4NCL - The Four Nations League - www.4ncl.co.uk/pre2010

2003/2004 Season

Now that the 2002/3 season has concluded, it will soon be time to turn our attention to the arrangements for the coming 2003/2004 season. Although there are still a few months to go before the start of the new season, herewith some initial information in the spirit of early communication both to existing teams and to potential new entrants:

Dates and Venues

Dates and venues will be as follows:

Rounds 1 and 2

18th/19th October 2003
West Bromwich Moat House
Divisions 1 and 2

22nd/23rd November 2003
West Bromwich Moat House
Divisions 3 and 4

Rounds 3 and 4

17th/18th January 2004
Telford Moat House
Divisions 1 and 2

24th/25th January 2004
West Bromwich Moat House
Divisions 3 and 4

Rounds 5 and 6

20th/21st March 2004
Telford Moat House
Divisions 1 and 2

27th/28th March 2004
West Bromwich Moat House
Divisions 3 and 4

Rounds 7,8 and 9

1st/2nd/3rd May 2004
West Bromwich Moat House
Divisions 1 and 2

29th/30th/31st May 2004
West Bromwich Moat House
Divisions 3 and 4

Rounds 10 and 11

22nd/23rd May 2004
West Bromwich Moat House
Divisions 1 and 2

19th/20th June 2004
West Bromwich Moat House
Divisions 3 and 4

Entry Requirements

All entries, whether for existing teams or for new entrants, need to be received, together with the appropriate entry fee and confirmed team lists, by SUNDAY 31 AUGUST 2003.

We envisage that we will be able to accommodate up to 18 teams in total in Division 4. For new entrants we will be operating on a "last in first out" basis, i.e. if we receive entries from new teams that take the total number of teams entering over 18 teams, or if we receive an odd number of entries, preference of entry will be given first to existing teams and then to the earliest entries received from new teams wishing to enter. We therefore encourage new teams wishing to enter to submit their entries as soon as possible to secure their place.

Entries should be sent to Mike Truran at The Old Farmhouse, 7 Church Street, Ducklington, Witney, Oxon OX29 7UA.

Prizes

The total prize fund for the coming season will be Ł4,500, an increase of well over 30% from the 2002/2003 season. Prizes will be as follows:

Div 1: First prize Ł1,600, second prize Ł800
Div 2: First prize Ł800, second prize Ł400
Div 3: First prize Ł400, second prize Ł200
Div 4: First prize Ł200, second prize Ł100

Entry fees

Entry fees will be as follows:

Div 1: First teams Ł250, second, third etc teams Ł300
Div 2: First teams Ł225, second, third etc teams Ł275
Div 3: First teams Ł200, second, third etc teams Ł250
Div 4: First teams Ł100, second, third etc teams Ł125

Please make cheques payable to '4NCL' and send along with your entry to Mike Truran at the above address.

As usual, entry fees entitle teams to nominate up to 16 players (Divs 1-3) and 12 players (Div 4) in their team lists. Nominated players taking team lists over 16 (Divs 1-3) or 12 (Div 4) in total will be subject to the usual registration fee.

Registration fees (Ł5) and wild card fees (Ł10) remain at the same level.

Other

In the event that existing teams decide not to renew their entries, teams in the relevant division that would otherwise have been relegated at the end of the 2002/2003 season will not be so relegated (starting with the relegated team finishing in the highest position, and so on down the relegated teams). In the event that the number of teams not renewing their entries exceeds the number of relegated teams, extra teams will be promoted from the lower division after applying the rule above, and so on down the divisions as necessary.

As usual, teams in Divs 1-3 will consist of eight players and teams in Div 4 of six players. Teams in Divs 1-3 (but not in Div 4) will continue to be required to field at least one male and one female player in each of their matches.

It would be helpful if team captains/managers of entering teams could check their contact details (names, telephone numbers and email addresses) in the "Team Captains" section of the 4NCL website and confirm that they are shown correctly. Please notify Peter Sowray of any updates required.

If entering teams would like a link to their own website from the 4NCL website, please let Peter Sowray know.

Queries

If there are any points that you wish to discuss further, please get in touch with Paul Littlewood, Richard Furness, Mike Truran or Mark Adams, contact details for whom can be found on the Management Board page of the website.