DAX Sowrey, the new chairman of the Bradford Junior League, has vowed to try and emulate the excellent job of his predecessor.

Phil Radcliffe stepped down at the annual meeting at Cleckheaton Sports Club, but will be vice-chairman for 12 months to ease the transition, tapping into his knowledge and experience.

Sowrey, who knows that he has a difficult act to follow, reminded clubs of the difficulties of functioning with such a small committee.

Recently there have only been five people running the ship - Radcliffe, Shiv Krishan, EDI (equality, diversity and inclusion) officer Haqi Siddique, secretary and registration secretary Sue Brearley and Sowrey.

The latter said: “It is very difficult making a ship sail very fast with so few people - and in one direction.”

Radcliffe, who has been in charge for the best part of a decade and has worked with such luminaries as Joan Peel, Michael Hope, Norman Fazackerley, Colin Priestley, Tom Priestley and John Dewhirst, explained: “It is time for someone else to have a go and take things in a different direction.”

Others to join the committee apart from those five are James Butterfield, sponsor Mark Hippey, who confirmed the backing of Media & MGMT Ltd for another year, and Feyaz Akram.

Also some club officials came up to Radcliffe at the end of the meeting to not only thank him for his service, but also offer their help as committee members.

Sponsorship income for the year ending November 30, 2023 came to £4,275.66, split between Media & MGMT Ltd (£2,000) and Undercliffe Cricket Club’s charity day (£2,275.66) last August.

However, the league trophies and engraving cost £1,833.66, there was a deficit on the Yorkshire Junior Cricket Festival of £1,110 and a deficit of £1,170 on coaching courses.

Nevertheless, after making a loss of £982.30 in 2022, a profit of £106.71 was made in 2023, leaving £28,442.46 in the Yorkshire Bank.

Meanwhile, clubs were encouraged to send their best players to the Bradford Junior League’s indoor nets.