CLUBS facing an uncertain future due to a player shortage have been urged to turn to the Durham Cricket Board (DCB) for help before deciding whether to carry on or not.
At the annual meeting of the Teesdale Cricket Development Group (TCDG), it was noted with some sadness that Lands CC had resigned from the Darlington and District League and folded due to lack of numbers.
However, Darren Brown, DCB development officer, said the first he had heard of Lands’ plight was after the club’s demise.
“Nobody from the cricket club approached us for any support,” he said.
“We could have sat down and helped to try to do things.
“Our job is to support clubs and get clubs to play cricket on a weekend.”
Carrol Simpson, Lands’ representative on the TCDG, explained that despite a number of meetings, only seven players could commit for the coming cricket season.
Mr Simpson asked whether the DCB could have helped the club find four or five senior players so that fixtures could be fulfilled, Mr Brown said no.
Mr Simpson said the decision to fold the club was taken in time to allow the Darlington and District Cricket League to alter its fixture lists for the season, which starts on April 21.
As the result of Lands’ withdrawal, Middleton-in-Teesdale, who were relegated at the end of last season, have been reinstated in the A division.
Mr Simpson said the club – which holds a 999-year lease on its ground – would continue to exist and facilities would be maintained.
“We are still going to do the wicket.
“After Easter, the square will be reseeded,” he said.
The roadside verge outside the ground will be kept tidy and the plan is to cut the outfield once, or perhaps twice during the summer.
Middleton-in-Teesdale’s Anthony Coatsworth asked whether friendly games or social cricket could be organised to keep the ground in use.
The experience of Etherley CC was cited as proof clubs could come back after a period of closure. However, Mr Simpson said compared to Etherley, one of the difficulties for Lands was that players were drawn from a number of far-flung communities and did not have a town or sizeable village to call on.
Mr Brown suggested embracing the ECB All Stars scheme, which aims to get children aged five to eight years and their parents involved in cricket.
Mr Coatsworth added: “You have got to start with the young ones. You never know who might pitch up as far as parents are concerned.”
