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[Simmy]

Any of you guys still in this?

Our Club play Hawk Green CC on Sunday

http://www.thecricketer.com/published/94/resources/documents/VillageCup_2015/National_Rounds.pdf

[smilley792]

Team in our league is still in.

But we was refused entry as not a village. I understand it's the "village" cup. But when the first round is mainly byes. It's cricket shooting itself in the foot......again

[Simmy]

Team in our league is still in.

But we was refused entry as not a village. I understand it's the "village" cup. But when the first round is mainly byes. It's cricket shooting itself in the foot......again

Has to be under a certain population and size mate.

There is the National Knockout for the bigger clubs.
 

[uknsaunders]

Team in our league is still in.

But we was refused entry as not a village. I understand it's the "village" cup. But when the first round is mainly byes. It's cricket shooting itself in the foot......again

Hurst CC isn't it?

[ProCricketer1982]

Has to be under a certain population and size mate.

There is the National Knockout for the bigger clubs.

It's an outdated cup really, given village clubs aren't really village ones now generally. A lot are just clubs based in a. Village with players imported from towns. Nothing against a Sunday cup, but might as well just run one big cup for interested clubs. I moonlight for a club in the VKO and none of them who play are from the village so kinda pointless

[TangoWhiskey]

I used to love the playing in the Village Cup. Trying to persuade my new team to join it. Of course villages tend to have players playing from outside the village, the clubs themselves still tend to be smaller than their town counterparts. 

[smilley792]

Hurst CC isn't it?

Nope hollinsend Methodists cricket club.

Our ground and were we play would apparently meet he criteria but as we are named after somewhere else. It doesn't.

[uknsaunders]

Would be better off to base it on clubs with 1 Saturday team based in a village. It would bring it back to it's roots. Many clubs are put off by the thought of facing proper big league clubs who have been helped by population movements. Many "village" setups have 3/4 teams, simply because they have attracted players from neighbouring areas where no clubs exist, or from towns where players don't like the alternatives. Plus some big village clubs have benefited from cheap land or a kind farmer who donates a second pitch. This in turn attracts more players and makes them stronger. If you had to play similar setups to your own then many more would apply.

I don't think forcing clubs to take out a subscription to the cricketer is a clever move either. Essentially it's an entry fee, which always puts off applications.

[Leddster138]

We had a bye in the first round and then the next three matches where cancelled as the oppo couldn't raise a team. Played our first game two weeks ago which we won so now we are through to the final 32! That aside, it's the best competition the club has ever been part of. You have to pick players from different Saturday 11s to make up the numbers as not everyone can play two games a week anymore AND you have to play them. You need at least 6 bowlers and everyone will chip in with the bat at some point so its great for a club if you can get a few games in.

[Simmy]

what team are you in the list then? i have posted the fixtures?

[Leddster138]

Rottingdean - East Sussex

[uknsaunders]

Rottingdean - East Sussex

I would argue you are actually too big to be playing in that competition. You have 3 Saturday teams playing a good standard, whether technically you are a village or not it's going to be hard for a traditional village team. If you are a 1 team village side (in the spirit of maybe the original competition) then why would you want to play against a good setup like yours and get smashed? It's not your fault but maybe to the grow the competition it needs to split up the bigger more professional village setups from the typically english village setup. My club, Ashorne, has 1 Saturday team and no way would be want to go into the competition and face some of the teams in our area.

[TangoWhiskey]

I would argue you are actually too big to be playing in that competition. You have 3 Saturday teams playing a good standard, whether technically you are a village or not it's going to be hard for a traditional village team. If you are a 1 team village side (in the spirit of maybe the original competition) then why would you want to play against a good setup like yours and get smashed? It's not your fault but maybe to the grow the competition it needs to split up the bigger more professional village setups from the typically english village setup. My club, Ashorne, has 1 Saturday team and no way would be want to go into the competition and face some of the teams in our area.

To be fair, that was the exact response I got when I brought up entering the competition at our AGM.

[Leddster138]

I would argue you are actually too big to be playing in that competition. You have 3 Saturday teams playing a good standard, whether technically you are a village or not it's going to be hard for a traditional village team. If you are a 1 team village side (in the spirit of maybe the original competition) then why would you want to play against a good setup like yours and get smashed? It's not your fault but maybe to the grow the competition it needs to split up the bigger more professional village setups from the typically english village setup. My club, Ashorne, has 1 Saturday team and no way would be want to go into the competition and face some of the teams in our area.

I see your point and we've seen it at a different level in the final a few years ago. They had two lads that played under 17s Lancs, one guy that played Lancs 2nd XI and an overseas that had played against India a few years before. They were all within the rules set by the comp as none of the matches were first class but against my DJ, Delivery driver, Carpenter, Farmer etc it was apparent, as clubs, we had completely different set ups and there was a major gulf between the two.

I don't know what the original rules where but I do know the organisers have had a problem with attendance for a few years so restricting to a one Saturday team team set up, to play on a Sunday, could risk lowering the number of teams further. Equally it might increase, if a few teams knew that wouldn't come across anyone too strong. Who knows! At the moment, it's a good comp and has a lot of teams taking part that wouldn't have an opportunity or stand a chance in a nationals, I guess it's where you draw the line that is difficult. I think if your team is strong enough to play in a county league (which we do) then you probably shouldn't be in this competition.