Westmorland Cricket League historian John Glaister gives his take on this season.

It took friends and family reunited but after 25 seasons, the hurting is over.

The arrival at Clifton Park of James Rafferty to join his biological brother Nick and Danny Wilkinson to join his blood brother Peter Wilson completed the reconstruction of Shireshead’s first team squad. There is not a weak link in their first choice first team and they swept to the golden double of League Champions and League Cup winners.

Since their arrival in 1976, few other clubs have given back as much as they have taken out. They were the promoters of the junior section in 1950. Subsequently in 1998 they became the first village club to field three Saturday teams. The work they have done on their ground and facilities benefits everyone and at League management level wise counsel is proffered. They are a beacon club and proof that what goes on off the field determines what goes on the field.

Equally pleased with their season’s work will be captain of Warton, Gareth Finney and captain of Westgate, Andrew Hill. Both clubs are currently rebuilding. Warton can preen themselves in finishing runners-up, mostly on the back of runs from Ryan Nelson and Westgate won out on 20-20 finals day.

Both have sound internal structures which is not always apparent in too many clubs at this present time.

Arnside found what many have found before them. It is difficult to defend a championship as everybody wants to beat you. The force that drove them last season had all but blown-out by mid-way. They are a team of attractive stroke players however, and their 300 against Ambleside was a first in modern times. The first division record is 306 set by Moor Hospital in 1960.

For those who recall the WCL of 1990 much has changed since. Harsh as this may sound the bottom six of the 2014 first division could well have been second division teams in 1990. Burneside and Windermere, the two bedrock teams of the WCL, serve as a metaphor for this astonishing turnaround.

Had it not been for a league rule Burneside would have suffered only their third ever demotion. The last was in 1955. Ellergreen Park in the second division doesn’t bear thinking about, but the times they are changing.

It is no coincidence that the decline of Burneside coincides with the loss of Tony Walker in 2012. There must be similar fears as to what might happen in Queen’s Park with the tragic death of Jo Stephenson. Just like Tony he too had a handle on the doings of the Windermere Club and without steerage they too could go off course.

Shireshead and Forton Cricket Club apart it has not been a vintage season but a story from the Sedgwick Club is enough to warm the cockles of any heart. Towards the end of the season Simon Willacy donated a kidney to his brother George. George’s life had been on hold, the operation was successful. To have both Simon and George spitting feathers again on the historic Sedgwick House ground would be a sight to behold.