CRICKET: The Millman Cricket Competition has announced it is to disband due to a lack of numbers.
Luton Cricketers became the last ever champions as they won the First Division title last season.
The league was formulated by Geoff Reeks, Jack Legate, Gerald Gilbert and Ted Smith who asked Geoff Millman to chair a meeting in the old pavilion at Ickwell to formulate a new league.
Millman had played for and captained Notts as a wicketkeeper/batsman for many years and represented England in six tests.
Having played in the early Gillette Cup games, Millman hoped he could transfer the excitement of the limited over format of the game into local cricket.
After many meetings, a new 45-over-a-side format was trialled in a number of friendlies with the league formed in 1968.
The original competition included clubs from Beds, Cambs, Northants and Herts and grew to three sections – Cup, Salver and Trophy – plus eventually a second XI competition.
With the introduction of the ECB pyramid and the formation of County Leagues the Millman went into decline with clubs based outside Bedfordshire joining their own county leagues.
Despite many discussions the Millman was not to become part of the pyramid, which resulted in many ambitious clubs leaving.
The Bedfordshire Invitational Saturday Cricket League will be starting in 2012 to try to fulfil the requirements of local clubs.
For more details email bicl2012@yahoo.co.uk.
