SINCE the inception of the Greater Manchester League in 2016 many people believed this would be the end for cricket and we would start to see the demise of the great sport.

Many felt it was wrong to break with tradition of the Bolton League, Bolton and District Cricket Association, Saddleworth League, Central Lancashire League, Lancashire County League and North Manchester Cricket League.

Leagues that all had history which was due to be disrupted by the new kid on the block.

I was sceptical as my club Elton had just moved into the Central Lancashire League in 2015 so it seemed strange to move after one season.

It was, however, clear from our first season in the GMCL the right choice had been made.

Every fixture has a purpose now, there are no dead rubbers with six games to go after a team has walked the league.

Or if a team has been relegated they can still play a role in ensuring which clubs get dragged down with them.

The GMCL will have its teething problems for the first five years, maybe even longer – it is the biggest league of its kind in the North West, housing more than 70 first teams.

Questions were obviously asked recently when Bamford Fieldhouse could no longer raise a first team, and when Fothergill and Harvey had to fold due to not being able to recover from a terrible act of vandalism.

But cricket certainly will not die because of the league changes that have taken place over the last few years.

Don’t get me wrong it will be a while before all clubs in the structure are truly happy.

In Bury I feel the GMCL has led to clubs upping their game on and off the pitch.

I liaise with many clubs, not just in Bury, through business over the course of the year.

But it has become more apparent to me how much hard work goes into our clubs with the aim to return them back to truly being hubs of the community.

Last week I assisted three of the Bury clubs with artwork for their upcoming T20 fixtures so players and members could hand-deliver leaflets to residents.

They did this not just to try to drum up a bumper crowd on a Friday evening but as a polite reminder to people they are there and are extremely welcoming.

I managed to get to Elton Rifles’ game against Oldham West and the Woodbank Wildboyz game against Bury Storm on Friday.

Both were brimming with spectators on a warm evening enjoying the atmosphere, the cricket and burgers and beer.

Our clubs have started to get it right when it comes to advertising their T20 fixtures and it was a real pleasure to be present to see their hard work being successful for the first group games and to have helped in a small capacity.

People may have been worried for the state of the game with the GMCL’s arrival in 2016 but in my opinion, it has helped to improve the sport in our town, and long may that continue.