Chairman's Address 2025 AGM

Annual General Meeting Report – Martin Kay – January 2025

It is my pleasure to welcome all League representatives, guests and sponsors to this year’s Annual general meeting here at Milnrow cricket club and a particularly warm welcome to Stalybridge Cricket Club to their first meeting.

As we move into our tenth year I look back with pride over our successes yes, we have had our moments, but overall things have been a privilege to be a part off and I hope that all in here today have been touched with positives of a new way of working.

I remember standing in front of a lively crowd at Old Trafford when the Directors of the time produced the original prospectus, and we discussed the contents and the potential. I remember distinctly the chance to provide the Country’s newest Premier League here in Greater Manchester together with the commitment to try and provide a haven for cricket that could be free at source with no league fees and to commit to a co-operative where prospective sponsors and supporters would give the opportunity to support all activity.

Eighteen months ago we became the newest ECB Premier League and this last year (2024) we have not collected any finance from Clubs, I hope this continues as we go forward but I need to caveat that the world of sport and grants is forever changing so we need to keep a watchful eye on grant movements. It is imperative though that all clubs pay their Lancashire Cricket Foundation fees in a timely manner to help our cash flow.

It gives me great pleasure that the Treasurer will again be promoting a stable position for 2024 which comes on the back of good planning but also having good control of spending. All that whilst we have seen growth in women and girls, extended activity in the inter league set up, a substantial amount of new junior trophies and of course everyone received new stumps prior to season 2024.

I thank all our past and current sponsors for their support for this fledgling organisation and we welcome this morning two of our newest Andy from Middleton Associates and Ed and Matt from the PP group. We look forward to a long lasting and fruitful relationship.

Into last season and its is so pleasing to note that the all the Leagues and competitions were as competitive as ever and I would like to thank all hosts of cup finals and representative games for their support. Without the help we could not deliver. A mention here to Prestwich Cricket Club who were joint winners of the Prestigious Lancashire Knockout and to Woodhouses who battled their way to the semi-finals of the Village Knockout.

A major impact on how the League operates is the role of the Executive committee and this year I can share an organisational plan that has been worked up over the past few months. It is vital that we look to succession planning as people stand down from roles and new people come into the League to help. To that end I would like to thank the Directors who are standing down this year, Alan Naylor, Mike Hall and Bill Elkin together with the work of Richard Hepworth. You have all been outstanding in your contributions and I hope you enjoy your rest; you have earned it. I would also like to welcome aboard formally our new Directors of Gary Kershaw, Olivia Kay, Guy Haynes and Denver Thornton, I look forward to working closely with you.

I note the work of the communications group and the umpires working group for their due diligence through 2024. Both groups have lots to deal with, but it is encouraging that the umpires have recorded a slight increase in numbers through 2024 and it was so pleasing to see all fixtures out well before Christmas allowing clubs to plan early for the 2025 season. Thank you so much for your help.

The work around EDI continues with Ian Pickles and that area of work continues to grow and in response Ian has called in help to support this increase.

 Women and girls continue to blossom under the stewardship of Olivia, and we see this area as the next real growth area. Olivia will present to the meeting later this morning.

At the back end of 2024 we lost one of our longtime friends and biggest supporters Bob Hinchliffe, a sad time for many of us. We have been wondering how to honour the memory of Bob and the Directors are pleased to announce that from this year onwards the League Premiership Trophy will be renamed as the Robert Hinchliffe Trophy. By announcing this it ensures that Bob's memory lives on through this great league.

This year it pleases me that on the behalf of the Directors I can announce that we have appointed an official charity for the year and that is Ball Tampering Allowed which is the creation of Paul Ferriday a cancer sufferer. Paul holds no barriers when discussing his story and how he would like to reach out to a wider audience. This coming year Paul and his charity will be at a number of keynote events as we look to support his wishes. Paul is here with us this morning to deliver a talk into his charity and he is supported by Dexter Fitton, one of his Trustees.

Headline priorities for 2025

This will be outlined as part of submitting the operational chart named Structure and tasks 2025.

The final comments are to thank all with interest in the success of the Greater Manchester Cricket League – An ECB Premier Cricket League. From the ECB, the LCF, Directors of the League, members of all the operational groups, individual clubs and club committees and the vast army of volunteers. We are all making a significant difference to cricket within the GMCL banners and we all should be very proud of what is achieved.

Together we are stronger…...

Martin Kay. Chair. Greater Manchester Cricket League. An ECB Premier Cricket League.