For any players and members available, this weekend there will be working parties on the ground from 1pm on Friday, April 1st, Saturday, April 2nd and Sunday, April 3rd.
Any help will be greatly appreciated as the cricket committee aim to get the ground in tip-top condition ahead of the first games on April 9th and April 10th.
Greenmount Cricket Club has a new chairman. Andy Skinner is taking over the reins from Rob Kilvington after he resigned from the club’s board at Sunday’s AGM at the Log Cabin.
After three years in the hot seat, Rob feels it is time to stand down due to increased work commitments. He has presided over an eventful period in the club’s history with the complicated Covid regulations to contend with as well as overseeing the club’s successful application to join the Lancashire League.
Having made his first team debut at 14 in the 1970s Andy has played a number of positions at the club over the years including first team captain. He is keeping on his role as groundsman.
Speaking after the meeting Andy said: “Everyone at the club would like to thank Rob for the hard work he has put in during his stewardship.
“It’s hard to think of a time when the club has been as popular as it is now and memberships are rising incredibly.
“I hope to continue where Rob left off, carrying on his good work. We will continue to be forward-looking both in the clubhouse, with exciting plans for the future, and, just as importantly, on the field of play which is the reason the club is in existence.
“We are on the brink of our first season in the top division of the Lancashire League and we are looking forward to the challenge.”
Rob will still be seen around the club and will continue coaching with the All Stars junior set-up as well as overseeing the successful 100 Club.
Also leaving the board with Rob are Ben Hornsby, Roger Parker, Gill Senior and Pam Willetts. The club would also like to thank each of them for their work over the years.
That leaves a somewhat slimmed down board with Secretary Leigh Dickinson, Treasurer Heather Murphy, Dave Dawson and Adam Suthers supporting Andy.
Greenmount’s Max Birtwistle has been rewarded for his superb 2021 summer season with a call up for the Lancashire Under-14 squad.
The Year Nine St Gabriels High School pupil, played his first season at senior level, competing in the third team before stepping up to the seconds.
His performances with the ball saw him win a hat-trick of accolades taking the Under-13, Under-18 and third team player of the season awards.
His ability did not go unnoticed at representative level either where he represented the Lancashire League Interleague side and, following a five-week trial, he can look forward to representing the county this summer.
Would you be interested in sponsoring a player at Greenmount Cricket Club?
The club are actively seeking companies or individuals to get behind them in their first campaign in the prestigious Lancashire League Division One by becoming kit sponsors for individual players for the summer.
For an outlay of £150 sponsors will get:
Their company or personal name associated with their chosen player for the 2022 campaign.
Social media presence via the club’s Twitter and Facebook accounts as well as the official club website.
An invitation to a sponsors day at a fixture during the season.
The chance to support a local amateur cricketer at their local sports club.
The cost of £150 provides a kit bundle for the player as well as providing additional funds for the club.
Anyone interested should contact Leigh Dickinson on gccupdates@gmail.com or ask at the club for further details.
Alternatively a Player Sponsor Form can be downloaded HERE.
Indoor nets for the club’s senior cricketers will be held on Sundays throughout March on the 6th, 13th, 20th and 26th at Total Cricket, Oxford Street East, Ashton Under Lyne OL7 0RE.
There will be a one-off £20 charge to use these impressive facilities.
It is hoped that players from all three senior teams will attend and any new players wishing to the join the club will be made welcome.
If there are any queries contact cricket chairman Andy Skinner on 07770 547322.
The club have announced their pre-season friendlies ahead of the first team’s inaugural campaign in Lancashire League Division One.
The firsts will take on old Bolton League rivals Farnworth at Bridgeman Park on Saturday, 9th April with the second eleven hosting Farnworth’s second string at the Log Cabin on the same day.
Twenty-four hours later the firsts then take on Greater Manchester League champions Prestwich at The Heys in just the kind of tough encounter required if they are to be focused and ready to take on Lancashire League champs Burnley on the opening day of the season.
The third team open their league account with a home game against Accrington thirds on Sunday, April 10th.
There’s no change in the first and third team captaincy for the summer with Ryan Senior and Mark Crowther again taking up the roles respectively, however it’ll be a new face tossing up for the second team.
Oliver Dixon is taking up the skipper’s job following Alex Bullen’s decision to step down from the position.
Cricket chairman Andy Skinner said: “I’d like to thank Alex for all his hard work with the ‘twos’ over the past three seasons and I’m sure his replacement Olly will be a great success .
“Ryan and Mark bring continuity to the firsts and thirds and I know they are looking forward to a great summer once we get started in April.
“We are fortunate to have such capable and popular lads as team captains and I’m certain all three will continue to set great examples both on the field and off.”
Eighteen-year-old batsman Dan Stevens has been given the call to fly to St Kitts to join up with the Scotland squad competing in the ICC Under-19 World Cup.
The Greenmount youngster will be with his international teammates for the rest of the tournament which, should they progress, ends on February 5th.
Initially selected as a batting reserve, it should be a great experience for Dan who will be hoping the Scots can reverse their fortunes after an opening game 40-run defeat at the hands of Sri Lanka Under-19s on Friday.
Their group games conclude this week with fixtures against West Indies Under-19s on Monday (January 17) and Australia Under-19 on Wednesday (January 19). Both games will be played at the St Kitts capital Basseterre.
Everybody at Greenmount Cricket Club wishes Dan the very best of luck on his Caribbean adventure.
Greenmount’s Dan Stevens has been selected as reserve for the Scotland squad to compete in the ICC Under-19 World Cup between January 14th and February 5th this year.
The talented 18-year-old is part of the squad of 20 but has not travelled, being on call as first batting reserve in case of illness or injury.
He has been attending a number of intensive training camps at the Cricket Scotland facility in Dollar near Stirling for the past eight weeks, and while his teammates have been in quarantine in the Caribbean sun, has been practising in the somewhat cooler UK conditions at Cricket Asylum.
The Scotland squad have been drawn in something of a ‘group of death’ with West Indies, Australia and Sri Lanka also in their section.
Dan returns to Sedbergh School this week but is ready to drop everything and head for Guyana if needed.
His progress and development is another example of the club’s flourishing junior cricket section that continues to bear fruit.
The club’s bar opening times for the Christmas period (subject to Government changes) are as follows:
Xmas Eve: 12 noon until 11pm
Xmas Day: 7pm until 10.30pm
Boxing Day: 12 noon until 10.30pm
December 27th: 4pm until 11pm
December 28th: 4pm until 11pm
December 29th: 4pm until 11pm
December 30th: 4pm until 11pm
New Years Eve: 4pm until 1am
New Years Day: 4pm until 10.30pm
Additionally, food will be served from Danny’s at the Log Cabin and his opening times are :
Xmas Eve: 10am to 8.30pm
Xmas Day: closed
Boxing Day: 10am to 4pm – full breakfast menu until 1pm and thereafter limited menu
New Years Eve: closed
New Years Day: closed
Sunday January 2nd: 10am to 6pm
Wishing all members, families and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
The club are delighted to announce that Phil Heaton is taking up the position of junior coach.
Phil, a well-known face around the club, began his cricketing career at the Log Cabin and in his formative years was on the Lancashire ground-staff and that of Middlesex at Lords.
After making his name in the Greenmount first team in his teens, he went on to take up a professional position at Huddersfield League club Shepley and spent 15 happy seasons with the Yorkshire side before returning to the Mount in 2008, playing his part in the 2011 Treble side.
Now he is looking to use his immense experience to help guide future generations of young cricketers.
“We have a number of very talented young players at the club,” said Phil. “And we want to set up a system in which they have a clear pathway to the senior teams, and ultimately, the first team.”
Phil , whose parents John and Eileen were club stalwarts for years, has already overseen the progress of his son Tom who is now a leading light in the Greenmount first eleven while daughter Sophie is a regular for Leigh CC Ladies.
“For a club like Greenmount it is important to have a thriving junior section,” he added. “That has always been the case over the years and it will be moreso in the future. We will be putting together structured sessions that will hopefully bring out the best in the club’s youngsters and help them progress.”