New Season

Article by Phil Morgan

Each new season brings with it a new set of hopes, fears and expectations. I always enjoy the pre-season sense of anticipation. This year we can also welcome and celebrate the entry into the League of Beeston, the first new club to join the League this millennium. The club will play on Tuesday nights at the White Lion in Beeston. Hopefully they will be able to introduce new players to the pleasures of League chess.

Some unusual events have occurred in the close season to club second teams. Grantham 2 will reappear in Division 2 and West Notts 2 will play in Division 3. Grantham 2’s move was triggered by rule changes in respect of clubs with 2 teams in Division1. Gambit 2 have stepped up to take on this challenge. The withdrawal of West Notts 2 from the second division gives a clear signal that the West Notts club will be combining their stronger players in the first division team. It also presents Ashfield 3 with an unexpected promotion to Division 2.

A new season can see player transfers. David Levens, so long a mainstay at West Notts, moves to his nearest club, Ashfield while Oliver Graham, of Worksop and formerly Mansfield, is expected to turn out for Gambit.

The clubs who prospered last season e.g. Nomads, University and Newark with 7 promotions between them will expect to have more on their plates against stiffer opposition. The teams who were relegated will be aiming to bounce back.

“ And the seasons they go round and round
And the painted ponies go up and down
We’re captive on the carousel of time
We can’t return. We can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the Circle Game.”

* If you're too young to have heard of Joni Mitchell or this song from 1966, you can check this out on You Tube.