The cricket season in and around York is set to start as scheduled despite the potential disruption caused by the foot and mouth epidemic.

The York Vale League, York and District Senior League and Wetherby League will all begin on April 28 after clubs agreed to continue as normal - although emergency measures are likely to be employed to make sure all the games can be played.

As reported last month, it was feared the Horwarth Pulleyn Heselton-sponsored York Vale League would be the hardest hit as most of its clubs are rural-based.

However, a secretaries' meeting this week drew up contingency plans should they be needed and, with all clubs pulling together, league secretary Shane Hargrave was confident the season would be a success.

"It is not as bad as originally envisaged. We discussed the matter thoroughly at a meeting of all clubs," he said.

"There are a couple of clubs affected where livestock is in an adjacent fields, while a number of teams contain farmers.

"But we've given clubs that are affected the flexibility to play home games either away from home or on a later date. Clubs could reverse home and away fixtures or, where possible, utilise a Sunday, and we could, if need be, extend the season.

"A number of clubs have offered their grounds to be available on a Sunday when they're not using them, so all the clubs have rallied round."

Only one opening-day fixture - a derby between Stillingfleet and North Duffield - is affected by foot and mouth and the two clubs have already agreed to rearrange it for later in the season.

"We have been fortunate to an extent as a lot of the fields adjacent to our grounds are used for cereal farming more than livestock," added Hargrave.

"Any clubs affected will take precautions and common sense will prevail. Fingers crossed we will have a jolly good cricket season."

Meanwhile, the Hunters Estate Agent-sponsored York league have formed a five-member emergency committee to deal with any problems which clubs may encounter because of foot and mouth.

It comprises league chairman Bernard Stevens, secretary Albert Pattison, Roger Dale (Bolton Percy), John Goodrick (Dunnington) and John Dodds (Stamford Bridge).

To date few clubs have referred problems to the committee although Londesborough Park have had difficulty with access to the ground which is surrounded by farm land.

Bolton Percy did encounter similar problems but loose straw has been put down on the access to the ground as a precaution.

The league's pre-season meeting will be held at Stamford Bridge on Tuesday, April 24.

Wetherby League officials will be having a similar meeting on Thursday at Wetherby Town Council offices but secretary John Heath believes the season will start on time.

He said that the Sicklinghall and Amaranth clubs had reported difficulties with access to their grounds but the league were looking at ground-share possibilities with affected clubs playing games on Sundays at non-affected grounds.

Updated: 10:39 Wednesday, April 11, 2001