A LEADING league official is wondering whether there is a trend towards clubs leasing grounds and having a more comfortable life than clubs who tend their own grounds.

Colin White, chairman of the Dales Council League, in light of the demise of Craven League stalwarts Haworth Road Meths, said during the league’s annual meeting at Pudsey Congs: “Clubs that rent grounds don’t have to do any work.

“I am concerned that we are moving towards clubs that rent grounds rather than owned grounds.

“They (those that rent grounds) don’t have any responsibility and just turn up and play games.

“Villages in Bradford and Leeds used to have cricket clubs that were owned by churches, schools and factories, which was grass-roots cricket, but these grounds are disappearing fast.

“This is not a criticism of anyone or any organisation, but maybe it is time for mosques, temples, churches and other organisations to get involved in the infrastructure to create facilities, such as at the Karmand Centre, because the park pitches have gone.”

However, league executive committee member Dan Jackson said: “The ECB have an initiative over the next one or two years to get younger people involved in running clubs.”

Yeadon III, who were at the annual meeting, were elected as provisional members, but Jer Lane III, who did not attend, will be asked why they failed to turn up before a decision is made on their acceptance or otherwise.

League president Geoff Cope, the former Yorkshire and England off-spinner, said in his annual address: “Two little words - thank you.

“Thank you to the members of the league’s executive committee, but particularly Ron Mackenzie, Ken Firth, Neil Bonnington, Colin White and Maria Vasudev, for all of their hard work and to all of the clubs too.

“Thank you to the groundsmen and tea ladies, thank you to the two or three people who run clubs for the benefit of many others, and we now could have 48 teams in four divisions.

“We are grass-roots cricket. I started in this league and I will never forget it.

“But now the negative, as there were more disciplinaries than last year. This is a good league but let us play cricket in the right way.”

Firth is stepping down as the league’s fixture secretary after 14 years, but he will have an assistant in Vasudev for a transitional period.

Mark Shaw has been voted in as league safeguarding officer, while Reg Hamilton was voted in as a club representative.

Sarah Butterfield has stepped down from the league executive.

League treasurer Bonnington reported a surplus of £2,190.67 on the year ending September 30 after a deficit of £6,177.21 last year.

The difference can be accounted for by a vast decrease in the money spent on trophies (down £4,017), an increase in ball sales (up £1,505) and fines (up £345).

Matches next season will start on April 19 and finish on September 13.