League searching for new clubs to fill vacancies in 2027 season

THE Aire-Wharfe League are inviting clubs to join them for the 2027 season, writes Bill Marshall.

After the withdrawal of Colton at the end of the 2024 season and Beckwithshaw at the end of last season, there are two vacancies.

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For the forthcoming season, there will only be 11 clubs in both Division One (second tier) and Division Two (third tier), with the spare clubs playing each other in an inter-divisional match with points to count for both divisions.

Ideally, the league wants to operate with 36 clubs, but there are only 34 at the moment.

The Aire-Wharfe League statement reads: “The Airedale & Wharfedale Senior Cricket League (‘the league’) will see thirty-four (34) clubs participating in the league’s competitions in 2026 – this is two (2) fewer clubs than the maximum of thirty-six (36) clubs that is permitted under current league rules.

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“The management committee is therefore inviting clubs from outside the league to apply to join the league for the 2027 season to fill the current two vacancies.

"Interested clubs should apply in writing to the honorary secretary not later than May 31, 2026, via secretary@aire-wharfecricket.org.uk."

It added: “Note that, if an interested club currently participates in another cricket league, the management committee will only consider an application after the club has secured written permission from its existing league.”

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Clubs must have the permission of their present league before entering any negotiations with another league.

Similarly, any member league who wishes to negotiate with a club from another member league must ensure that permission has been received in writing prior to the negotiations.

Clubs resigning from their current league must give notice in writing by June 30 of the year prior to which they intend to move to a new league.

The only exception to this is where a league folds or dissolves itself.

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Any clubs applying will then be inspected by members of the management committee as to their fitness to be accepted.

If a club is successful in applying to join the Aire-Wharfe League, it is expected that that club will be required to achieve the replacement ECB Clubmark accreditation in 2027 - the same criteria that applies for existing member clubs.

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