Moss tells clubs to cut their cloths

7:51pm Tuesday 2nd December 2008

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Keith Moss, president of the JCT600 Bradford League, has warned clubs to cut their financial cloth in 2009.

Speaking at the league’s annual dinner at the Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford, he said: “Clubs will not be immune from the current economic climate and it will be a difficult year.

“May I suggest that prudence is to be exercised in the coming months. Overheads and cash flow will be critical and clubs should show all the disciplines of a well-run business.

“Cut your cloth accordingly where finances are concerned and survival for us all is absolutely imperative.”

Moss, who was mindful of Esholt’s decision to pull out of the Bradford League this winter because of the annual strain of finding enough cash to sustain their club, also brought up the problem of ill-discipline.

He said: “It was all too often an item in our board meetings and it is all so unnecessary.

"People should play within the spirit of cricket, and the possible introduction of yellow cards by the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) is not a very progressive step.”

However, Moss also praised the efforts of the league’s groundsmen and their helpers who worked so hard to get matches plated in another poor summer’s weather.

The umpires, under the auspices of Glyn Pearson, got a pat on the back as well.

The main award – the Sir Leonard Hutton Trophy – went to Pudsey St Lawrence stalwart Tony Moore.

He said: “I got the shock of my life when I realised I had won it and I feel very honoured and very humble.

“When Keith started his speech about the winner, I looked across the tables and thought he might be talking about Bob Speight or Dave Worrall of Cleckheaton or Michael Kaye of Manningham Mills.” Photographer Mike Baker, who has done a magnificent job on the league’s website in tandem with Alan Birkinshaw, won the league’s Unsung Hero award.

Just to emphasise the point, 764 of Baker’s photos taken during the 2008 season were on a rolling display at the dinner on big screens either side of the main table.

Top divisional all-rounders were Gulsheraz Ahmed (Esholt, Division One) and Kashif Naveed (Gomersal, Division Two).