ROCHDALE chairman Mark Reynolds on their switch to the Lancashire League

BEFORE joining the Lancashire League we had an AGM with a single agenda item.

In the room that day there were 103 people - a mixture of sponsors, supporters and players - and the vote was 103 for, none against and no abstentions. Everyone was delighted this new adventure was about to start and we have embraced it.

Fourteen games in and we can safely say that everything is going well.

It was a big move for the club but it has definitely been the right move.

We’d had a couple of transition periods previously and a couple of options for new leagues to join. But there was no doubt in our mind that the Lancashire League was the best.

The standard of cricket is what we expected. It is tough, but that is probably aided by the fact that teams are laying down markers because we are playing new teams.

That brings with it different rivalries and challenges and I think we are in the thick of a big battle to score a top 12 finish. As with every team in the league, the goal is to make that cut.

I know it’s always the easy option to say we want to finish as high as we can, but finishing in the top 12 was a clear goal that we set, with possibly a cup run as well, and we’re doing okay in the T20.

The biggest disappointment is the lack of home form. We’ve picked up plenty of points on the road and had we managed to back that up with some consistency at home we would be attacking the second half of the season in reasonable shape. One other challenge we’ve faced is a split shift with our pro. Ed Moore goes home on July 1 but he will be replaced by New Zealander Nick Kelly and we’re looking forward to welcoming him.

We’ve received a good welcome at grounds and there’s been a good vibe, although I’ve not been brave enough to wear my Blackburn Rovers shirt yet as I know there are a lot of Burnley fans who travel around the grounds!

We’ve commemorated every fixture we’ve had this year with a pennant which reads Rochdale CC v the opposition and the date.

We’ve enjoyed going to Lowerhouse, and we struck on a tremendously sunny day at Accrington.

There was good crowd there and a great setting and summed up our desire to move into the league, playing these clubs with historical tradition.

The standard is as tough as we’d anticipated, but we’re thoroughly enjoying it.