Mersey & Irwell 1879 AGM
Following the closure of the 1879 season the executives of the league's member clubs gathered for their annual general meeting. It is at this meeting that the Burnley and Blackburn clubs rejections spur them into forming their own league. Whilst distance of travel is again presented as the main reason for the rejection, in the privacy of the meeting Hughes made a more vocal protest on accepting Blackburn Olympic and the effects that may have on amateurism. At this point in history Hughes is an outspoken loyalist to amateurism, his fear is that accepting teams to the league that are linked to association football clubs will allow professionalism to seep into the league. Whilst professionalism is still outlawed in association football it is becoming well known that some clubs in Lancashire are paying their players, even bringing the best players from Scotland in with the prospect of decent wages to play the game. These players are referred to as Scotch Professors.
At this same meeting the Longsight club present a request to change the leagues rules to disallow players from switching clubs, the Longsight team, guided by the hurt of their betrayal, demand an all out ban on a player that switches club. After several hours of debate an amended rule change is accepted by the meeting, players remain free to switch clubs, however if they switch clubs during the season, they cannot play for their new team until the next season.
The collapse of Longsight L&NWR B.B.C.
As the 1880 season approaches the organisers of the Longsight club face something of an existential, some players appear to have lost interest in participating in the game feeling dejected by the poor 1879 season, this is coupled with rumours in the depot that one of their strongest players, Edward Strachan has joined Belle Vue. Spring breaks and the club seem unable to even organise practice sessions, this leads to the company pulling funding for the team and it's ultimate collapse.
Edward Strachan, the well respected Longsight shortstop did join Belle Vue, a solid and consistent player, but not stand out. Michael McKeller, notable for setting the league record of 41 stolen bases in the 1877 inaugural season, follows his friend to Belle Vue.
Third baseman Ernest Nichols stuck it out with Longsight until the end, he tried desperately to keep the team alive, but despite his best efforts failed. He is enraged by the players that joined Belle Vue, at first reluctant to seek out a new club, his love for the game does eventually take him to Moss Lane Base Ball Club. Nichols has been consistently improving at the bat, his 1879 average being .303.
Crescent Base Ball Club
With Longsight pulling out of the league with only a couple of months until the season begins little thought is made of finding a replacement. It is Vic Cullen of Crescent B.B.C. that approaches the Mersey & Irwell league. Cullen, a hurler and founder of the club offers to fill the place of Longsight in the league and states with confidence his team can fulfill the Longsight fixtures. Higgins is resistant, he would rather see another club from the Liverpool region but he adjourns an emergency meeting of the league and Crescent win admission to the league with a vote of 5-2.
Crescent is a club based in Salford, founded in the historic Crescent in early 1879. They play their games in Peel Park and are self financed by Vic Cullen who comes from a wealthy mill owning family.