Merseyside Cricket Umpires Association

Saturday 28th February 2026

9:30am to 4:00pm

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This course is designed to give new umpires the key skills, knowledge, and confidence to stand as an umpire in cricket. No prior experience of umpiring in cricket is required before attending the course.

 

Whether you plan to support Junior Softball cricket through to adult cricket, this course will cover the following topics:

 

- Understanding the role of the umpire

- Gain a basic understanding of umpiring the game

- Answering appeals and the common methods of dismissal

- How to communicate effectively with all stakeholders in the game

- Judging whether or not it is safe to play

 

The course is split into classroom and practical learning, so we recommend learners to come dressed appropriately.

 

Learners will be asked to complete some e-learning prior to attending the course, which will take no more than 90 minutes to complete in total. Pre-learning can be completed via multiple visits or in one go. 

 

Pre-requisites: Learners must be 14 years of age at the time of the course.

 

Cost £70.00*

 

* A free Umpires Coat and 50% of the course fee will be reimbursed by the Liverpool & District Cricket Competition to all individuals subsequently officiating at any level or game within the Liverpool Competition (including the new Transition Division).

 

Post course, learners will have the confidence and competence to go and umpire at appropriate levels within recreational cricket.

 

Link: https://booking.ecb.co.uk/event/644656ac-1cfb-4aa4-bfab-9167e36d4252/regPage:ae48b66f-f3f6-4eff-af30-e26eea1ddee8

Last night at the MCUA End of season meeting, the MCUA Chair awarded umpires with our Divisional awards named after previous members sadly no longer with us. who gave their all to the MCUA over its proud 35 year history.

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Details found here...

https://www.umpapps.org/2025awards

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The MCUA is proud to announce that our very own Kirsty Blackham will officiate her very first ICC level match when she will be an on field umpire when England Women U19 Development team take on Scotland A in a One Day International at Loughborough University on 14th July 2025.

 

Not only that Kirsty will also be an on field umpire when Derbyshire Women take on Leicestershire Women in the ECB Vitality Blast League 2 on 20th July 2025 at Repton School Ground in Derbyshire.

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 The MCUA is extremely proud of Kirsty and wish her good luck.

The MCUA is proud to announce our Grade 1 Umpires for the 2026 Season.

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The MCUA Grading Committee decided to dispense with the Grade 1 Reserves to give all Umpires a fair chance at progression to the Premier League

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Your 2026 Grade 1 Umpires are...

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Chris Dunn

Craig Parkinson

Wayne Vernon

Richard Selkirk

John Farrell

Chris Riley

Chris Williams

Chris Spencer

Royal Rajan

Paul Vandome

Kirsty Blackham

Stephen Fildes

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Congratulations and Good Luck for the upcoming season...

The MCUA is proud to announce that our very own Chairman Chris Dunn will be an on field umpire for the EBC U18 County Cup Final between Yorkshire and Glamorgan at Headingley Carnegie on 7th September.​

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The MCUA is extremely proud to have one of its members appointed to such a prestigious match at such an iconic venue.

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Go well Chris, well deserved

Tonight the MCUA conducted its Annual General Meeting.

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A number of votes took place involving the members present.

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Chris Dunn was elected as the new MCUA Chairperson

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Wayne Vernon was elected unopposed as the new MCUA Secretary

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Kirsty Blackham and John Farrel were both elected unopposed into their existing roles as Treasurer & Recruitment and Retention Officer respectively

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Joe Parsons was re-elected as Elected Committee Member

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A massive thankyou to the outgoing Chairperson Ian Laurence and outgoing Secretary David Laybourne for all your hard work over the years.

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Ian is also leaving the MCUA to take up an umpire position in the Lancashire League and we wish him all the best for the future

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Thankyou to all the members that attended the AGM tonight

2025 has been a year to remember for the MCUA with members being appointed to some of the most prestigious cricket matches in the ECB Calendar.

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These matches include:

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National Over 50's Semi Final
ECB U16 County Cup Semi Final
Lancs Foundation Thunder Cup Semi Final 
National Counties Knockout Semi Final
National Village Cup Semi Final
National U18 Cup Competition Final
National Women's U18 T20 Final
ECB T20 North West Area Finals
Lancashire Knockout Final
U18 County Vitality Blast Final
U18 National County Final
ECB National Super 8's Finals
Lancashire Thunder Cup Final
ECB Under 18's County T20 Finals

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Congratulations to all the Umpires appointed to these fixtures, the MCUA as an entire association is extremely proud of its members for such a successful 2025.

The MCUA is proud to announce that our very own Stephen Fildes will be an on field Umpire for 2 Metro Bank One Day Cup Women's League 2 fixtures this month...

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He will be in the middle for when Worcestershire Rapids Women host Derbyshire Falcons Women at Danescourt, Wolverhampton on 17th August 2025.

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He will then be in the middle when Derbyshire Falcons Women host Leicestershire Foxes Women at Duffield Cricket Club on 25th August 2025.

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The MCUA is extremely proud that our member have been appointed to these high level fixtures and wish Stephen the best of luck.​