THE NORTH‑EAST MID‑WEEK CRICKET LEAGUE
Historical Notes (Updated January 2024)

 

In the late 1960's Field Sons & Co. Ltd. formed an association of teams with BSRA, Merz & McLellan and R.W. Gregory & Partners. In the early days there were only a few teams involved; the matches were a series of friendly fixtures.

In 1970 the first moves were made towards setting up a League, then in 1971 a formal committee of team secretaries was created by Denis Ambler and John Noutch (Fields). A league trophy was donated by the late Mr. Len C. Presland, the former General Manager of Field Sons and Co. The League was known as the North‑East Mid‑Week Cricket League but more familiarly as the Len Presland Friendly Cricket League.

For a description of events that followed please view the attached history of NE Midweek cricket league which includes a photo of the Senior Officials in 1982. For each year, tables of  winning teams and runners up in each division and the KO Cup are included as are the Cup and Plate Finals Man of the Match, the League Man of the Season, the Jon Robinson Fair Play Plate and the Nigel Walker Wicket-keeping Shield.

Today League President Malcom Kennedy CBE, former Chairman and Managing Director of Merz & McLellan (one of the founder clubs), still hosts their social evenings and sponsors the League. In his honour the Malcolm Kennedy Cup has been introduced to be awarded for the top bowling performance of the season. The Merz & McLellan Cup curtain raiser has been discontinued and the cup is now to be awarded for the top batting performance of the season.

 

 

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