Hinckley Town resign from county league
HINCKLEY Town CC have resigned from the Everards Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket League just two weeks into the 2022 season.
The club was unable to fulfil its second fixture of the season because not enough players were available and at a meeting of club officials last week the decision was taken to withdraw its senior team from competitive fixtures.
Back in November 2021, the club had a major restructure designed to make it a real community-based club. It set its sights on becoming one of the premier community cricket development centres in Leicestershire and added an all-weather wicket to bolster its quality.
The club told the Hinckley Times this week that although there would be no competitive club cricket at senior level, plans to build up junior cricket at the club were still in place.
The club treasurer and secretary Barry Orton said the club had no option other than resigning from the Everards League when it became clear that they did not have enough players to play regularly.
“After having to concede our second match it became clear we weren’t going to have enough players for our third game,” he said.
“We didn’t want to embarrass the club and it wouldn’t be fair to opposing teams to turn up without enough players. There comes a point when you have to admit defeat.”
In a letter sent to the league informing officials of the club’s decision to resign, he said: “I shall still be here after my 38 years service to this club and to keep it going despite this being the saddest day for me personally in all of that time.”
He stressed that the club’s junior section was thriving under the watchful eye of Ex-Hinckley premier league player and level three coach, Martin Ray, with teams playing at All Stars & Dynamos, U13s boys & girls, with plans in the future for U15 and U17 sides.
Giles Simon, who returned to the club to captain the first XI, said the club would definitely continue to focus on building the junior side and the development of junior cricketers.
He said: “It is obviously disappointing we have had to pull out of the league. It has not been for the want of trying and incredible efforts by a number of individuals that have looked to revitalise the club. Barry Orton was absolutely at the heart of the efforts with his incredible dedication and drive.
“It was best we tried rather than not at all.”
If you are interested in getting involved, contact the club at development@htcc. co.uk.