NRCA Update – 16.12.2021

Dear Norfolk Club Contacts,

I’m writing to provide an update on the next steps needed to establish a single Saturday league for recreational cricket in Norfolk following the very strong vote in favour provided by clubs in March 2021.  In particular, I’m following up the letter sent to clubs and posted on social media at the end of October and which explained, reluctantly and regretfully, the reasons for deferring the start date for the implementation of the new Saturday league until the 2023 season.

Since my earlier communication, the steering group (comprising representatives of the NCA, NCL and Norfolk Cricket Board and others) has continued to meet. We are pleased that we have people to fill the roles of Vice-Chair, Administrator, Safeguarding Officer, Treasurer and the two Competitions Organisers.  However, we are still seeking people to take up the following roles the filling of which is essential for the new League to operate.

Chair

The key outstanding vacancy is for the Chair of the new League. This is obviously a pivotal role on the League Committee and also as Chair of the steering group in the period until the first AGM. For the first two years the appointment will be made by the Norfolk Cricket Board from applications made in accordance with the arrangements set out in the next paragraph, but after that can continue with the endorsement of member clubs. A “person specification” and role description is attached.

We believe it important to fill this role first so that this is known to those who may be interested in filling the remaining Committee vacancies. We therefore need applications to be sent to our Administrator, Jane Morton, at nrca@norfolkcricket.co.uk by Friday, 21^st January at the latest. Interviews will then be held in the week commencing 31^st January and a decision announced and publicised on or around the following Monday, 7^th February.

Other “unfilled” Committee roles

These are:

• Registration Officer
• Discipline Officer
• Loans Officer
• Website Manager

Mini role descriptions for these roles are attached below. The list also includes roles for Divisional Managers; however, they will not be members of the League’s Executive Committee. Similarly, the new League will need to have someone to advise on its Rules, as and when required.

Whilst there remains a significant amount of work to be done in the next 18 months to get the league up and running, becoming a member of the Committee will provide an opportunity for anyone with a keen interest in local recreational cricket, to contribute pro-actively in both the immediate and longer term development of the new league to create the best possible cricket offering to all clubs and players.

The steering group do recognise that the role of Registration Officer may seem quite challenging, at least in the period up to the start of the 2023 season as the ECB’s new registration requirements are addressed.   We will therefore be in touch with both the NCA and NCL with a view to investigating how the work that they are able to do in 2022 can mitigate the impact for the new League.

The steering group urge everyone who reads this to consider whether they can fill any of these roles or, failing that, encourage others associated with your club to do so. And the steering group encourage volunteers to come forward for all the roles.

Regarding these vacancies, expressions of interest can of course be made straightaway to Jane Morton at her email address above. However, the closing date for these vacancies will be Friday, 4^th March.

The steering group realise these deadlines are tight.  However, it is important for clubs to know the arrangements for the 2023 season before the start of the 2022 season and therefore for there to be certainty by then that there will be people willing to serve on the new League Committee. Indeed, unless a Chair is appointed in the New Year one cannot see how the plans even for 2023 could be progressed

It is also important that the NCA and NCL know whether the new League will go ahead in 2023 in order to help with their future planning.

In the October communication I referred to the need to review the range of amendments that have been proposed to the Constitution, Rules and associated documents of the new league. In this respect, it is proposed that as soon as a Chair is appointed a small group (led by the appointed Chair) will look at the more fundamental proposals and circulate conclusions. We would anticipate this group’s work being completed by about April 2022.

Lastly, many of you will be aware that the Board is currently being reconstituted and that some of those involved in developing the proposals for the NRCA are no longer involved or will not be from January. This is therefore an opportunity to review the level of Board representation on the steering group.

If you have any questions about this letter, then please contact Jane and she will respond / forward them as appropriate. (nrca@norfolkcricket.co.uk)

Keir Hounsome
Chair, Norfolk Cricket Board