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Worcestershire County Cricket League

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The Worcestershire County Cricket League (WCL) is an English club cricket league, and consists of club teams primarily from Worcestershire and Herefordshire, several other clubs from bordering counties Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire, and Wales.

History

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The Worcestershire County Cricket League was created in 1999 as part of the new 'pyramid system' in English club cricket, and acts as a feeder league to the Birmingham and District Premier League. It was formed mainly as a merger between the old Worcestershire Clubs' League and the Autobag/Plumb Centre League. Other clubs came from the Midland Combined Counties League, the 3D Cricket PLJ League, and in the case of Herefordshire sides, the Marches Cricket League and the Willowsticks Three Counties Cricket League. For the 2023 season the WCL took over the administration of the Marches League (the only open age cricket league based in Herefordshire, which also included some clubs from Wales), thereby adding another 29 sides and 17 new clubs.

There is promotion and relegation and most divisions of the league operate on a two up/two down basis, although the feeder league status means that more than two sides may be relegated from the Premier Division, with knock-on effects on other divisions, if one or more Worcestershire (also Herefordshire in the past) side is relegated from Birmingham League Division 1. Other exceptions to this are in the Premier Division (where the winner is only promoted to the Birmingham and District Premier League if they finish in the top 2 out of the 4 feeder league champions, after a round-robin competition between the 4 sides at the end of the season).

In the two regionalised Division 7 leagues (North & South) the winners go up to Division 6 and the two bottom placed teams in each division are relegated to the Division 8 regional leagues. In the five regionalised Division 8 leagues (North, South, East, West, & Marches League Division 1) the winners of each of the five divisions and the three best-placed runners-up go into end of season playoffs, with the winners of the first round of playoffs going into Divisions 7 North & South for the following season.

Winners of Division 1/Premier Division of the Worcestershire County Cricket League, who have been promoted to the Birmingham and District Premier League, since 1999 are:

WCL Division 1

  • 1999: Hagley
  • 2000: Redditch
  • 2001: Kington
  • 2002: Old Elizabethans
  • 2003: Evesham
  • 2004: Pershore
  • 2005: Ombersley
  • 2006: Kington
  • 2007: Brockhampton
  • 2008: Eastnor
  • 2009: Pershore
  • 2010: Barnards Green
  • 2011: Stourbridge
  • 2012: Worcester Nomads
  • 2013: Astwood Bank
  • 2014: Worcester
  • 2015: Pershore
  • 2016: Worcester Nomads
  • 2017: Redditch
  • 2018: Bewdley* (no promotion)

WCL Premier Division

  • 2019: Astwood Bank (not promoted after finishing 3rd in Birmingham League playoffs)
  • 2020: Pershore** (no promotion, won a shortened season played in a regional format followed by playoffs)
  • 2021: Stourbridge (not promoted after finishing 3rd in Birmingham League playoffs)
  • 2022: Stourport (ruled ineligible for promotion by Birmingham League. Second-placed Old Hill took their place in the playoffs: they were not promoted after finishing 3rd)
  • 2023: Old Hill (promoted after finishing 1st in Birmingham League playoffs)
  • 2024: Stourbridge (promoted after finisning joint 1st in Birmingham League playoffs)

In 2018 there was no promotion from any of the four county feeder leagues due to the restructuring of the Birmingham & District Premier League.

In 2020 there was no promotion from any of the four county feeder leagues due to the shortened season resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

From 2019 onwards the winners of the Worcestershire County League's new Premier Division went into a round-robin playoff at the end of the season with the winners of the Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire leagues, with the top two sides out of the four being promoted to the Birmingham & District Premier League.

Division 1/Premier Division Championships

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  • 3: Pershore (& shortened 2020 season), Stourbridge
  • 2: Astwood Bank, Kington, Redditch, Worcester Nomads
  • 1: Barnards Green, Bewdley, Brockhampton, Eastnor, Evesham, Hagley, Old Elizabethans, Old Hill, Ombersley, Stourport, Worcester

Divisional structure

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From 1999 until 2018 from Division 1 down to Division 4 there were separate 2nd XI Divisions, with the 4th XI of those sides whose 3rd XIs played in the league competing against other clubs' 2nd XIs. From 2006, Division 1 and 2 2nd XIs were promoted and relegated independently of their 1st XIs (and 4th XIs could be promoted or relegated independently of their 3rd XIs), from 2007 the same applied to Division 3, and from 2014 this also applied to Division 4. Clubs could only be promoted from Division 5 if they were able to field two XIs in the following season, and there was a space available in Division 4.

At the end of the 2018 season the league absorbed six 1st XIs that were relegated out of the Birmingham and District Premier League due to the league downsizing from 48 to 24 clubs, as well as 14 2nd XIs, due to the B&DPCL no longer holding a 2nd XI competition from 2019 onwards. The 1st XIs to be relegated were Astwood Bank, Old Elizabethans, Old Hill, Pershore, Redditch and Stourbridge. The 2nd XIs that were absorbed by the WCL were Astwood Bank, Barnards Green, Barnt Green, Brockhampton, Bromsgrove, Halesowen, Himley, Kidderminster, Old Elizabethans, Old Hill, Ombersley, Pershore, Redditch, and Stourbridge.

For the 2019 season the league adopted a 'linear structure' so that 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th XIs would all be part of the same 'ladder system', and theoretically a 2nd, 3rd or 4th XI etc. would be able to be promoted as far as the new WCL Premier Division (one division below the Birmingham and District Premier League).

For the 2021 season several of the league's lower divisions were regionalised, so that the top 8 divisions (Premier to Division 7) remained county wide, but Divisions 8 and 9 were regionalised into North, South, East and West divisions. For the 2022 season a county wide Division 8 was added, with three regional divisions in Division 9 and four regional divisions in the new Division 10. This was adjusted again for 2023, with Divisions 7 & 8 being regionalised into Division 7 North & South, and Division 8 being split into four regional divisions of North, South, East & West. At the bottom of the league, Division 9 has two divisions of North and South.

For the 2023 season the league took over the administration of the Marches Cricket League, with the winners (and potentially 2nd-placed team) in Marches League Division 1 being offered the chance to compete in the Division 8 playoffs. The rest of the Marches League Divisions will operate on a two-up, two down basis, apart from there being no relegation from Division 3.

For 2024 the Worcestershire County Cricket League will be made up of the following divisions and clubs:

Premier Division

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  • Astwood Bank 1st XI
  • Brockhampton 1st XI
  • Bromsgrove 1st XI
  • Bromyard 1st XI
  • Lye 1st XI
  • Old Elizabethans 1st XI
  • Pedmore 1st XI
  • Pershore 1st XI
  • Redditch Entaco 1st XI
  • Stourbridge 1st XI
  • Stourport-on-Severn 1st XI
  • Worcester Nomads 1st XI

Division 1

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  • Barnt Green 2nd XI
  • Bartestree & Lugwardine 1st XI XI
  • Bewdley 1st XI
  • Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 1st XI
  • Chaddesley Corbett 1st XI
  • Coombs Wood 1st XI
  • Droitwich Spa 1st XI
  • Hagley 1st XI
  • Halesowen 2nd XI
  • Himley 2nd XI
  • Ombersley 2nd XI
  • Worcester 1st XI

Division 2

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  • Alvechurch & Hopwood 1st XI
  • Astwood Bank 2nd XI
  • Barnards Green 2nd XI
  • Belbroughton 1st XI
  • Bredon 1st XI
  • Bromsgrove 2nd XI
  • Colwall 1st XI
  • Cookley 1st XI
  • Enville 1st XI
  • Kidderminster 2nd XI
  • Netherton 1st XI
  • Oldswinford 1st XI

Division 3

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  • Avoncroft 1st XI
  • Brockhampton 2nd XI
  • Feckenham 1st XI
  • Harborne 3rd XI
  • Himbleton 1st XI
  • Lye 2nd XI
  • Martley 1st XI
  • Netherton 2nd XI
  • Old Elizabethans 2nd XI
  • Redditch Entaco 2nd XI
  • Rushwick 1st XI
  • Stourport-on-Severn 2nd XI

Division 4

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  • Claverley 1st XI
  • Droitwich Spa 2nd XI
  • Five Ways Old Edwardians 1st XI
  • Hagley 2nd XI
  • Harborne 4th XI
  • Old Hill 2nd XI
  • Old Vigornians 1st XI
  • Romsley & Hunnington 1st XI
  • Stourbridge 2nd XI
  • West Malvern 1st XI
  • Worcester 2nd XI
  • Worcester Nomads 2nd XI

Division 5

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  • Astwood Bank 3rd XI
  • Barnt Green 3rd XI
  • Bewdley 2nd XI
  • Bromyard 2nd XI
  • Coombs Wood 2nd XI
  • Eastnor 1st XI
  • Hanley Castle & Upton 1st XI
  • Malvern 1st XI
  • Pedmore 2nd XI
  • Pershore 2nd XI
  • Stourbridge 3rd XI
  • Tenbury Wells 1st XI

Division 6

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Division 7 (North)

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  • Alvechurch & Hopwood 2nd XI
  • Cookhill 1st XI
  • Enville 2nd XI
  • Feckenham 2nd XI
  • Halesowen 4th XI
  • Harborne 5th XI
  • Himley 4th XI
  • Old Elizabethans 3rd XI
  • Oldswinford 2nd XI
  • Ombersley 3rd XI
  • Romsley & Hunnington 2nd XI
  • Stone

Division 7 (South)

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  • Barnards Green 3rd XI
  • Bartestree & Lugwardine 2nd XI
  • Birlingham
  • Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 2nd XI
  • Canon Frome 1st XI
  • Ledbury 1st XI
  • Martley 2nd XI
  • Pershore 3rd XI
  • Rushwick 2nd XI
  • Worcester 3rd XI
  • Worcester Amigos

Division 8 (North)

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Division 8 (East)

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  • Astwood Bank 4th XI
  • Avoncroft 2nd XI
  • Bredon 2nd XI
  • Droitwich Spa 4th XI
  • Five Ways Old Edwardians 2nd XI
  • Harvington 2nd XI
  • Himbleton 2nd XI
  • Inkberrow
  • Pershore 4th XI
  • Redditch Entaco 3rd XI

Division 8 (South)

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  • Bosbury
  • Brockhampton 3rd XI
  • Colwall 3rd XI
  • Eastnor 2nd XI
  • Fownhope Strollers 1st XI
  • Hallow Taverners
  • Malvern 2nd XI
  • Old Elizabethans 4th XI
  • West Malvern 2nd XI
  • Worcester Nomads 3rd XI

Division 8 (West)

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  • Alveley 2nd XI
  • Bewdley 3rd XI
  • Cookley 2nd XI
  • Droitwich Spa 3rd XI
  • Hagley 3rd XI
  • Highley
  • Kidderminster 4th XI
  • Old Halesonians
  • Stourport-on-Severn 3rd XI
  • Tenbury Wells 2nd XI

Marches League Division 1

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  • Builth Wells 1st XI
  • Dales 1st XI
  • Garnons
  • Goodrich 1st XI
  • Kington 1st XI
  • Luctonians 1st XI
  • Ross-on-Wye 1st XI
  • Woolhope 1st XI
  • Wormelow 1st XI

Division 9 (North)

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  • Avoncroft 3rd XI
  • Belbroughton 3rd XI
  • Cookhill 2nd XI
  • Feckenham 3rd XI
  • Five Ways Old Edwardians 3rd XI
  • Hagley 4th XI
  • Himley 5th XI
  • Oldswinford 4th XI
  • Pedmore 4th XI
  • Redditch Entaco 4th XI

Division 9 (South)

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  • Barnards Green 4th XI
  • Brockhampton 4th XI
  • Bromyard 3rd XI
  • Droitwich Spa 5th XI
  • Hanley Castle & Upton 2nd XI
  • Ledbury 2nd XI
  • Malvern 3rd XI
  • Rushwick 3rd XI
  • Stone 2nd XI

Marches League Division 2

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  • Almeley 1st XI
  • Builth Wells 2nd XI
  • Canon Frome 2nd XI
  • Hay-on-Wye
  • Knighton-on-Teme
  • Moccas
  • Presteigne
  • Woolhope 2nd XI
  • Wormelow 2nd XI

Marches League Division 3

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  • Almeley 2nd XI
  • Bartestree & Lugwardine 3rd XI
  • Burghill, Tillington & Weobley 3rd XI
  • Dales 2nd XI
  • Fownhope Strollers 2nd XI
  • Goodrich 2nd XI
  • Kington 2nd XI
  • Luctonians 2nd XI
  • Ross-on-Wye 2nd XI

Clubs from different counties

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For the 2024 season, 79 different clubs will have sides in the league (193 sides in total across the 18 divisions).

  • 49 Worcestershire clubs (Alvechurch & Hopwood, Astwood Bank, Avoncroft, Barnards Green, Barnt Green, Belbroughton, Bewdley, Birlingham, Bredon, Bromsgrove, Chaddesley Corbett, Cookhill, Cookley, Coombs Wood, Cutnall Green, Droitwich Spa, Feckenham, Five Ways Old Edwardians, Hagley, Hallow Taverners, Halesowen, Hanley Castle & Upton, Harvington, Himbleton, Inkberrow, Kidderminster, Knighton on Teme, Lye, Malvern, Martley, Netherton, Old Elizabethans, Old Halesonians, Oldswinford, Old Vigornians, Ombersley, Pedmore, Pershore, Redditch Entaco, Romsley & Hunnington, Rushwick, Stone, Stourbridge, Stourport-on-Severn, Tenbury Wells, West Malvern, Worcester, Worcester Amigos, Worcester Nomads).
  • 20 Herefordshire clubs (Almeley, Bartestree & Lugwardine, Bosbury, Brockhampton, Bromyard, Burghill, Tillington & Weobley, Canon Frome, Colwall, Dales, Eastnor, Fownhope Strollers, Garnons, Goodrich, Kington, Ledbury, Luctonians, Moccas, Ross-on-Wye, Woolhope, Wormelow).
  • 3 Shropshire clubs (Alveley, Claverley, Highley).
  • 3 Staffordshire clubs (Enville, Himley, Old Hill).
  • 3 Welsh clubs (Builth Wells, Hay-on-Wye, Presteigne).
  • 1 Warwickshire club (Harborne).

Famous players

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89 First-Class and List A cricketers have played in the Worcestershire County Cricket League, including 20 internationals:

Internationals, and club represented

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England

New Zealand

West Indies

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe

Scotland

Other First Class and List A players, and club(s) represented

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England

Australia

South Africa

West Indies

New Zealand

India

Pakistan

Sri Lanka

Zimbabwe

Namibia

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