Pyramid proposal accepted - but only just!
by Gwyn Jones, 13th November 2001

The Derbyshire County Cricket League's Rules Revision Meeting was held at the County Ground on Monday 12 November. The most important item on the agenda was the proposal of the Derbyshire Cricket Board to introduce a Pyramid structure for Derbyshire.

The pyramid stucture would incorporate the Derbyshire & Cheshire League, the Yorkshire & Derbyshire League, the Burton & District League and the Derbyshire County League. Such a structure will offer a channel of promotion from all the Leagues to the Derbyshire Premier League. Also included in the proposal is the decision to split the Derbyshire County League into two sections, North and South, in the Divisions below Division 2.

Clubs were invited to vote for or against the proposal or to abstain. Votes were allocated to each club on the basis of one vote for each team registered with the League, but excluding a team in the Premier League. The voting was desperately close. When the count was taken after the clubs had voted 69 were for and 71 against, with two clubs holding two votes each abstaining. Then a count was taken of the Executive Members present, all of whom were entitled to vote according to League rules, and the final count was 79 for and 78 against, a majority of one. So, the decision had been taken to adopt the Pyramid which will be introduced in Season 2003 and the revised structure will be determined at the end of Season 2002. It may have been significant that three clubs failed to attend, Brackensfield Darley Abbey , Clowne Town , and Old Park with a combined voting power of six votes.

The early part of the meeting was concerned with rule changes proposed by the League Executive and the clubs. The League Executive proposals were all carried and related to inflation and a general tidying up of rules where there had been some confusion. Amongst these is a change in the fine incurred for non attendance at a General Meeting which was increased from £10 to £20. Umpires will receive £19 each or £21 in Division 1 or Silver Link matches. There was welcome change in the rule on Knock-out Cups which provides that in a replayed cup game the result will be decided on faster run-rate where the side batting second has received at least half of its scheduled overs when rain or bad light intervenes.

The proposals from the clubs had a mixed reception. Alvaston & Boulton 's proposal was carried. This stated "Clubs are allowed two inward transfers from Derbyshire County Cricket League clubs during the playing season. Players transferred are not allowed to come from the same club"

South Wingfield submitted two proposed changes, both of which were rejected. One asked that professionals be eligible to play in Divisions 1, 2, 3A, 3B, and 3C only. The other sought to change the points system in a way which would eliminate the draw.

Butterley United 's proposal concerned games where no umpires had been appointed and there was disagreement over the fitness of the ground conditions. They asked that when a League umpire is called to inspect the conditions, "such a person should be appointed by the League only before attending and have no connection with either club involved" . This was rejected.