Continuing success, but a challenging year ahead
by Alan Rowley / Ian Walker, 23rd February 2006

The Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Border Youth League are looking forward to a challenging season with a number of new innovations being tried for the first time. New entrants Duffield (under 12s) and Pilsley (under 11s and under 12s), together with additional teams entered by existing clubs, brings the 2006 total to 78 teams at four age levels.

The major increase is again in Kwik cricket with an additional eight teams, giving four divisions of eight.  The benefit of the Kwik boom is shown at Under 12 level this season where we have an increase of four teams. The under 13’s and under 15’s remain the same as 2005 albeit with some changes to clubs.

One exciting innovation new for 2006 is the League's entry into the electronic age with a new site on the Play Cricket network. The League's web site, which can be found at http://ndbycl.play-cricket.com, already has all the fixtures, together with League officials and sponsors. Results and league tables will be updated weekly.

League Secretary Ian Walker told 'the follow on': "All in all an exciting season would appear to be in prospect  with the success of the web site dependant on clubs providing the web site administrator with match results. For the first time in 2006, the League will be publishing a 36 page handbook in place of the traditional fixture cards. This will give more scope to the sponsors advert requirements and give us a better all-round information publication at a small increase in cost."

"The League has also attracted two new major sponsors, HSBC and Brandon Tool Hire, who have both agreed two year deals with an option to add. MacDonalds are also staying with us for a further year. Representative matches will again be played at under 15 and under 13 age levels."

'the follow on' would like to wish chairman Brian Cox, vice chairman John Baldwin, president Fred Hickton, Ian Walker and the rest of the committee all the very best of luck for the new season. I'm sure all site readers will appreciate the hours of unpaid work undertaken for the benefit of our young cricketers.