At the start of the season the league made some temporary alterations to the league rules to help clubs and players return to competitive play. This allowed far greater flexibility for clubs to field teams from anyone in the club – the intent was to encourage play and not focus too much on the league rules and placings. It was also agreed that there would be no promotion and relegation at the end of the 21/22 season, although we will be awarding trophies to the division winners.

These changes to the rule would appear to have had the desired effect as all clubs and teams that started the season have finished the season. Although I do anticipate a reduction in the number of clubs and teams for the 22/23 season as we start to return to near normal rules.

All three division one titles were won by the newly merged club Belstead Bergholt, formed at the beginning of the season by the merging of Belstead & Ransoms and East Bergholt clubs.

During the season the league committee have also been able to play the Playford Trophy and the Junior U15 and U18 tournaments. The Playford Trophy was won by Glevering in a close final against Woodbridge.

The Junior events were both played on the same day at the same venue for the first time in order to reduce costs – this may have impacted on slightly lower numbers nevertheless it was a successful event that broke even from the league finance perspective. Full results will be published on the league website over the coming weeks.

We cannot report on the 21/22 season without acknowledging the sad passing of Ian Young in December 2021. Ian served on the IDBL Committee from 1961 through to 2017, initially as committee member (11 years) then as secretary (41 years) then as president (4 years) a total of 56 years!!

Looking ahead to the 22/23 season the league committee are planning to resume competitive league play and will be proposing to the league AGM minor changes to the league rules that will still allow some flexibility for clubs but is a steppingstone back to normality. The league stackings for the 22/23 season will be based on the agreed finishing places from the aborted 19/20 season as agreed at last league AGM.

The league will publish the proposed stacking for 22/23 at the end of July and the league AGM will be on 5th September, with matches starting shortly afterwards.

Glenn Tooke