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[uknsaunders]

I thought it might be interesting to keep a record of clubs of teams going to the wall over the winter.  We have all seen the impact in recent years but some kind of record,  even the odd post here,  might be interesting going forward. Would love to catalogue previous years as well.

[Ayrtek Cricket]

Our Sunday team folded last season as we simply couldn't muster enough players to fulfil fixtures. We used to play friendly games but entered a league to make things easier in terms of regular games.

[tim2000s]

Over the past six years, we've lost our Colts, then our fifths was "handed over" to a different club. Looks like we've dropped the 4ths from next season too...

[SwingAndMiss]

Since I started playing 20 years ago the Cornwall league has lost 6 divisions worth of clubs, that's a scary thought!

[ppccopener]

Since I started playing 20 years ago the Cornwall league has lost 6 divisions worth of clubs, that's a scary thought!

that's a huge amount of clubs,,

can you put a finger on why in that part of the Country that's happening

[jblowe]

Oxfordshire Cricket Association from 2010 to 2016
In 2010 the league had 105 sides playing in 11 Divisions
CLUBS who have pulled out of the league
Clubs moved to another league
Westbury 1st
Westbury 2nds
Horley 1st
Horley 2nds
East Oxford 1st
East Oxford 2nds
Winslow Town 1st
Kings Sutton 1st
Minster Lovell 1st
Minster Lovell 2nds
Minster Lovell 3rds

Clubs that have folded or Merged
Freeland 1st
Freeland 2nds
Letcombe 1st
Oxford Caribbean 1st
Cowley 1st
East Oxford 3rds
Oxford Rescue 1st
Oxford Rescue 2nds
Cassington 1st
West Witney 1st
SSJ Willows 1st
Garsington 2nds
Garsington 3rds
Chalgrove 1st
Marsh Gibbon 2nds
West Ilsley 2nds
Combe 2nds
Chinnor 1st
Chesterton 2nds
Watlington 2nds
Britwell Salome 2nds
Great Horwood 3rds
Ducklington 2nds
Hailey 1st
Hanborough 2nds
Cassington Rescue 1st
Hanney 2nds

Clubs that have joined
Yarnton & Cowley 1st
Yarnton & Cowley 2nds
Stanton Harcourt 2nds
Kidlington 3rds

There are some clubs fighting back next season see the return of
Watlington 2nds
Letcombe 1st
Chalgrove 1st

In 2016 the OCA finished the season with 85 sides playing in 9 divisions 

[Seniorplayer]

Interesting  thread and a great idea also our local sports historian as did the same thing in 2015 he now has a book in the library the stats show over 60 clubs and there  ground locations in 30  years have gone in a 5 mile radius.
The club I played for on Sat folded after 40 years  recently my local club algamated with a bigger club in 2014 .
My club no longer has a second  Saturday  side  or a Sunday team.

[simonmay5]

We had four sides on a Saturday and two on a Sunday we are now struggling to get one side out on a Saturday and Sunday we just about have enough sad time lots of clubs seem to be struggling

[smilley792]

In 2004 the team i played for "BAYFIELD" folded due to lack of numbers.

It itself was made up off two teams. "HADFIELDS" and "BROWN BAILEYS". Both were works team that lost works backing, and grounds so formed together to become one side.


It was a shame as it is rumoured that brown baileys was the best cricket ground in Sheffield at its peak.




Other teams I can think off near me.

Stanton in the peak(folded a year after winning the Yorkshire Derby league)
Exclesfield park
Shardlows
Mosborough cc
Woodhouse cc



Parklands and Eden grove joined together to form one side
Rotherham Phoenix and Sheffield united cc joined together to form one side(last season)
Swd and millhouses joined together to form one side.

Here got to be atleast 50 more in the area I can't remember, atleast 30 of them ex works teams from the Sheffield league. 

[alexhilly1492]

In 2004 the team i played for "BAYFIELD" folded due to lack of numbers.

It itself was made up off two teams. "HADFIELDS" and "BROWN BAILEYS". Both were works team that lost works backing, and grounds so formed together to become one side.


It was a shame as it is rumoured that brown baileys was the best cricket ground in Sheffield at its peak.




Other teams I can think off near me.

Stanton in the peak(folded a year after winning the Yorkshire Derby league)
Exclesfield park
Shardlows
Mosborough cc
Woodhouse cc



Parklands and Eden grove joined together to form one side
Rotherham Phoenix and Sheffield united cc joined together to form one side(last season)
Swd and. Illuosue joiend together to form one side.

Here got to be atleast 50 more in the area I can't remember, atleast 30 of them ex works teams from the Sheffield league.

Didn't millhouses and someone merge around 2008/9 @smilley792

And back in 2010 my old club, Chesterfield barbarians merges with sheep ridge cc to go from 2 Saturday sides and a Sunday side to 3 Saturday and 2 Sunday but for me it ruined the whole feel of the club which felt like 5 different clubs for each team which was a shame

[smilley792]

Didn't millhouses and someone merge around 2008/9 @smilley792

And back in 2010 my old club, Chesterfield barbarians merges with sheep ridge cc to go from 2 Saturday sides and a Sunday side to 3 Saturday and 2 Sunday but for me it ruined the whole feel of the club which felt like 5 different clubs for each team which was a shame

Millhouses and swd, I've edited my original posts as I didn't proof read. Lol.

@Kieron_BT used to play for them.

[Kieron_BT]

Millhouses and swd, I've edited my original posts as I didn't proof read. Lol.

@Kieron_BT used to play for them.

Correct

I also originally joined when there was 3 Saturday teams, 1 Sunday team, 1 midweek team and an indoor team.

The club is now down to 2 Saturday teams and 1 midweek team and I think the 2nd team played with 8 players or so a few times last year from what I heard.

[jamielsn15]

Probably worth looking at the reasons; lack of volunteers, lack of players, lack of effective links with schools and other feeder clubs.  Has the ground been sold for development? Oppressive ground charges/fees? Lack of flexibility from leagues in supporting clubs, etc. Myriad of reasons, so if we are listing then having that data would be useful and powerful. That can be taken to leagues and the ECB as evidence from around the country...

[six and out]

For us in Milton Keynes it is actually the opposite effect that is causing the death of clubs and sides.

In 3 seasons our Sunday side has gone from League to Friendly to next year week by week cricket. More concerning is that last season we conceded a league game due to lack of players (2nd XI) for the first time in 30 years!

We simply have too many clubs in too small an area, which then dilutes the amount of players to the clubs, not making a lot of the clubs sustainable. This is especially noticeable in colts cricket.

In MK within a 20 minute drive of the centre of town you could play for over 50 different clubs (across 3 different leagues - FCCL, Cherwell and ECB Northants Premier) and that doesn't include the midweek/Sunday only teams. It is becoming increasingly difficult to get new players and we are one of the better clubs.

[Seniorplayer]

My area  Stourbridge  has lost a lot of works teams also in Kidderminster when the carpet industry folded  the Kidderminster league lost all it's teams  Sat sun and midweek and folded whilst I was league sec now all the grounds have gone some were lovely they had full time groundsman.