The officers of the League would like to wish all its bowlers, club officials and their families a very happy and healthy Christmas – and a 2024 season full of jack touchers!

All the early signs are positive for next year with new team applications already confirmed, others in the pipeline and one sponsorship deal renewed.

More than 150 people are booked in for the League’s annual presentation dinner on Saturday 20^th January, at the West Stand @ TUFC, which will be followed by the Mid Shropshire AGM on Tuesday 23^rd January at the Sir John Bayley Club.

And by then 2022 division one champions Horsehay will know if their bid to take the vacant 14^th place in the Shropshire Premier League next year has been successful . . .

The League’s champions of 2022 have been confirmed as sole bidder to take the vacant place in the Shropshire’s Premier League next year.

Horsehay are the only club that applied to succeed Chester Road as the 14^th team in the 12-a-side Premier for the 2024 season following the Whitchurch side’s resignation.

League officers have spent the week since news of the application broke considering all possible scenarios, but the ‘Hoss’ – who finished fifth in division one this year – won’t know their Premier fate until January.

“We have had one application of interest for the 2024 season from Horsehay BC,” confirmed Premier chief Rob Burroughs, who is also Mid Shropshire’s competition and minute secretary.

And he explained the timeline for the application by saying: “As agreed at the October meeting (of the Premier League), the current 13 clubs will firstly vote at the AGM (on January 16) if they want to have 13 or 14 clubs for the 2024 season.

“If they vote to have 14, then Horsehay will be the 14th club.”

The Mid Shropshire’s AGM follows on Tuesday 23^rd January but the League’s divisional structure will not be settled – as is usual – until the March executive meeting.

PICTURED is Andy Garbett receiving the first division trophy for 2022 champions Horsehay

A total of 5 applications to enter new teams in the League in 2024 have been received already.

That was the positive news reported to delegates at this week’s December management committee meeting, the bulk of which was spent discussing the rule change proposal to go forward to the AGM on Tuesday 24^th January – and with plenty of hoped-for feedback.

The applications are for the Monday divisions (2), the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division (2) and the one-year-old Afternoon Division (1).

“I can’t remember receiving so many applications for new teams by this time of year in all of my 12 season tenure as general secretary – and that’s before most clubs have had a chance to officially consider the emails I have sent them in order to try and recruit more teams for next year,” said Malcolm Fletcher.

Plans for an extra pre-season meeting were announced to explain any rule changes made at the AGM, bowler conduct, safety issues and safeguarding to new team captains and club officials in general.

Treasurer Celia Miles reported all annual club accounts had been settled on time and that an early draft of the 2023 balances show the League is set to make a £361 loss on the season.

Prize money to be paid out at the annual presentation dinner on Saturday 20th January at the West Stand @ TUFC is up £1,100 on the 2022 season so match fees – currently 50p per bowler in all divisions – might have to be adjusted for next season.

And finally, the minutes of the November executive meeting are now available to read under Admin.

The positive signs are growing for the League and its bowlers that that they can look forward with confidence to 2024.

Details of a number of applications from teams to join the League next season will be revealed at the December management committee meeting on Tuesday the 5^th at Wellington’s Sir John Bayley Club (7.30pm start).

There could also be completely revamped rules in place for the next campaign now that the league’s officers have carried out a full review of the rules, which will be explained in depth at the meeting.

Plans for the annual presentation dinner in January will also be progressed at what is set to be the last meeting before the AGM, to be held three days after the prize-giving function on Tuesday, January 23.

DECEMBER AGENDA

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2  Apologies & In Memoria

3  Minutes of the November Executive Committee Meeting

4  Matters arising

5  General Secretary’s report

6  Correspondence

7  Fixture Secretary’s report – early team applications

8  Rule Change Proposals for 2024

(a) from member clubs (attached – needed to be seconded)

(b) from League officers(attached)

9  Treasurer’s report

10 Competition Secretary’s report (2023 entries list, attached)

11 Annual Presentation Dinner – on Saturday 20^th January at West Stand @ TUFC

12 Plans for 2024 pre-season meeting (s)

13 County matters – news from latest BCGBA management meeting?

14 Any Other Business

15 President / chairman to close the meeting

VITAL REMINDERS

Payment for all extra bookings at the annual presentation dinner MUST BE PAID FOR BY THIS MEETING (£26 adults, £15 juniors). This meeting is also the last chance to pre-order wine at the discounted price of £15 a bottle, to be paid for on the night.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: TBC, probably AGM on Tuesday 23^rd January at SJBC, 7pm

The League’s clubs have been urged to sign up to look into one way of getting funding for their improvement projects – starting as soon as next week.

“Crowd Funding is the Sport England route to match funding grants now,” explained County Development Officer Pauline Wilson, who is encouraging club officials to look into it.

“There’s another chance to attend a free online course for your club – so why not sit at home and listen to how it works? You just sign up using the link (Crowdfunder Sports: Train the Trainer).

“The next ‘Crowdfund Sport: Train the Trainer’ event will be held on Tuesday 5^th December  12 noon to 1.30pm) and would be really beneficial for anyone involved in club development and funding.”

The session will incorporate live discussion, video content and activities including an introduction to Crowd Funding, how to plan a project and running a campaign.

Meanwhile, Bridgnorth BC is setting the example for other Mid Shropshire clubs to follow when it comes to raising funds during the closed season.

They have signed up for ‘easyfundraisng’ and benefited to the tune of £157 this year, with £30 of that in the past month.

The sport’s governing body, the British Crown Green Bowling Association, has partnered with easyfundraising, which turns everyday online shopping into free donations for clubs.

“You first need to register your club for free (at easyfundraising.org.uk/crown-green-bowls) and then encourage your members and their families to sign up to support your club,” said a spokesperson.

“When you are ready to shop online, first go to the easyfundraising website or app, and then you can shop as normal at over 6,000 retailers. The retailer will then send a percentage donation to your club at no extra cost on a regular basis.”

Pauline Wilson added: “It costs the club and the individual nothing – it really is a no brainer and couldn’t be easier!”

The League have been asked by Sinclair club officials to make the local bowling world aware of the funeral details of Lynn Irvine, following her sad passing earlier this month.

Her funeral service will be on Thursday 7th December at Telford Crematorium, starting at 2.30pm.

Lynn played for Trench Ladies first when she took up bowling in the early 1980s and then GKN Sankey, where she also worked.

Then when Sankeys’ Social Club finished she move to play for Sinclair – and did so until last season. Lynn also worked at the National Sports Centre at Lilleshall.

The wife of former Wellington Town and Telford United goalkeeper Bobby, Lynn played throughout the 2022 season.

She won 11 out of 18 games for Sinclair in the Shrewsbury Ladies League – including two 21-1 wins – and played twice for the club in Mid Shropshire divison three and 17 times for the C team in the fourth division.

Sinclair secretary Kevin Hall said: “She was a long standing member of Sinclair and will be sadly missed.”

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.”

The latest meeting of the county executive heard that Tanners Shropshire League chairman Andy Jones is the new vice-chairman of the SCGBA, succeeding our own League chairman Sean Round, who resigned earlier this year.

There is about £28,000 in the bank over the 2 county accounts. Honoraria to rise by 6.7 per cent next year and, with such a healthy balance, grants to clubs look set to re-start in 2024 to give something back.

DBS checks will be going back to face to face next year, in February / March – so MSBL clubs are urged to check on the expiry dates of the 3 year certificates of their safeguarding officers and coaches etc.

County Registrar had dealt with 278 new registrations so far this year – 265 in total in 2022.

Dennis UK is sponsoring the best kept green competition again next season and will increase their sponsorship again. They are also looking to promote pre season and post season greens seminar in the county.

Sadly, Pauline Wilson is standing down as County Development Officer (but is to carry on coaching!). Her brainchild, Roll Up Shropshire, saw 27 affiliated clubs hold 44 sessions. There were 314 people that attended and 65 of these have signed up as club members. This recruitment drive will be done every one or two years.

There are 2 newly qualified referees and nominations are sought for County Deputy President in 2024 . . .

The 2024 SCGBA Competition dates are to be finalised at the January Executive Meeting, but the Dave Card Memorial Rosebowl and Centenary Mixed Pairs competitions will be run together again next season.

There will be changes to all three inter league competitions, whether it be in the format or the number of players in each team.

Besides that, there are several rule changes for the 2024 AGM, but mostly tidying up.

Greens outside the clubs who entered will be used for the County & Shropshire Cups.

With regards to the sport’s governing body, the BCGBA is down to just 3 officers as others have resigned, there’s only 1 sponsor left and the  county chairman said the situation was an “absolute mess”.

There are still issues with the BCGBA open certificates an d there have been discussions about respect from players towards officials at county matches.

The 2024 BCGBA Competition dates are to be finalised at the November Meeting this coming weekend.

Staffordshire are withdrawing from the Junior County Championship, meaning just 3 counties are left. These will arrange to play amongst themselves . . . all being well!

Ironically, given that news, Reclaim Tax are to sponsor the Shropshire Junior team as well as the Seniors in 2024.

Two member clubs want to see changes to the points earned from fixtures in the Friday and Monday divisions next year.

Proposals from Hadley USC and Charlton were outlined to delegates at the League’s November executive meeting this week.

Hadley want to see 4 points – rather than 3 – awarded to teams who win away on aggregate while their near neighbours are proposing that the points scoring system used in the Dennis Lewis Thursday Division is introduced in the Monday divisions in 2024.

Both proposals will need to be seconded at next month’s meeting in order to go before the AGM, which is now set for Tuesday 23rd January, using both function rooms at the Bayley Club.

A formal application to join the Dennis Lewis division has been received from Meole Brace and League officers are soon to start moves to try and boost the number of teams in the Friday divisions, find at least 1 more side for the Afternoon Division and try to re-launch the Saturday Division (which boasts a unique format of four singles matches and two doubles).

Colin Rudrum has confirmed he will be continuing for one more year as chair of the disciplinary committee but nominations are still sought for the role of vice-chairman – to succeed Steve Wall – and County Deputy President.

Honoraria will rise by 6.7 per cent – in line with CPI for September – and more than 150 bookings have been received for the League’s Annual Presentation Dinner on Saturday 20^th January at West Stand @ TUFC.

Member clubs will be warned at the League’s next meeting that they are facing a potentially marathon AGM in January.

Two rule change proposals from Charlton and Hadley USC will be outlined to delegates at tomorrow’s (Tuesday the 7^th)  November executive meeting at Wellington’s Sir John Bayley Club (7.30pm).

They will require a seconder at next month’s executive meeting before going before the 2024 annual meeting, but the league’s officers are in the process of conducting a thorough review of all rules which will need approving at the AGM.

TOMORROW’S AGENDA

1  Chairman’s remarks to open the meeting

2  Apologies & In Memoria

3  Minutes of the October Executive Committee Meeting

4  Matters arising

5  General Secretary’s report

6  Correspondence

7  Treasurer’s report  – including honoraria proposal for 2024 AGM (based on CPI for Sept)

8  Competition Secretary’s 2023 report

9  Fixture Secretary’s report

10 Dave Ellis Shield review & venue for 2024

11 Rule Change Proposals for 2024

12 Annual Presentation Dinner – on Saturday 20^th January at West Stand @ TUFC

13 County matters –report from executive meeting on 9^th October at Bridgewater

14 Any Other Business

15 President / chairman to close the meeting

FAILURE to send a representative to this meeting will result in a £5 fine

VITAL REMINDERS

COMPLETED ANNUAL DINNER FORMS should be returned at this meeting. Bookings for EXTRA PLACES (and there are no limits), with their menu choices, are needed at this meeting too. Clubs then need to pay for extra bookings, by cheque made payable to the Mid Shropshire Bowling League, by the December meeting at the latest.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING: Executive on Tuesday the 5^th December at SJBC at 7.30pm