Opposition to cricket name

Press, 10 October 1984, Page 56

Opposition to cricket name

Lancaster Park’s intention of associating its sponsor’s name with one of its two first grade cricket teams seems unlikely to gain the approval of the Canterbury association.

The matter will be discussed at this evening’s meeting of the association’s management committee, but the Lancaster Park proposal is already assured of strong opposition. Soon after Lancaster Park was granted dual representation in the top grade it decided to avoid naming its sides as A and B. Instead one team was to be called DB Lancaster Park,

and the other simply Lancaster Park.

But the C.C.A. chairman, Alby Duckmanton, said yesterday official approval had not been obtained before the club’s decision was made public.

It came to the attention of the association’s board of control, which comprises senior office bearers and chairmen of sub-commit-tees, which was “fairly unanimous” in its rejection of the proposal. In fact, the board has recommended to this evening’s meeting that the association not accept any club registrations in which a

.sponsor’s name is associated with that of a team. The teams have been titled Lancaster Park A and Lancaster Park B in the association’s weekly draws and its handbook. Mr Duckmanton said that when he was initially approached by the club for his views he replied that he saw no problem if the association’s main sponsor, Trusteebank was not against it.

“Trusteebank had no great objection, though it was not terribly keen. I was told if the trend did not spread there would be no objection,” said Mr Duck-

man ton. But as soon as Lancaster Park’s plan became common knowledge several other clubs contacted Mr Duckmanton. One had. already told a sponsor it could not use its name in a team title, and others sought clarification with the possibility of following Lancaster Park’s lead.

“I am not against progress but this is something which must be looked at and given more thought. It could so easily get out of hand and belittle some proud club names,” said Mr Duckmanton.