The planned recruitment drive for 2024 has started!
All 26 member clubs have now received an official email from the MSBL asking them to consider a couple of things over the winter . . .
1 The League aims to re-launch the Saturday Division next year.
It had a unique format of 4 singles and 2 doubles, so a minimum of just 4 bowlers are needed to make up a team. It was a 2pm start to fixtures in the last season it was played in 2019. There were 8 clubs that competed that year . . . before Covid intervened
2 Just 1 more side is the minimum goal for the Afternoon Division that was launched this year.
Matches are 6-a-side and start at 1.30pm. They are played predominantly on Thursday afternoons, finishing before August – but there is the odd Tuesday too to avoid clashing with the Mid Shropshire Senior Citizens League’s main competitions from late July onwards.
League general secretary Malcolm Fletcher said: “I appeal to all clubs, on behalf of the officers, to give these two requests serious consideration over the closed season as a final decision on entries and re-launches etc does not have to be taken until the March executive meeting.”
In addition, the League has contacted specific clubs to stress that it is eager to see the top 3 divisions on Friday nights return to as near to 14 teams per division as possible next year.
“This year we have been 5 short of that number – so that is the ideal number of new recruits we are aiming for,” said Malcolm.
“And the reason for this email is to ask your club to at least consider fielding an extra 10-a-side team in division 3 in 2024.
“Green availability is the reason your club has been identified as a possibility but, obviously, membership numbers are the key factor.
“But your club would not have to make a final decision on making a formal application until the March executive meeting, so there is time to give this request full consideration at club committee level and attempt to sign a few more bowlers to achieve the goal.”