T/20 Cup Competition (non Premier Divisions Comp)
Last season the two division approach seemed to work well giving more even matches and
enticing a few extra teams into the competition. So if it isn’t broken don’t….!
So, for 2024, we will keep things the same with the competition providing for an ‘A’ cup and
a ‘B’ cup. Those entering the ‘A’ draw will come from sides playing in divisions 1-6b inclusive
and those entering the ‘B’ draw will come from sides playing in 7a and below.
We propose, as in previous years, that any player who played more games for a team in the
Premier or Championship divisions than a lower eleven during either last season or the
current season will be ineligible for either competition.
In a similar manner, any player who played more games for a team in divisions 1-6b than in
a lower division during either last season or the current season up the game being played
will be ineligible for the ‘B’ competition.
We hope that this will even out the standard and persuade more clubs to enter. Those clubs
with good Sunday availability will be able to enter teams into both competitions providing that
they do not breach the eligibility criteria.
How we make up the groups will depend upon how many clubs that enter but as in previous
years we hope that there will be groups of four with each club playing the other twice- i.e.,
home, and away. We have had clubs drop out in previous seasons and although we hope
that under the new set up this will be less likely please only enter if you are as sure as you
can be that you will be able to fulfil your fixtures. You could have ‘T20 Sundays’ where three
clubs play two games each to help with availability and reduce the number of Sundays that
are necessary during the group stage. As in 2022 the group winners will then go through to
the knockout phase and the runners up in each group would also go into a plate knock out
stage. It would, we hope, sustain interest in continuing if, for example, a club lost its first two
matches.
As far as dates are concerned, we think that clubs ought to be able to complete the group
stage by the end of June. That requires there to be six matches, which need only take three
Sundays, which should be achievable. As before, clubs will have to arrange the fixtures
themselves. With the varied Sunday fixtures that clubs have, to have the league impose
dates for actual games would be unworkable. Equally if some clubs are ‘difficult’ when it
comes to agreeing dates then the league will have to decide with, I am afraid, no right of
appeal. The whole point of the competition is to get clubs playing as much as possible on
Sundays and clubs entering will have to buy into that idea and the intention behind it. The
quarter finals (if we have enough groups) for the main competitions and the plates will then
be played in July and the semi-finals and the final played on the same day before the end of
the league season and therefore by the Sunday after the last league game in September.
We can set the dates for those ‘finals’ days when we have closed entries and know how
many clubs have entered.
The balls for the knockout stages will be provided by our sponsors but clubs will have to
order sufficient of the Sunday pink balls for matches in the group stages.
All clubs can apply for entry, with the Premier and Championship clubs prohibited from
playing regular first team players as set out above and with the further restrictions on those
who can play in the ‘B’ competition.
2024 T/20 Cup Competition
Readers are our cup sponsors and there will be prize money for the winners and runners up.
The prize money will be detailed when we know how many clubs/teams are taking part.
Entry into the competition will be on a first come first served basis. Please let us have your
entries by 21 January 2023 with the draw going out shortly thereafter.
All entries must be emailed to my email address barryhellewell@hotmail.com and technical@hertsleague.co.uk
