Aire-Wharfe League: Rodley and Follifoot await vote nervously

In the Aire-Wharfe Cricket League, there is an annual vote by all member clubs, revealed at their AGM, as to whether to retain the two lowest ranked clubs – or eject them.  

For 2024, the two clubs at risk of being without a cricket league to join for 2025 are Rodley and Follifoot.

It is a strange ruling I can’t think happens in any other cricket league I know. Having talked to clubs over years, no-one seems to like it and yet this odd Eurovision-style popularity contest goes on.  

In case you think I’m trash-talking the league, I should say that their Secretary Mark was very helpful in untangling the nuances for me and pointed out that there have been no approaches from clubs to suggest amending / removing the re-election requirement.  

I find that curious. Either clubs are happy with the status quo, don’t want to be seen to rock the boat or don’t think any motion for change would pass.

In fact, since the 2022 AGM, Aire-Wharfe clubs no longer vote on rule amendments. Clubs can put forward suggestions by 30 September and the Management Committee reveals the rules by 31 January.

I guess rule 2.5 (the re-election table) is there as a safeguard to maintain the quality of the league in some way but it smacks of punishing those clubs that might need the most support.  

The clubs selected for re-election are decided like this: Points are awarded to first and second eleven teams based on their results over three years, along with grounds and facilities being graded and factoring in discipline.  

It seems like a lot of effort and a perpetual axe hanging over some clubs, particularly as it’s often the same ones in jeopardy – given the emphasis on performance. Otley or Collingham & Linton, to pluck a couple of names, are never going to be at risk.

Being up for re-election is hardly likely to encourage player recruitment for the next season either. A tough sell any way you look at it.

In the case of Follifoot (below), they conceded three matches in the 2024 season due to not enough players. A situation many clubs can find themselves in and not something you can magically fix.

With a player pool of about 30, a Bank Holiday, cup games for both first and second teams on the same weekend and the impact of a wedding all hit availability at a small village club. 

As for Rodley, they’ve only been in the league two years (having moved from the Bradford Premier League) and along with a strong junior section, they’ve worked at improving drainage at the ground and built outdoor nets.  

Of course, it might not come to pass for either of them.  

The rules state that both clubs will be re-elected if they receive 19 or more votes (“gain the support of over half the Clubs entitled to vote”). I imagine the vote is secret but with so much at stake, it ought not to be.  

What will clubs vote on? The quality of the facilities, how the pitch plays, the travel distance, any niggle between the clubs…it would only be human nature.  

If Rodley and Follifoot were ejected, they would follow St Chad’s Broomfield who swapped the Aire-Wharfe League for the Pontefract & District Cricket League.  

Rodley might ask to go back to the Bradford Premier League and I guess Follifoot would eye Yorkshire Premier League North. More stuff for volunteers to negotiate.  

It seems counter-intuitive to me when it’s hard enough for a grassroots cricket club that there’s even the possibility of two more being given extra scenarios to plan for.  

Aire-Wharfe clubs tell me that the re-election process creates stress during a season; not least because there are fewer leagues now so alternatives might be limited.

With any luck, neither Rodley nor Follifoot will be booted out of the league – by virtue of the fact that they’ve done nothing wrong. As for the ruling, there’s been no move to change it for 2025.

With thanks to Mark /Caught Light Photography for the images of Follifoot CC.