SATURDAY league cricket in Gloucestershire has undergone a dramatic restructuring which will take effect for the start of the new season.
Four competitions – the Gloucestershire County League, the Stroud & District League, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Forest of Dean League along with the Cotswolds League – have joined together to become the Gloucestershire Cricket League (GCL).
The move, which has received the overwhelming backing of clubs as well as the support of the Gloucestershire Cricket Foundation, aims to strengthen the sport at grassroots level and ease pressure on volunteer officials.
It is also hoped that the creation of the new league will reduce travel for clubs in certain parts of the pyramid, ensure more efficient administration, rationalise playing regulations/facilities criteria, and provide a pathway for ambitious clubs to make quicker progress through the various levels.
The new league features a total of 18 divisions. The top five divisions sit on top of two regional streams with district divisions positioned below that.
Promotion and relegation will now be between tiers, rather than specific divisions, with teams placed in an appropriate division within their tier based on geography.
Tom Stevens, the chair of the Gloucestershire County League who has been elected chair of the GCL, said: “There was a consensus across the leagues that change was needed, and I think this has come at a good time for everyone.
“There has been a lot of hard work behind the scenes by a tremendous number of people from each league, working to find a new way ahead.
“Generally, in life, we’re all stronger together, and now we have a more coherent structure that will enable us to cope better with pressure from the ECB to meet centralised standards in areas such as disciplinary processes and safeguarding.”
Chris Munden, the GCF’s Cricket Operations Manager, added: “We’re really pleased that everyone has been able to come together and provide a much clearer and concise set-up.
“This is the biggest shake up we have seen in a while, and aims to safeguard league cricket in the north of the county for the next generation.
“We now have a competitive pyramid structure under one committee with representatives from all districts with the aim that this league will be much smoother to run.
“A lot of leagues care only about the cream at the top, but the aim here was to be very aware of the teams at the other end which is probably the most important part of everything we considered, particularly travelling concerns.
“There will be a little more travelling at the top end, but those clubs are willing to do that. There has been overwhelming support from all quarters.”
GCL structure for 2025 – Division One: Cheltenham 2, Cheltenham Civil Service, Chipping Campden, Cirencester, Corse & Staunton, Kingsholm, Lydney, Redmarley, Rockhampton, Tetbury.
Division Two: Apperley, Cam, Dumbleton 2, Great Rissington, Hatherley & Reddings 2, Poulton, Shurdington, Tewkesbury 2, Ullenwood Bharat, Westbury-on-Severn.
Division Three: Bourton Vale 2, Chipping Sodbury 2, Dymock, Fairford, Frampton-on-Severn, Gloucester AIW, Newent, Quedgeley & Hardwicke, Rockhampton 2, Woodmancote.
Division Four: Charlton Kings 2, Cheltenham 3, Churchdown, Cinderford St John, Cranham, Cricklade, Frocester 3, Kingsholm 2, Stroud 2, Whitminster.
Division Five: Cheltenham Civil Service 2, Corse & Staunton 2, Down Hatherley, Gloucester 2, Goodrich, King’s Stanley, Langford 2, Minchinhampton, Parkend, Sheepscombe.
Regional One A: Apperley 2, Arcadian 9 Elms, Birdlip & Brimscombe, Forest Exiles, Hatherley & Reddings 3, Lydney 2, Painswick 2, Ruardean Hill, Upton St Leonards, Winchcombe.
Regional One B: Bibury, Cam 2, Cirencester 2, Eastcombe, Lechlade, Oakridge, Oldlands, Rockhampton 3, Tetbury 2, Tormarton.
Regional Two A: Arcadian 9 Elms 2, Aston Ingham 2, Bourton Vale 3, Bream, Eldersfield, Highnam Court, Huntley, Longborough & Sezincote, Stanway, Woodmancote 2.
Regional Two B: Chalford, Charfield, Haresfield Gladiators, Hawkesbury Upton 2, Oaksey, Poulton 2, Quedgeley & Hardwicke 2, Slimbridge, Stinchcombe Stragglers, Swindon United Churches.
District One A: Alvington & Woolaston, Ashleworth Woodpeckers, Aston Ingham 3, Churchdown 2, Dymock 2, Gloucester 3, Highnam Court 2, Penalt & Redbrook, St Briavels, Westbury-on-Severn 2.
District One B: Charlton Kings 3, Cheltenham 4, Chipping Campden 2, Down Hatherley 2, Dumbleton 3, Hatherley & Reddings 4, St Philips North, Tewkesbury 3, Ullenwood Bharat 2, Witcombe.
District One C: Ashton Keynes, Barnsley Beeches, Fairford 2, Great Rissington 2, Langford 3, Minchinhampton 2, Painswick 3, South Cerney, Stroud 3, Tetbury 3.
District One D: Eastington, Frampton-on-Severn 2, Frocester 4, King’s Stanley 2, Randwick, Rockhampton 4, Stone, Uley, Upton St Leonards 2, Whitminster 2.
District Two A: Alvington & Woolaston 2, Bream 2, Cinderford St John 2, Goodrich 2, Huntley 2, Lydney 3, Parkend 2, Ruardean Hill 2, Westbury-on-Severn 3, Yorkley Star.
District Two B: Andoversford, Charlton Kings 4, Cheltenham Civil Service 3, Gloucester AIW 2, Newent Lions, Quedgeley & Hardwicke 3, Shurdington 2, Ullenwood Bharat 4, Winchcombe 2, Woodmancote 3.
District Two C: Apperley 3, Arcadian Nine Elms 3, Aston Ingham 4, Corse & Staunton 3, Hatherley & Reddings 5, Kingsholm 3, Newent 3, Redmarley 2, Tewkesbury 4, Ullenwood Bharat 3, Witcombe 2.
District Two D: Birdlip & Brimpsfield 2, Buscot Park, Buscot Park 2, Central Hall, Charlton, Cirencester 3, Cirencester 4, Cricklade 2, Poulton 3, Williamstrip.
District Two E: Cam 3, Chalford 2, Eastcombe 2, Frampton-on-Severn 3, Hawkesbury Upton 3, Oldbury-on-Severn, Oldlands 2, Quedgeley & Hardwicke 4, Stinchcombe Stragglers 2, Stroud 4.