Central Yorkshire League

posted by John Winn

The Central Yorkshire League will have three new clubs for the 2013 season. Wakefield based Azaad, previously of the Huddersfield Central, Thornhill, also HCL and Rodley who resigned from the Dales Council midway through last season make up the trio. Azaad and Thornhill will start in Div 2 and Rodley in Div 3. Fixtures for this league start a week earlier than for most other Yorkshire Leagues, on April 13th.

There are two departures from the CYL, New Farnley who will begin life in the Bradford League Div 2 with a trip to Yeadon on April 20th. The other club leaving the YCL is Moorlands CC who have joined the Huddersfield League and will test the water at Armitage Bridge, 8 weeks today.

The incident that led to Rodley's mid season exit from the Dales Council saw two clubs expelled from the league. I note that one of these, Apperley Bridge have been accepted into the Bradford Mutual (Group B), what has become of the other expellee, Hyde Park, I know not. Their players are suspended from participation in the Dales Council until 2015. Their expulsion followed a poor disciplinary record dating back to 2008 and was a decision of the league executive. Apperley Bridge, however were thrown out  as the result of a vote (25 to 5) by the clubs. 'Bridge now find themselves in their third league in five years having previously been in the Bradford Central. Their players may sign for other Dales Council clubs.  Full details of this pretty sordid stuff are available on the web where the minutes of the Dales Council are recorded and the expulsions were also reported in some detail by The Telegraph and Argus.

All these shenanigans leaves the Dales Council with a three division structure for 2013, with a 12, 12, 8 distribution. A new club Bradford Moor will play in Div B, they will ground share with Halifax Direct. Last year's champions Leeds Sikh were, as at January 25th. looking for a new ground.

Finally for what it is worth the Wetherby League website is still showing Rufforth CC with two teams for the new season. See my posting of  the second inst for the details of Rufforth's travails. Their inclusion in the Division Six fixtures seems optimistic given that at the club's AGM last month the decision was taken to fold the second XI.