Rules-1-4

1.4. GMCL Requirements for joining or adding teams to the league

1.4.1. GMCL is open to Clubs in and around Greater Manchester

1.4.1.1. Joining GMCL

1.4.1.1.1. The Board will accept new teams meeting our requirements from 

1.4.1.1.1.1. Current member clubs, 

1.4.1.1.1.2. From a new member club or 

1.4.1.1.1.3. From clubs in other leagues for our Sunday competition including Third XI and Fourth XI teams 

1.4.1.1.1.4. From clubs in other senior leagues adding junior teams to GMCL competition.

1.4.1.1.2. Please note that the Saturday competition will close when there are 12 teams in each division.

1.4.2. Grounds and Facilities Requirement

1.4.2.1. Joining GMCL - Verification of Available Ground

1.4.2.1.1. All teams registering for the competition must have a ground available that has changing facilities, tea-room facilities and a suitably cut and managed square which meet the league’s minimum standard and, if they do not own their own ground, or have a long term lease on a ground have an agreement in place at October 31st prior to the season that the ground is available, and paid for, for the season ahead, this must be submitted to the league with an application to join.

1.4.2.1.2. The Board do not supply a venue for any club or team - If you require assistance with locating a venue, please e-mail cricketdirector@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk , we do not guarantee finding a ground for any team.

1.4.3. Grounds - The venue standard

1.4.3.1. All grounds must have changing facilities, tea-room facilities and a suitably cut and managed square

1.4.4. Grounds - GMCL requirement from clubs

1.4.4.1. The League has a Standard Requirement Document for Grounds and Facilities.

1.4.4.1.1. This document is distributed to clubs separately but is an Appendix to and forms part of these Rules.

1.4.4.2. GMCL has set out the procedure for setting Ground Standards as Gold, Silver and Bronze.

1.4.4.2.1. This will form part of the Ground Accreditation Scheme of the League and sets the protocol for improvements at every venue

1.4.4.2.2. The standard of venue will ultimately determine the club’s status in the league and the tier the club will be permitted to play at.

1.4.4.2.3. The document covers all requirements so here we only cover the basics required.

1.4.4.3. Joining GMCL - Standard of Ground

1.4.4.3.1. GMCL has a Ground and Facilities standard requirements document

1.4.4.3.1.1. This document will be used to assess all clubs wishing to join the league and the tier at which a club can be placed is partially dependent on the standard of ground set by the document.

1.4.5. Barriers to Acceptance

1.4.5.1. Joining GMCL - Ground Suitability

1.4.5.1.1. The Board has the right to refuse applications where the club is unable to verify the availability of a ground and facilities for the duration of the season for which application has been submitted (that includes lease, ownership or rental agreements and confirmation that the financial requirements have been met).

1.4.5.1.2. The Board will refuse entry where the ground does not meet our required minimum standard

1.4.5.2. Joining GMCL - Good Standing

1.4.5.2.1. GMCL has the right to refuse applications, where clubs, their administrators or their coaching staff are banned from competing by County or National Governing Bodies or have debts or unpaid charges involving other clubs, other leagues or cricket Governing Bodies.

1.4.5.3. Joining GMCL - Large movement of players

1.4.5.3.1. GMCL will refuse applications where players, administrators or coaching staff have moved in numbers from an existing club, from any league, without that club’s agreement and where that movement puts the participation or the existence of that club in jeopardy.

1.4.6. Joining GMCL - Registering interest or asking questions

1.4.6.1. Clubs are requested to register interest or request further information in advance of any application

1.4.6.1.1. by e-mail to CricketDirector@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk 

1.4.6.1.2. GMCL should be notified of your interest or intention to join at the earliest possible date to allow the league to prepare the structure for the season ahead.

1.4.7. Joining GMCL - Relevant Dates for Registrations

1.4.7.1. Joining GMCL - 1st relevant date: 31st March, 12 months prior to the joining season

1.4.7.1.1. for example by 31st March 2024 for season 2025.

1.4.7.1.2. If the applying club wishes the Board to consider placing 1st & 2nd XI higher than our lowest tier then formal application should be sent by e-mail headed “New 1st XI / 2nd XI application” to CricketDirector@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk  by the first relevant date.

1.4.7.1.3. In order to place clubs in our structure, GMCL previously used our tables on all old leagues and comparative performance but this is now superseded by our comparison of the current league and knowledge of clubs in GMCL competition and taking performance and standard of ground & facilities.

1.4.7.1.4. The Board cannot guarantee any calculated placement where to make that placement would, in the Board’s view, inappropriately disrupt the current structure.

1.4.7.1.5. The Board requires that before any club makes a formal application they must have notified their current league of their application to be considered for membership of GMCL.

1.4.7.2. Joining GMCL - 2nd relevant date: 30th June in season prior to joining

1.4.7.2.1. Usual final date for resignation from current league under League Cricket Conference agreement and we cannot stop applications from any club by this date,

1.4.7.2.2. This may be 31st July in some leagues

1.4.7.2.3. Resignation by this date, if accepted, will leave the club free to move for the season following

1.4.7.2.4. Whilst acceptance of new applications will be given in advance, GMCL will require evidence of your resignation before formally accepting any membership application in writing

1.4.7.3. Joining GMCL - 3rd relevant date: 31st October prior to season

1.4.7.3.1. Formal application to add a 1st XI and/or 2nd XI where placement based on past performance is not required to take a place in our lowest tier should be sent by e-mail headed “New 1st XI / 2nd XI application” to cricketdirector@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk 

1.4.7.3.2. Formal applications to enter a Third XI or Fourth XI in the GMCL Sunday Competition should be sent by e-mail headed “New Third XI Team / Fourth XI Team” to cricketdirector@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk 

1.4.7.4. Joining GMCL - 4th relevant date: 31st December prior to season:

1.4.7.4.1. For junior teams, applications should be sent by e-mail headed “New Junior Team” juniors@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk

1.4.7.4.2. This date is subject to movement to take into account the annual fluctuations in the availability of players

1.4.8. Joining GMCL - Clubs stranded after the movement of other clubs in their current league

1.4.8.1. Joining GMCL - Clubs left stranded can be accepted into GMCL without hindrance,

1.4.8.1.1 club officials should e-mail CricketDirector@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk Subject: “Application to join league for “XXXX season” at the earliest possible opportunity and provide details of how your team(s) have been left without a competition, to allow the Executive to make preparations for the divisional structure for the season ahead.

1.4.9. Joining GMCL - Procedure for an Application to join the League

1.4.9.1. A club should contact The Board by e-mail as soon as they are ready to go ahead and make an application.

1.4.9.1.1. The club, via a senior club official cc’d with two other officials should e-mail CricketDirector@GtrMcrCricket.co.uk Subject: “URGENT Formal Application to join GMCL”

1.4.9.1.2. The league will acknowledge within 48 hours

1.4.9.1.3. The Board will consider the application within 48 hours of the acknowledgement and contact the applicant to make arrangements to meet.

1.4.10. Joining GMCL - Deposits Required from New Clubs

1.4.10.1. At the Board’s discretion, deposits must be paid by a club upon acceptance into the league, as follows

1.4.10.1.1. Clubs new to GMCL £500

1.4.10.1.2. 3rd XIs from clubs playing in other leagues applying to join GMCL for the first time £250

1.4.10.2. Club default

1.4.10.2.1. Where there is any default in failing to play fixtures then the deposit will be used to reimburse the expenditure of any club suffering loss due to the default.

1.4.10.2.2. Total withdrawal of a team by any club (not limited to those above) after preparation of the season’s fixtures and prior to the end of that season's fixtures will result in a £250 penalty in addition to any other penalty imposed.

1.4.10.3. Refunding the Deposit

1.4.10.3.1. Any remaining deposit after deductions will be refunded at the completion of the first season.