Calmore Sports Club’s first XI have been denied promotion to the Southern Premier Cricket League’s Premier Division following a meeting of the management committee earlier in the week.

Despite being the winners of SPCL Division 1, Club Chairman Pete Lavelle announced the news to club members this afternoon that Loperwood Park’s ground accreditation did not meet the required standard – although the league did decree that the Club’s youth section has been stepped up to Gold standard.

“We have received confirmation overnight that we have not met the minimum of Gold with Silver potential to be promoted to the Southern Premier League (SPL),” he said.

“This cannot take anything away from what the first team achieved on the field of play and the record books will show that for the 2017 season Calmore Sports were Division 1 champions.

“I know a lot of people will be disappointed with the decision, as I am, but there is nothing we can do about it, the decision has been made.

“I ask anyone who wants to vent their anger not to do so in the public domain on social media as this will only bring the club into disrepute with the league, and as a club I do not want our good reputation tarnished in any way.

“On a more positive note I am pleased to say that our colts have been upgraded from Silver to Gold accreditation with the SPL, so to all those who have been instrumental in this being awarded well done and keep up the good work, our colts are our future.”

The club, its players, committee and supporters are naturally and understandably disappointed by the league’s decision but will graciously take their place, once again, in Southern Premier League Division 1 for 2018.