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CRICKET: Bicester pull first team out of Cherwell League

10:07pm Friday 19th March 2010 in


Bicester & North Oxford have withdrawn their first team from Division 1 of the Cherwell League.

Their decision – which has been agreed in principle by the league’s executive – is expected to be officially confirmed either over the weekend or early next week.

It follows a mass exodus of players from the club, with around eight or nine first-team regulars moving on.

Rather than get thrashed every week in the top-flight, Bicester have asked the league to drop down the divisions and field just three sides instead of four.

These are likely to be placed in Divisions 4, 7 and 9.

No-one from Bicester or the league would comment, with the make-up of the new divisions and logistics of the move still being discussed.

The club, who play at Chesterton, were formed out of a merger between Norh Oxford and Bicester, after the former had to move from St John’s College.

Comments(34)

Roundyerlegs says...
7:19pm Sat 20 Mar 10

What is it With Bicester and sport these days??

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Phil J says...
12:54pm Sun 21 Mar 10

I feel kind of sorry for some of the boys in their 2's. They were far and away the best team in div 5 last season and now some of them won't get to enjoy the fruits of their labour following a well deserved promotion. What intrigues me even more is what "8 or 9 first team regulars" are going to be doing instead? Did they leave because the team did so poorly last year? I would suggest that that was largely their own fault. Get a better offer? After last year probably not. All dropping down a couple of divs? Perhaps advisable. At least club loyalty is alive and kicking though :-S

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scenicafc says...
6:57pm Sun 21 Mar 10

better offers i would think!!!!

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black socks says...
11:44pm Sun 21 Mar 10

Bicester need to bite the bullet and do the best they can... lots of teams struggle from time to time.. you cant just pull-out because you have lost players. Would set a dangerous precedent. Them pulling out would cause lots of hassle for everybody else. Get on with it and find your level again even if it means a couple of very bad seasons!

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Power says...
8:31am Mon 22 Mar 10

Joke decision, joke club. If they are not prepared to show a bit of backbone and fulfil their fixtures regardless the league is better off without them.

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Steps TDCR says...
9:45am Mon 22 Mar 10

I think this is a real shame, North were one of the best teams in the Country at one time and not only have they lost their identity over time but now seem to have lost their dignity as well. On a lighter note, at least a few boys in Div One will not have to spend Saturday afternoon being shot at or listening to the melodic rumblings of an Eddie Stobart lorry

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Coach111 says...
10:09am Mon 22 Mar 10

This is a great shame! North Oxford CC have over the years had so many of Oxfordshires best players gracing their side. However, i regret to say it but the location of the ground together with the poorly designed pavillion has to be a major factor is their demise. I enjoy watching cricket these days but it is just so unpleasant for the spectator.

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Sunday Offie! says...
11:10am Mon 22 Mar 10

This is a shame as I personally had 3 good years at Bicester but as already mentioned the lack of any sort of social side and ground has been the main reason for their downfall. Don't think they should have been allowed to pull out so easily though. Div 1 batsman must be gutted I fancied even A.krol to get runs against that attack!!

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great shot says...
12:17pm Mon 22 Mar 10

A real shame,

Will be interesting to see who signs Bradshaw, and how they Justify the payments that he requires.

We all know that he doesnt play for free. Will the league investigate?

What will happen now, will they have a bye, or will Banbury XX not get relegated?

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The third man says...
12:29pm Mon 22 Mar 10

I am sorry to hear of their issue however the league should not allow them to withdraw their first team. Without going through the league rules would be very surprised if it does not imply that the lowest side should withdraw. The precident here would be extremely worrying. Plus a league allowing their top division to be incomplete. And yes when a side does not have a fixture bound to move their club and artifically strengthen over sides. League be strong and say NO or just let the whole club withdraw. As Black socks states lots of clubs go through bad times, I worry for ours BUT drop down gracefully !!

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The third man says...
12:34pm Mon 22 Mar 10

PLUS - okay less of how good N Oxford were, so were Cowley Jacks, Headington etc....It is Bicester now and lets have the names of the so called 8 or 9. Mr Woods for one who else ?

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Coach111 says...
12:52pm Mon 22 Mar 10

When did the so called 8 or 9 leave the club? Surely, they knew before now?

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Phil J says...
1:07pm Mon 22 Mar 10

This isn't a case of not letting them, it has already been done. I know this because my club have benefitted??!! from an unexpected promotion.

I would assume that this means that the relegations stand and the next team in the standings from the previous years goes up in all divisions.

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Steps TDCR says...
1:07pm Mon 22 Mar 10

Good point Sunday Offie, may I draw your attention to a spell of bowling from The Sieve that sparked the end of line for you

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Santa Brooks says...
7:13pm Mon 22 Mar 10

A very noble gesture from a club that has achieved alot and is now going through tough times. The idiot who masquerades as Power at Wheatley should really learn to contain himself. Clearly he has the same characteristics as his father. A loud mouthed militant who has a very limited view and has no real pedigree to comment.

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Phil J says...
7:38pm Mon 22 Mar 10

I have to agree with Santa here. Lets go easy on them fellas, if every club just knuckled down and got on with it when the going got tough, rather than throwing the towel in, the world would be a boring place. And, we'd have nothing to talk about

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Mr. Arnold says...
7:42pm Mon 22 Mar 10

Perhaps if they didn't waste £2000+ every year paying players who don't really care who they play for or with then there might be a bit more of a 'club' and they might hold their own in the higher leagues.

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Phil J says...
7:45pm Mon 22 Mar 10

Mr. Arnold, that is a wild accusation, I have no evidence to the contrary but you can't be suggesting that their are teams in the Cherwell that are paying their players. No team would ever think of bending the rules in such fashion

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Sue Ridgepipe says...
9:31pm Mon 22 Mar 10

You must be close to the club Mr Arnold to be so sure that £2000 was spent on players? Maybe you could tell us how much other clubs are paying there players?
As for the club withdrawing, i think it's a real shame and can't have been an easy decision to make. Though i feel sticking out a tough season would be the way forward as getting promoted is harder than maintaining a position in a division.
Great shot, i think you'll find Buckingham have gained the services of mr Bradshaw.

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Coach111 says...
8:02am Tue 23 Mar 10

Isn't it the Cherwell Leagues rules that state that player payments are not allowed.
The executive should get their teeth into this one & get it sorted for the benefit of the member clubs

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Sunday Offie! says...
9:10am Tue 23 Mar 10

Steps I was hoping to forget that unfortunate day of my career! Although the lad did bowl well and that c.eaton bowled a fine spell too! He still claims it as the prize scalp! I'm just glad it rained so this whole day was scrapped from the record books!!

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Power says...
9:54am Tue 23 Mar 10

Santa Brooks wrote:
A very noble gesture from a club that has achieved alot and is now going through tough times. The idiot who masquerades as Power at Wheatley should really learn to contain himself. Clearly he has the same characteristics as his father. A loud mouthed militant who has a very limited view and has no real pedigree to comment.
One man goes and the club virtually folds, that doesn't sound like a noble club to me. North Oxford had a great history and achieved a lot but the current format is a shambles. B&NO is a purpose built cold, soulless expanse of land which is detested by everyone who has to go there to play away games and apparently, everyone who plays for them too. I am sure Darryl is glad he is out of it but I am amazed it has collapsed so quickly without him. You clearly know who I am Santa, as does everyone on here, and my opinions are here to be shot down but at least I don't try and shout individuals down with cheap insults and hide behind my user name. Your words carry no weight in this discussion, as you obviously have an issue with other parties not involved in it.

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Steps TDCR says...
10:20am Tue 23 Mar 10

The Power is the forum Daddy Santa, you insult him you insult all of us. Prepare yourself for a very bumpy verbal ride unless a full apology is forthcoming.

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Power says...
11:10am Tue 23 Mar 10

I know you've got my back Steps, its an emotional day for all of us. I think big don is owed the apology here though not me. I'm not sure many people have compared us through our viewpoints down the years though, am I changing that much or can I actually take it as a legitimate insult.

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Sunday Offie! says...
12:58pm Tue 23 Mar 10

I can actually picture the power standing at 1 end... Finger itching! HOWZAT!!???... BANG! Your out fella, tell your story walking!!

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Power says...
1:01pm Tue 23 Mar 10

Only if a certain left hander is in my sights......I hope that scenario is a long way off!!

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Sunday Offie! says...
1:14pm Tue 23 Mar 10

Let's hope so! Your strike rate will never be as good as the old man's!

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Steps TDCR says...
1:42pm Tue 23 Mar 10

I hope I never see the day, The Power and Steps both at the crease at the same time would be reminesent of that great 1970’S show Jeux Sans Frontieres with Stuart Hall laughing in the background!

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Power says...
3:17pm Tue 23 Mar 10

Awesome sight. The host club would have to reconsider their tea arrangements of course.

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great shot says...
12:49pm Wed 24 Mar 10

The word is, Banbury have been tapping their youth cricketers, with the hope they play HCPL. Where is their youth, and why aren't they concentrating on developing them to play HCPL, not 2 kids from Bicester, and players from Downs.

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pater mcvey says...
2:41pm Wed 24 Mar 10

Mr. Arnold wrote:
Perhaps if they didn't waste £2000+ every year paying players who don't really care who they play for or with then there might be a bit more of a 'club' and they might hold their own in the higher leagues.
C'mon we all know that backhanders are paid to Cricket players in most oxon and countrywide clubs, the same as any other sport. Don't try and pretend that you are all whiter than white.

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tuffers fan club says...
5:23pm Wed 24 Mar 10

Warning, dont start paying players it will be the beggining of the end for your club, it has already happend in local league football and kidlington cricket, why on earth should there be a financial reward for playing sport at the level we all compete in, get in the real world, if you believe you should be paid to play put your self up for a trial with a 1st class county!!

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Coach111 says...
10:10am Fri 26 Mar 10

Quite right TFC. It's the start of the end. It looks like alot of the players that are being paid aren't even that good

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Sir Holiday Alot says...
3:41pm Fri 26 Mar 10

paying players ? Not in my day.

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