audit - Clubs must have returned their Club Audit for 2021 (or must do so prior to an application proceeding).
Awards Panel – The annual budget for the CGF is set nationally by ECB, however the scheme will be administered locally, with County Boards given the autonomy to make decisions about which (eligible) projects they wish to support. In Lancashire we have appointed an ‘Awards Panel’ who will meet monthly to review all applications.
Scale of support – The County Grants Fund has been launched by ECB as a priority for supporting the recreational game and to deliver on the ambitions of its Inspiring Generations Strategy. As such there are very positive levels of investment attributed to the fund. Within Lancashire’s annual budget it may not be possible however to support every application, with some projects deferred to the next funding window or signposted to other sources of funding as appropriate.
NB – The County Grants Fund is not a direct replacement for the ECB Small Grants Scheme. The project themes are very different with potentially higher levels of investment and as such there may be a greater degree of interaction between club and County Board to ensure the aspirations of both organisations are supported.
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications are now open via the ECB IMS system and the process is explained in the ECB guidance notes. Clubs are encouraged to complete the Expression of Interest form first.
Lancashire aim to respond to any expressions of interest within 7 days. ‘Eligible projects’ from affiliated clubs will then be signposted to the full application process.
Full applications will be reviewed by the Awards Panel at the first available opportunity. The Panel will meet at monthly intervals and will aim to communicate a decision within 30 days of receiving the application – where the next Panel meeting sits outside of this window, clubs will be notified of when they can expect a decision.
The amount of grant offered for successful applications may differ from that requested by the club. Applications will be referred to clubs if this is the case.
There will be an appeal process for clubs should they wish to contest the Panel’s decision. Appeals will be heard by group independent of the Awards Panel.
Funds applied for cannot be used to cover professional fees and applications will not be accepted from bid writers (support is provided free of charge to clubs by the LCF Cricket Development Officers - see below).
NEXT STEPS
Familiarise yourself with the guidance notes
Use the ‘Creating Welcoming Environments’ resource, survey and checklist to help develop your project plan.
Identify who from your club will lead on your project – you will need two contacts both of which must be officers of your club with at least one being Chair or Treasurer.
Applicants must use individual email accounts and not generic email accounts to register on IMS.
All signatories MUST be an Officer of the Cricket Club.
When you feel you have a project, please use the Expression of Interest form
CONTACT For further information please contact your local Cricket Development Officer:
Please stay safe everyone
Best wishes
GMCL Directors
