As 2024 draws to a close there is mounting excitement in the Birtwistle household for the start of 2025.

Brothers Max (17) and Noah (15) are about to embark on an exciting adventure in South Africa in mid-January.

The boys (pictured right) are now pursuing their studies at Scarborough College and will participate in an exchange tour to South Africa for seven weeks.

They will train and play for St Stithians College where they also hope to meet up with Greenmount CC professional Jacques Snyman.

This is an amazing opportunity and will offer fantastic development for both lads as they prepare for the 2025 season.

Both boys have represented Lancashire at county age group level and have made their Greenmount CC first team bows in the last two years.

Max and Noah would like to pass their thanks to local businesses SK Kits and Doctech for their kind sponsorship and support for this exciting journey.

Picture below are Max and Noah with Greenmount CC kit supplier Ian Senior and Ruban Rajasooriyar, Managing Director of Doctech.

Doctech is a 40-year-old business based in Bury who help organisations streamline business processes through document management software solutions. Find out more about Doctech HERE.

Everyone at Greenmount CC wishes you all the best out there lads, enjoy every moment and best of luck!

This week’s bar opening hours are as follows:

Monday, December 23rd: 3pm to 10pm

Christmas Eve: 3pm to 10pm

Christmas Day: 12 noon to 8pm

Boxing Day: 3pm to 10pm

Friday, December 27th: 2pm to 11pm

Saturday, December 28th: 12 noon to 11pm

Sunday, December 29th: 12 noon to 10.30pm

Sport on TV this week

Monday, December 23rd: World Matchplay Darts; 8pm Crawley Town v Birmingham City

Thursday, December 26th: 2pm: Newcastle v Aston Villa; 5.30pm: Derby v West Brom; 8pm: Stoke v Leeds; 8pm: Liverpool v Leicester

Friday, December 27th: World Matchplay Darts; 7.30pm: Brighton v Brentford; 8.15pm: Arsenal v Ipswich

Saturday, December 28th: World Matchplay Darts

Sunday, December 29th: World Matchplay Darts; 12.30pm: Sheff utd v West Brom; 2.30pm: Leicester v Man City; 5.15pm: West Ham v Liverpool; 8pm: Middlesbrough v Burnley

Cask ales this week

The coming week’s cask ales will be a selection of beers: Bowland Bumble; Ossett Silver King and Moorhouses White Witch & Blonde Witch.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas

Hi All…

Just a quick note to thank everyone at Greenmount Cricket Club for all their help and support throughout this past year.

In particular, I would like to thank all our board members, bar staff, cleaners, ground staff and anyone else who has helped to keep the Cabin looking as good as it has this year. It is a credit to you all.

A lot of the above is also down to all of our sponsors and donors alike who have supported the club in various ways, which in turn, enables us to keep moving forward. Thank-you for your support. Also, not forgetting our caterer Chris Harrison who has dished up some tasty meals.

With two new bars installed this year and refurbishment of the function room, we are well-placed to start the 2025 cricket season.

I would also like to give a shout-out to three of our junior cricketers, Max and Noah Birtwistle and Edward Dickinson who will be attending a six-week training camp in South Africa in the New Year – good luck boys, have a good trip and enjoy.

The fixtures are out for next season and can be found on the club website HERE.

South African Jacques Snyman will be returning for a third year as our professional for the 2025 campaign.

Finally, I would like to wish all members and supporters a very merry Christmas and a healthy and happy New Year. Hope to see you in the Cabin over the festivities for a beer and a chat.

Andy

This Friday (December 20th) between 4pm and 8pm Birchwood Pizza will be returning to the club to sell their delicious wood-fired pizzas and chips.

Come on down to the Log Cabin an treat yourself to a pizza while enjoying a drink – or come and get a take-away.

A big thank-you to everyone who attended the Christmas Market on Saturday.

In the run up to Christmas, advance notice of opening hours on key dates are:

Christmas Eve: 3pm to 10pm

Christmas Day: 12 noon to 8pm

Boxing Day: 3pm to 10pm

New Years Eve: 3pm till late

New Years Day: 3pm to 10pm

This week’s bar opening hours

Monday: 3pm to 10pm

Tuesday: 4pm to 11pm

Wednesday & Thursday: 3pm to 11pm

Friday: 2pm to 11pm

Saturday: 12 noon to 11pm

Sunday: 12 noon to 10.30pm

Sport on TV this week

Monday, December 16th: World Matchplay Darts; 8pm: Bournemouth v West Ham

Tuesday, December 17th: World Matchplay Darts

Wednesday, December 18th: World Matchplay Darts; 7.30pm: Arsenal v Crystal Palace; 8pm: Southampton v Liverpool

Thursday, December 19th: World Matchplay Darts; 8pm: Spurs v Man Utd

Friday, December 20th: World Matchplay Darts; 8pm: Luton v Derby

Saturday, December 21st: World Matchplay Darts; 12.30pm Aston Villa v Man City; 5.30pm: Crystal Palace v Arsenal

Sunday, December 22nd: World Matchplay Darts; 2pm: Fulham v Southampton; 4.30pm: Spurs v Liverpool

Cask ales this week

The coming week’s cask ales will be a selection of beers: Bowland Bumble; Ossett Silver King and Moorhouses White Witch and Blonde Witch

Greenmount CC senior pre-season training will commence on Wednesday, March 5th 2025.

Two lanes have been booked between 6pm and 7pm at the PA High Performance Indoor Cricket Centre at Unit 4, Britannia Mill, Cobden Street, Bury BL9 6AW.

Dates for the training sessions are as follows (all start at 6pm):

Wednesday, March 5th

Wednesday, March 12th

Wednesday, March 19th

Wednesday, March 26th

Wednesday, April 2nd

Wednesday, April 9th

Wednesday, April 16th

The JWL Lancashire League fixtures for the 2025 campaign have been announced.

Greenmount first eleven get started with a trip to Colne on Sunday, April 20th, while the seconds entertain their Lowerhouse counterparts on the same day.

The third team are away at Littleborough a week later on Saturday, April 26th.

In the Worsley Cup and second team Junior Cup sue to be played on Saturday, May 3rd, we have been handed a bye in the first round.

Ahead of the new season a friendly has been arranged at Westhoughton CC on Saturday, April 12th.

Full fixtures are as follows:

FIRST TEAM

APRIL

20 – Colne v Greenmount

27 – Greenmount v Bacup

MAY

4 – Greenmount v Enfield

11 – Accrington v Greenmount

18 – Greenmount v Rawtenstall

15 – East Lancs v Greenmount

JUNE

1 – Greenmount v Great Harwood

8 – Rishton v Greenmount

15 – Greenmount v Nelson

22 – Church v Greenmount

29 – Greenmount v Crompton

JULY

6 – Greenmount v Colne

13 – Bacup v Greenmount

20 – Enfield v Greenmount

27 – Greenmount v Accrington

AUGUST

3 – Rawtenstall v Greenmount

9 – Greenmount v East Lancs

17 – Great Harwood v Greenmount

24 – Greenmount v Rishton

31 – Nelson v Greenmount

SEPTEMBER

7 – Greenmount v Church

14 – Crompton v Greenmount

The T20 competition draw sees the Mount at home in three of the five Friday fixtures.

MAY

30 – Haslingden at home

JUNE

6 – Norden away

13 – Ramsbottom at home

20 – Walsden at home

17 – Crompton away

SECOND TEAM

APRIL

20 – Greenmount II v Lowerhouse II

27 – Bacup II v Greenmount II

MAY

4 – Enfield II v Greenmount II

11 – Greenmount II v Accrington II

18 – Rawtenstall II v Greenmount II

25 – Greenmount II v East Lancs II

JUNE

1 – Middleton II v Greenmount II

8 – Greenmount II v Rishton II

15 – Walsden II v Greenmount II

22 – Greenmount II v Church II

29 – Crompton II v Greenmount II

JULY

6 – Lowerhouse II v Greenmount II

13 – Greenmount II v Bacup II

20 – Greenmount II v Enfield II

27 – Accrington II v Greenmount II

AUGUST

3 – Greenmount II v Rawtenstall II

9 – East Lancs II v Greenmount II

17 – Greenmount II v Middleton II

24 – Rishton II v Greenmount II

31 – Greenmount II v Walsden II

SEPTEMBER

7 – Church II v Greenmount II

14 – Greenmount II v Crompton II

THIRD TEAM

APRIL

26 – Littleborough III v Greenmount III

MAY

5 – Greenmount III v Middleton III

10 – Todmorden III v Greenmount III

26 – Greenmount III v Rochdale III

31 – Norden III v Greenmount III

JUNE

14 – Great Harwood III v Greenmount III

21 – Greenmount III v Nelson III

JULY

5 – Greenmount III v Littleborough III

12 – Middleton III v Greenmount III

26 – Greenmount III v Todmorden III

AUGUST

2 – Rochdale III v Greenmount III

10 – Greenmount III v Norden III

16 – Greenmount III v Great Harwood III

23 – Nelson III v Greenmount III

The club held it’s annual Senior Presentation night on Saturday, November 9th.

A great night was had by all with entertainment provided by DJ Paul Stocks and Chris Harrison putting on a splendid buffet.

Young players Toby Leach and Noah Birtwistle were the stars of the show as they picked up five and three awards respectively.

The event was sponsored by official club sponsors Mercedes Whitefield who were represented by Senior Sales Manager Dave Preston.

The full awards winners were as follows:

First team

Batsman of the Year: Tom Heaton

Bowler of the Year: Callum Hunter

Players’ Player of the Year: Tom Heaton

Second team

Batsman of the Year: Toby Leach

Bowler of the Year: Oli Dixon

Players’ Player of the Year: Toby Leach

Third team

Batsman of the Year: Toby Leach

Bowler of the Year: Noah Birtwistle

Players’ Player of the Year: Adam Clarke

Other awards

Club person of the Year: Paul Doherty

Pauline Rigby Under-18 Award: Toby Leach

Most wickets: Noah Birtwistle

Cyril Butterworth Most Runs Award: Toby Leach

Mercedes Whitefield Player of the Year: Noah Birtwistle

Performance of the Year: Travis Townsend

Top from left: chairman Andy Skinner welcomes Dave Preston, Senior Sales Manager of club sponsors Whitefield Mercedes. Centre: Adam Clarke third team players’ player of the season trophy with third team skipper Mark Crowther. Right: Club person of the year went to the hard-working Paul Doherty.

Middle from left: Toby Leach is presented with some of his five awards by Andy Skinner. Centre: Second team skipper Oli Dixon gets the second team bowling award. Right: Tom Heaton who took the first team batting prize and first team players’ player award.

Bottom from left: Noah Birtwistle took third team bowler award, most wickets and the Mercedes player of the year accolade. Right: Mrs Barbara Butterworth (wife of former club stalwart Cyril) presents Toby Leach with the most runs award that is in her late husband’s name.

The Mount have received a bye in the first round of next summer’s Lancashire League Worsley Cup competition.

Meanwhile, in the league’s T20 competition, the club have been drawn in the T20 MPA Group with near neighbours Ramsbottom, Crompton, Haslingden, Norden and Walsden.

T20 group games will run from Friday, May 30th to June 27th.

The new league campaign will begin on Sunday, April 20th. This is a week later than in previous seasons in response to the last two years’ adverse weather challenges in getting grounds fit for play in time.

Greenmount professional Jacques Snyman has been selected for the South Africa team to compete in the prestigious Hong Kong Sixes competition starting on November 1st.

South Africa open their campaign against hosts Hong Kong on Friday followed by an enthralling clash against New Zealand later in the day.

They will be hoping to progress and add to their only Sixes success in 2017.

The six-a-side format has a focus on aggressive batting, fast outfielding and consistent bowling – with that in mind, it’s not difficult to see why Jacques with his all-round talent has received his call-up.

The full South Africa squad for the tournament is: JJ Smuts (captain); Modiri Litheko; Evan Jones; Jacques Snyman; Matthew Boast; Don Radebe and Aubrey Swanepoel.

Everyone at the Mount wishes Jacques well for the competition.

Link HERE to the South Africa Hong Kong Sixes page.