A ROUND-UP FROM THE AGM WILL BE THE NEXT POST ON THE WEBSITE BUT, AS A TASTER, HERE IS THE:
General secretary Malcolm Fletcher’s report to the 2023 AGM
“Good evening everyone! I hope you will forgive me, but this is going to be quite a lengthy and detailed report – and I suppose that’s a reflection of the fact that, after two horrible years, we thankfully got back to some kind of normal in 2022.
After surviving Covid, member clubs, their bowlers and the League are now facing up to a cost of living crisis . . . but, if we all pull together, we WILL get through this too.
So let’s be positive, both as we reflect on last season and also look forward to what 2023 might have in store for us.
And there were plenty of achievements to be proud of last year. The highlight was surely the 90th anniversary celebration day at St Georges – a real success, especially for winner David Wolverson of Much Wenlock!
That came in June, after normal league action had resumed. A couple of late team withdrawals did not exactly help new fixture secretary John Palmer, but he coped admirably and is a great addition to the team.
Sadly the Saturday Division had to be put into cold storage, but most of the League’s competitions were played during a summer that saw us cope with two heatwaves and the sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II and former League chairman Gerald Penny.
We launched a re-vamped website, welcomed two new sponsors in Local Print Pros and Shropshire Verti-drain & Turf Services Ltd, hosted the Shropshire veterans inter-league championship at Wrockwardine Wood and were proud winners of the county junior inter-league crown again, with selectors Brenda Slingo and Derek Killen at the helm.
Looking back at the League season, I feel I must pay tribute to first division winners Horsehay as the founder members ended an 85-year wait to get their hands on the trophy again. There were notable divisional doubles for Bridgnorth and Wrockwardine Wood.
Our team knockouts produced three cracking finals and Shrewsbury village club Hadnall were rewarded for entering the Harris Cup for the first time by going all the way and winning it!
It was a special year for Sinclair as they hosted the County Senior Merit finals and also for Trench as they had the honour of being voted the best green in Telford, with greenkeeper and club secretary Dave Evans receiving a Shropshire Unsung Hero award for his unstinting efforts.
The League’s sincere thanks go to all clubs who hosted events for us last year, one which saw League President Mike Potter serve for a second time as County President. Well done Mike, Mid Shropshire is so proud of you.
I hope we showed that pride at the successfully re-launched annual presentation dinner earlier this month. The popularity of this event continues to amaze me and it was great to see so many new people there celebrating and enjoying themselves. The evening rounded off a near normal campaign – but it wouldn’t have been half as good without the efforts of the real organiser, my wife Margaret. Thank you Marg.
And so to 2023 – well the League’s planning for the year started last summer when we consulted with clubs about trying to return to 12-a-side fixtures, especially in the Friday divisions. The survey showed that the majority of them did not think now was the right time – so we remain at 10-a-side . . . but delivering the dozen is still our ultimate aim so that clubs are encouraged to try and grow their memberships and income.
Our plans include a new Monday Merit to be voted on later tonight, a more streamlined management of the League with far fewer meetings during the main playing season and hopefully a new six-a-side Afternoon Division,
We already have the Moslon Coors sponsorship money for this year, have our other two backers on board and we will soon have talks with June Lewis about boosting the prize money for the League’s junior set-up.
That division should be back up to 14 teams if the Castlefields application is accepted at the vital March executive meeting and, as for other new teams this season, the early signs are positive.
The League has been contacted about 2 possible new Friday teams (Hadley USC B and Wrockwardine Wood B) and 1 on a Monday (Horsehay D) – and I sincerely hope that, as recruitment boosts from things like the Big Bowls Weekends work through, there will be more to come.
However many teams compete this year, we want to encourage them to put on food after their home matches. We need to reinvigorate the social and friendship side of the sport – and clubs need to do all they can to boost income. It will come down to club choice, but it’s an issue that needs serious consideration.
And clubs can rest assured that this League will do everything in its power to help them get through another difficult spell by keeping fees as low as possible and continuing to offer grants to help them to try and grow.
We remain here to serve and to try and help. Thank you.”