Ten New Teams for 2024

The Westmorland Cricket League will have a fresh look for the 2024 season with ten new teams joining the League. Appleby Eden, Kirkby Stephen and Lindal Moor will all compete in a 14 team first division along with Arnside, Bare, Burneside, Carnforth 2nds, Holme, Kendal 2nds, Morecambe 2nds, Sedgwick, Shireshead & Forton, Silverdale and Warton in what is expected to be the most competitive League for some time. Appleby Eden played in the WCL from 1960-67 so it’s a welcome back from the Eden Valley League, from which Kirkby Stephen will join for the first time with Lindal Moor joining from the Cumbria League.

Penrith 2nds who were members of the League in 2018 and 2019 are re-joining in Division 2 whilst Settle 2nd team is coming across from the North-West Cricket League, meaning that for the first time since Bentham CC folded that the League has two clubs from Yorkshire. With Ingleton winning the 3rd Division, in 2024 there will a North Yorkshire derby to look forward to. There will be 16 teams in Division 2, the others being Ambleside, Burneside 2nds, Cartmel, Coniston, Heysham 2nds, Kirkby Lonsdale, Milnthorpe, Morecambe 3rds, Netherfield 3rds, Sedgwick 2nds, Shireshead & Forton 2nds, Trimpell and Westgate 2nds.

Appleby Eden 2nds and Lindal Moor 2nds will play in Division 3 along with Arnside 2nds, Bare 2nds, Bolton le Sands, Carnforth 3rds, Galgate, Holme 2nds, Leven Valley, Morecambe 4ths, Sedbergh School 2nds and Shireshead & Forton 3rds, Silverdale 2nds and Windermere.

League President Peter Wilson set out how the divisions will operate in 2024. Each team will play 22 games with the aim of there being 4 Saturday divisions with 12 teams in most if not all divisions in 2025. He said that it is critical for the sport to support the smaller village clubs which are the lifeblood of the game, alongside creating the opportunities for teams to progress through pyramids to play cricket at a higher level if they have the ambition and are good enough.

Division 4 which is played on Sundays on a regional basis will have three new teams with Kirkby Stephen 2nds and Settle 3rds being joined by Millom 3rds. The other teams in Division 4 will be Appleby Eden 3rds, Burneside 3rds, Coniston 2nds, Heysham 3rds, Ingleton 2nds, Kendal 3rds, Kirkby Lonsdale 2nds, Milnthorpe 2nds Netherfield 4ths, Sedbergh School 3rds, Shireshead & Forton 4ths, Ulverston 3rds and Westgate 3rds.

Additional matches mean more umpires are required. Training is available over the winter, and anyone interested should contact League Secretary Tim Mansfield on 07453 294549.