The London League is the best league outside the 4NCL ...

[Ben Purton]

I've had experiences of numerous leagues now. Berkshire, Bucks, Hants,Bristol,Norfolk,London,Thames Valley and of cours 4NCL.

London league is by far the best. Some of the other leagues are great relative to city scope. Some are well, a proper joke.
I think Brian Smith should be on ECF board as he seems to know how to run chess well.

Ben

[TomChivers]

Outside the 4NCL, what's the second best league do you think?

[benedgell]

Somerset League. By a country mile And Sedgemoor are the best club outside of 4NCL.

[Michele Clack]

I would like to nominate the Birmingham League. It is well run and financial control is excellent. It also organises Open Quickplay events and individual tournaments for each division of the League. It is played over 6 divisions, each with about a dozen teams, so there is something for all standards of player. I play in the Worcester County and Worcester & District Leagues as well and although these are good the Birmingham League wins hands down. It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has played in the Birmingham League and some of these other Leagues to see how they compare.

[James Coleman]

I would agree with that. I started my chess career in the Birmingham league in 1988 and played in it for about ten years. Back then it was as many as ten divisions, but it was incredibly well run. In some ways it was superior to the London League. If I was forced to choose now however I would have to pick the London League simply because of the strength of opposition, in the BDCL most clubs had a couple of 170's and that was it. It might be different now though.

[Peter Turner]

Interesting item on BBC News this morning. Malcolm Pein commenting on the chess, this is what we have been waiting for . . . . Chess Boxing!! London has secured funding to support the new sport(s). Any ideas for possible future ECF Chess/Boxing champions??

[Ben Purton]

Stop living in the past Coleman , Drunken Knights are the current Boss's

You play for us, you should know, we are to the London League what al murrey is to any public house.

[TomChivers]

we are to the London League what al murrey is to any public house.

A parody of the boss?!

Anyway, so what's the worst league then and why?

[Gavin Strachan]

Probably one with lots of defaults, teams pulling out and not a lot going on besides! (Essex League is the best ; totally unbiased)

[Tim Spanton]

Unless things have greatly changed in the past 30 years, I would be surprised if Yorkshire's Woodhouse/IM Brown set-up is not one of the very best leagues.

[James Toon]

Posters have given several examples of good chess leagues, but what makes them good? How would the ideal chess league be run? Here are my suggestions, in no particular order.

1. The fixture list would be published at least one month before the start of the season so that captains and players had plenty of time to enter matches in their diaries.

2. The league would have a website giving details of clubs, players, fixtures, venues, officials etc. Match results would be given in full. Results and tables would be updated regularly, ideally within 24 hours.

3. All games would be finished on the night, with either a quickplay finish or all moves in a specified time.

4. All venues would be quiet and spacious with good parking facilities or easy access to public transport. Tea and coffee should be available. There should be a pub nearby.

5. All games should be submitted for grading (i.e. the league should not be closed, as my local league was when I was at university).

6. The league should have promotion and relegation in its various divisions, otherwise matches lose their excitement.

7. Default penalties should not be applied if the default is notified in advance of the match.

8. Any disputes would be resolved by the league committee quickly and fairly.

No doubt some of these are wishful thinking. I’ve stopped short of obvious flights of fancy, such as having an arbiter provided by the ECF for every league match free of charge to the league.