FORMER champions Canon Frome are to return to the GB Liners Marches League.

The villagers, who won the Division One title in 2001, had their transfer back from the Worcestershire County League confirmed at last week's Marches annual meeting.

"We have been asked previously to re-join as we have only have one Saturday side but members have previously voted against it," said Canon From chairman Andy Rogers.

"The reason the members have changed their mind is that the Marches league have offered us Division 1 status which previously hasn't been available.

"We feel that at the moment we have a very strong youth section with u9, u11, u13, u15 teams all playing in Herefordshire junior leagues next season.

"We are though still struggling to get a 2nd XI out on a Saturday.

"The main reason for us rejoining the league though is for competitive cricket.

"We have played and won division 6 of the Worcestershire League for two years.

"However the league rules say you can't play any higher than division 6 without also entering a 2nd XI.

"We have not been able to fulfil this criterion and, with our youngsters coming through, feel that playing locally with less travelling will make it easier for us to rebuild and get two Saturday league sides to complement our Sunday friendly team and midweek touring and evening league teams."

"It is a big thing for the league to get Canon Frome back," said Marches League chairman Jim Sandford, who was re-elected at the meeting.

"But Ewyas Harold, Dales 2nd and Talgarth 2nd have all withdrawn.

"There is good news, though with Hay reconstituting and they are starting again with a young team which will probably play in the lowest division."

The most significant change passed at the meeting, however, was a constitutional change which sees any alterations to playing conditions now to be made by the committee rather than by a vote of all the clubs.

This change was passed by a 28-1 vote, with one abstention.

League stalwart Derrick Jones makes a return to the committee as the new vice-chairman, replacing Steve Newton who becomes president in succession to the late Pete Sykes.