ST MINVER Cricket Club’s first team have been relegated from County Division One of the LWC Drinks Cornwall Cricket League after failing to sort out their ECB?Clubmark accreditation in time.

They, along with three other clubs — Ludgvan, Troon and Rosudgeon, have all been penalised, although the three western clubs have been demoted into Division Two West due to primarily youth section issues.

Although all four clubs have a right to appeal, as things stand, Werrington seconds, who were relegated along with Roche, could be given a reprieve.

The Cornwall Cricket League have issued the following statement explaining their decision:

“Four clubs in County Division One of the LWC Drinks Cornwall Cricket League are subject to relegation for breaches of League Rule 42 (Clubmark and Youth Cricket). They are Ludgvan, Rosudgeon, St Minver and Troon Cricket Clubs.

“ECB Clubmark is an accreditation scheme for cricket clubs and is licensed from Sport England as part of their wider Clubmark scheme.

“ECB Clubmark shows that a club is sustainable, well run and provides the right environment for its members. Clubmark accreditation also means your club is recognised as a safe, rewarding and fulfilling place for participants of all ages, as well as assuring parents and carers that they are choosing the right option for their young people.

“Accreditation lasts for three years at which point the club will complete a re-accreditation exercise. In the intervening two years there is a requirement to complete an annual health check to maintain accreditation. Currently 31 Cornwall League clubs are accredited.

“Having been initiated in 2002, Clubmark has been a mandatory requirement to play in the ECB Premier League since 2007. In January 2014 a vote by all clubs at the CCL Annual General Meeting determined, by a clear majority, that Clubmark should also apply to County Division One along with a requirement of at least one team playing youth cricket fixtures. It was voted by the majority of all clubs that these requirements be in place for the start of the 2016 season, otherwise clubs would be ineligible to play in County Division One.

“The Youth Cricket requirement for County Division One is at least one team (under 17 to under 9, boys or girls), playing inter-club competitive matches. The team must have played or received by concession, a minimum of four fixtures. A festival day counts as one fixture. The Premier League requirement is at least three teams playing a minimum of four fixtures.

“The league has subsequently extended the Clubmark deadline by a further two years and the youth team stipulation by one year, having been reluctant to impose the rules, thus giving clubs an extended period to comply. During the 2017 season there have been increasing concerns following the unprecedented events of two games in County One being conceded due to a shortage of players; also, the unsatisfactory situation of a number of games at this level being played with short-sided teams.

“At their annual meeting with Premier and County One clubs in September, the league asked clubs if Rule 42, as it affects County One, should now be rescinded as four clubs were in breach of the revised timeline that applies specifically to the 2018 season. The consensus of clubs was firmly of the view however that the league should immediately enforce Rule 42 in its entirety, to ensure that County One contains clubs that are strong administratively, with an active youth section and an effective player pathway. Ludgvan and Rosudgeon opted not to attend this meeting.

“Ludgvan CC, in a meeting with the league during the season, had already agreed to start the Clubmark process and adhere to an agreed autumn timetable; otherwise they would accept relegation for 2018. This process has not been started as agreed, however and, additionally the club has not been running any youth cricket teams for several years.

“St Minver CC accepts they have not started Clubmark application in time to be accredited for 2018. Following a change of club management during 2017 they have now stated they intend to do so at the earliest opportunity. They have run youth cricket for a number of years.

“Rosudgeon CC have completed their annual Clubmark Health Check in 2017 but not been running a youth cricket team, playing a minimum of four fixtures, for two consecutive seasons.

“Troon CC have completed their annual Clubmark Health Check in 2017 but not been running a youth cricket team for at least three years. Upon entry to Division One, the requirement to do so during the 2017 season was not met.

“Under league rule 39.5, all clubs have a right of appeal to the Cornwall Cricket Board.”

St Minver Cricket Club’s new chairman, Marie Centini, is hopeful that a solution can be found to avoid having to play in Division Two East for the first time since 2014.

Mrs Centini told the Post said: “We found out last Monday that we’ve been relegated because we didn’t get our Clubmark accreditation redone in time.

“To be in County Division One we needed to have the Clubmark sorted by the end of October, and part of that was to have a site visit by the end of August so we could finish off the application.

“Unfortunately that hasn’t happened and it was missed by the club so we’ve been automatically relegated.

“However we’ve had a youth section for the last 15 years and we put an appeal in yesterday so hopefully it can be sorted.”

The league’s decision has caused particular anger down at Ludgvan with their Facebook status receiving over 150 comments.

The village club finished third last season but with limited resources and being situated near neighbours such as Penzance, St Just and Hayle, were unable to attract enough juniors into the club, despite looking to join forces with Gulval.

As the Post went to press, Ludgvan are pressing forward with plans to gather enough support from other clubs to call an extraordinary general meeting to be able play in County One next summer.