LIFE in the Northern Premier Cricket League is about to get a lot more colourful.

Coloured clothing is to be introduced for the 12 teams playing in the league's major cup competition including Netherfield and Kendal thanks to Daniel Thwaites brewers.

In doing so, the league will become the first senior amateur cricket organisation in the country to adopt the coloured kit.

National sports clothing manufacturers Surridge UK are supplying the kits in partnership with Thwaites, who already sponsor the NPC League Cup.

Ex-Cumberland and Lancashire player Steve O'Shaughnessy, who is market manager with Surridge UK, said: "We applaud the initiative in the selection of coloured clothing for their cup competitions and it can only raise the profile of league cricket."

Brian Jenkins, the sales director for Thwaites, added: "This is a first' for league cricket nationally and underpins Thwaites' commitment to grass roots sport."

n Cumberland County Cricket Club have appointed a new scorer for their 2003 campaign.

He is 38-year-old Geoff Minshaw, who is currently the scorer and secretary of Cockermouth Cricket Club.

Geoff is entering his 23rd year as a scorer after starting when he was 16 with Whitehaven in 1980.

"We are very pelased to have Geoff on board," said Cumberland CC spokesman John Richardson.

"There was a very high standard of applicants from throughout the county and the club would like to thank those who showed an interest."

Cumberland CC will hold its annual meeting at the Shap Wells Hotel off the A6 approaching Shap, on Friday, March 28.

February 7, 2003 09:30