A brighter future for the Premier League
by Colston Crawford, 26th January 2003

When Langley Mill announced they were to withdraw from the Derbyshire Premier League, there were a few knowing nods. But the lessons learned could signpost a brighter future for the league, as Colston Crawford reports.

The Derbyshire Premier Cricket League has lost a club for the second successive season, with the withdrawal of Langley Mill United. But, while saddened by the loss, league chairman Clive Harris (pictured) says it only convinces him that the Premier League, run on an England & Wales Cricket Board blueprint, is working.

Langley Mill's decision to pull out follows that of Heanor Town last year, while a third club, Stainsby Hall, withdrew from County League Division One last season after being relegated from the Premier League the season before. In each case, the clubs have lost a clutch of leading players all at once, and have effectively paid the price for relying on bought-in talent rather than supplementing local players with one or two additions.

It is a blow for the long-serving members at Langley Mill, a club with a great tradition, having won the Derbyshire Building Society Cup only two seasons ago and finished fifth in the league last season. But the brutal truth is that few tears will be shed around the league for a club many believe has been ready to implode for several seasons.

Indeed, there was some doubt about the Millers' continued participation last season, with officials admitting they were not certain whether several leading players would still be with them when the campaign started. This time, two, Adrian Marsh and England Under-19 star Sam Patel, offered an early indication that they would not be staying. In Patel's case, his likely destination is Sandiacre Town, where other members of his family, including his father Ron, are already playing.

"Over a long period, Langley Mill have been founded on paying out money and that's not a very good base for a cricket club," said Harris. "It happened to Heanor before them and Stainsby once they were relegated but I think the fact that three clubs have now been found wanting proves that the Premier League is working. It's not true to say that we don't care about teams falling by the wayside but we are convinced this won't happen to the organised clubs."

Those, he means, are the ones with strong second teams behind their first teams and organised youth set-ups, as well as a commitment to continuous improvement of their facilities. Harris is convinced that the 11 remaining Premier League sides all fit the bill, as well as at least half-a-dozen more currently playing in the County League.

"I am confident that there are more than enough clubs who could fill the gap Langley Mill have left, clubs with an excellent infrastructure," he said. "We have now had four seasons of the Premier League. I umpire games every week and I think the standards, overall, have improved. I'm convinced it's the right way forward."

The consolation for Langley Mill, like Heanor and Stainsby, is that they have not disappeared altogether. The Millers will drop down the County League and build again without the paid players and, presumably, with lessons sorely learned.

Colston Crawford reports for the Derby Evening Telegraph where this article first appeared. For more local cricket from Derbyshire's premier local newspaper, click here .