Radical plans to safeguard the future of Jewish cricket in London have been greeted with caution by Maccabi League clubs.
The key initiative is the formation of a Club of Excellence which would see players cherry-picked from existing league clubs to form a superclub.
The idea, instigated by Michael Ziff, Great Britain cricket chairman for the 2013 Maccabiah Games, would also see players targeted and coached for the 19th Jewish Olympics.
The proposal was presented by league chairman Richard Mitchell at the Maccabi Cricket League AGM. Other initiatives included a plan to form a T20 competition aimed at welcoming new players to the Maccabi fold, and the provision to train 20 umpires. But with champions MAL considering joining the Middlesex Sunday League, it remains unclear whether the Maccabi Sunday League will feature next year.
An MCL spokesman said: “We are determined to breathe new life into Jewish cricket and the competitions.”
London Maccabi Vale have unveiled a three-year plan culminating in the proposed redevelopment of its Rowley Lane ground.
The blueprint was presented at the club’s AGM where Adam Brand, 38, was appointed first team captain and was named Player of the Year.
Aviel Schwarz claimed the Most Improved Player accolade with Joseph Greenwall-Cohen taking the top colt. Jonathan Lederman received the Alan Shapiro Award for services to the club.
After being re-elected, club chairman, Terry Hyman was elevated to Honorary Vice-President. He said: “This has been one of the most challenging years in the club’s history due to availability issues surrounding the Maccabiah Games at which we were strongly represented. But our flourishing colts set-up gives me great hope.”
Simon Williams and Akiva Lieberman are joint winners of the Northern Jewish Cricket League’s Senior Player of the Year. Andrew Williams was top junior.
The trophies were presented at the league’s AGM where chairman Jonny Wineberg, the Vice-President of the Jewish Representative Council, stepped down after four years. Steven Glicher, the co-captain of South Manchester Jewish, is the new chairman.
Wineburg said: “The league can look forward to continued success in 2010. The merger of Salford and Sedgley Park should see them being able to put out full sides each week and there are rumours of Maccabi being able to put out two . The Grassroots Grants funding will help bolster the running of the League and give impetus to arrange more Under 16s and Under 14s fixtures and more senior representative matches.”
More than £1,000 was raised for Lancashire spinner Gary Keedy’s benefit year and the charities he is supporting during the evening.
Northern Jewish Cricket League Awards:
Simon Williams (centurion), Adam Goldstone (Super Sixes Player of the Tournament), Steven Allweis (Representative Team Man of the Match)), Steven Allweis, Huddy Lieberman (Maccabiah representatives), Manchester Maccabi (Twenty/20 Winners), Manchester Maccabi (Cup Winners Medals and Harry Cowan Memorial Trophy), Tony Gellman (Cup Man of the Match) Harry Rosenblum (David Bloomberg Memorial Sportsmanship), Jonny Lieberman (Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the League)
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