At the AGM of the Chess Section of the Sheffield and District Works Sports Association held on 4th September 2008, it was decided, in the face of only 3 teams registered for the 2008-2009 season, to suspend the league for at least the next year. The 10-minute team competition, the Hodgett Memorial, may well go ahead in the near future, as may a Presentation Night.

If new teams were to join, restarting the league in later years has not been ruled out. Any potential new team should contact the league secretary, John H T Eddershaw at

This is very sad news, though not unexpected. It is particularly sad that the first news of this league that I post on this website should be news of its suspension. In the future I hope to be able to post details of some of the long history of ‘The Works’.