A NEW ‘eastern conference’ will come under the umbrella of the Hunters York & District Senior Cricket League in 2012, writes Steve Carroll.

Part of the league’s plans to form a number of ‘conference sections’, the 22-team ladder has been kick-started following an approach by member clubs of the East Riding Independent League.

Including some teams from existing York & District Senior League clubs, the eastern conference will consist of two divisions.

A number of the current York League clubs had expressed an interest in switching their second teams to the conference which will operate on a tightly zoned basis in order to reduce travel distances, time and costs. The clubs who have chosen to play in the conference next season will be given an opportunity to decide whether the two divisions are split on playing ability, with promotion and relegation, or split geographically.

They will be regarded as associate members of the York & District League and will be represented on the management committee. However, they will not have the right to be promoted to the Senior League – only able to join if they fulfil the required criteria and are officially elected at the league’s annual general meeting.

Conversely, existing York League clubs cannot be relegated to the conference but can opt to migrate into it if they feel they would be better operating in a less demanding league environment.

These current clubs will retain the option to return to the senior section if and when they feel they are again able to function at a senior level.

League managing secretary Albert Pattison, pictured above, stressed the sole intention of the league when proposing a ‘conference’ was to provide an avenue for a number of the league’s own clubs to operate in a less stringent environment and ensure that such clubs did not fold.

Plans are also afoot to form a ‘northern conference’ and the league is putting together a working party to look at the concerns of travel distances, time and cost.