Dear All,

Most of you will be aware of the increased activities going on at the cricket club. We are trying to involve the local communities more, hold more social events, encourage people to come up for a drink on match days etc.
We have purchased new equipment for the juniors, bought new nets, a bowling machine, plan to improve the ground and the outbuildings, car park, signage and general stuff in the club.
After 25 years we are moving leagues from the Bolton league system to the Palace Shield which makes most of our matches around Preston/Chorley/Eccleston/Mawdsley/Rufford and Lancashire areas. There are a number of reasons behind the move but all around improving the Cricket experience and ensuring the financial security of the club for the future. Juniors will still continue to play in the Wigan District league so no change for them.
We are always looking to recruit new players of all ages and ability, from the juniors age 4/5 upwards to senior players. We have 4 senior teams as well as juniors at all ages, although there seems to be a shortage in numbers of early teens.
We have a number of local business who kindly support us, in many ways, including our local brewery, Prospect, whom provide us with their real ales, and we are extremely grateful to all of them. We have secured our first International sponsor, Standish Management, from the USA, who are sponsoring the scorebox on a five year deal, great news for the club.

As you can imagine, all of this doesn't just ‘happen’ ! There are a number of people involved in the club who give up some of their time, voluntarily, to ensure the smooth running of all local events, functions, tea’s, groundwork, finances, coaching, bar, training and many other activities which take place every year.

The club could do so much more and be integrated further within the community, as well as providing better facilities with the assistance and support of more people. I would urge anyone who is interested in the future of the club to get in touch and offer any time or help you are able to, in order to grow what we currently have. For those who have been to the club, I’m sure you will agree there is no nicer place to sit on a sunny day and have a beer or glass of wine.

It isn’t long ago when most of Standish were appalled at the thought of houses being built on the site, with hundreds of people saying they love having the cricket club there and would be willing to support it. I can count on one hand, the actual people who have done something.

It would be great to get some new people involved with ideas and suggestions of how to improve what we have. At the end of the day, it’s a 60 year old shed, which needs lots of work to keep going. We would all love to have a new clubhouse, but with the small number of people currently volunteering, it is always going to remain on a wish list.

Please feel free to contact me by phone, text, email, if you would like to help out in any way or just to discuss anything. We would be happy to hear from anyone who can offer support in terms of time, financially or sponsorship. You don’t have to be a cricketer or a cricket fan, just the passion to want to keep the cricket where it is and grow it to something we can all be proud of in the community.

Thanks for reading this.

Kind regards

Ste Critchley
CHAIRMAN.

07702 710304 scritchley@gmail.com