The Cumbria Cricket League (CCL) and the Eden Valley Cricket League (EVCL) merger was confirmed at a meeting of the EVCL on Monday, February 10 where clubs decided unanimously to press ahead with the plan for the 2025 season.

This followed a decision made at a similar meeting of the CCL when the vote to progress was 11 to four in favour. 

Under the proposal, the two leagues will retain a degree of autonomy with the CCL responsible for the top of the new structure, the premier division and division ones north and south, while the EVCL will principally look after Eden Valley divisions one and two and its own Sunday league which has two divisions. 

The premier division of the new structure will be countywide but, beneath that, the various divisions will be geographically friendly, meaning that clubs will have less travel on match days. 

Officials of the two leagues will now get together for a further meeting to discuss any anomalies that might arise in advance of the new cricket season (beginning late April) and it is anticipated that fixtures for the new structure will be announced towards the end of this month, if not sooner. 

Chairman of the Eden Valley Cricket League Mike Mitchelson, of Lanercost Cricket Club, welcomed the changes saying they would be beneficial to the longer-term development of cricket in the county. 

“This is an integration of the two leagues, not a takeover,” He said.

“We will be stronger working together. It will take a little time to settle and for clubs to find their true level, but the situation can be reviewed at the end of the first season and moving forward to see if there are any improvements we can make to further meet the needs of clubs and players. 

“In the fullness of time, I hope that clubs who may have moved away from the CCL and the EVCL will realise that this is the league and structure to which they should belong for a wide variety of reasons. 

“And we will always encourage clubs to join our league as it grows and gains momentum.” 

Story submitted by Keith Richardson of Keswick Cricket Club and on behalf of the Eden Valley Cricket League.