Category: Club news

Greenmount first teamers Evan Williams and Dan Stevens, started playing together for the club in the Under 9’s when they were seven years old.

They hold the distinction of being two of only a handful of players, who have played for every Greenmount team from the under 9’s through to the first team.

In their time playing together, they have also turned out for the various Bury District age groups and also the Lancashire junior age group teams.

Last September, Dan joined Evan at Sedbergh School, where they have opened the batting for the school first team and recently played at the national schools finals day at Arundel, where – on that occasion – they unfortunately fell short at the semi-final stage.

On Wednesday (July 23), for a change, they found themselves on opposing teams at Netherfield Cricket Club, when Evan was playing for Cumbria County Development team and Dan was representing Scotland Under 19’s.

However, on this occasion, Evan took the bragging rights, scoring a superb 152 and leading Cumbria to a 91-run victory.

Interestingly, it was virtually six years to the day since the first time Evan scored 150 playing for Bury district in the county quarter final, on that occasion he put on 343 with another Greenmount first team youngster who has come up through the age group teams and county junior teams, Callum Hunter.

Coincidentally, Evan and Callum will be representing Lancashire League Under-21s against an MCC XI at Middleton CC’s Towncroft ground tomorrow (Friday, July 23). WP at 11.30am.

Former Greenmount pace man and club legend Mark Stewart has been inducted into the prestigious Wisden’s Club Cricket Hall of Fame.

Stewie – and his local cricket career – have been profiled by journalist Scott Oliver in the cricket bible’s monthly magazine.

All at the Log Cabin are thrilled that he has been recognised in this way and look forward to welcoming him back for the club’s upcoming T20 game when the current Greenmount team take on the 2011 Treble winning side that Mark played a big part in.

The T20 clash will be held on the evening of Friday, July 30, WP 6pm.

Read Scott Oliver’s Wisden article HERE.

Greenmount edged closer to the Lancashire League Division Two promotion places on Sunday when they secured a two-wicket victory over Haslingden in fiercely contested clash at Bentgate.

With the scorching sun blazing down it wasn’t the day to lose a toss, but unluckily, lose it Ryan Senior did and the Mount were left to toil in the heat for almost 50 overs – that said – the Greenmount skipper would have the last laugh.

The home side ran up 194 all out just one ball short of their 50 overs, due in no small measure to sub-professional Mini Bhada from Feniscowles CC who hit 56 and Leighton Friend who scored 48.

Evan Williams (3 for 37) was the pick of the Greenmount bowlers, while there were two wickets for Keiran Edwards and one apiece for professional Chesney Hughes, Lewis Dove and Callum Hunter.

In reply, Hughes and Andy Kerr were dismissed early without reaching double figures, both getting unlucky lbw decisions, the first two of five in the Greenmount innings, on a day in which there were nine such dismissals throughout the match.

At  55 for 4, following the dismissal of Jack Harrison (33), the clever money was on the home side to emerge victorious but a fine knock from Tom Heaton who hit 61 before being ‘caught’ and a real captain’s innings from Senior who finished on 32 not out, saw the Mount home for the loss of eight wickets in a tense finale.

There were also useful scores  of 28 from Dove and 12 from Mattie Donnelly as the lads crept closer to their target.

The win keeps Greenmount third on 105 points, four behind Haslingden (109) in second place, while Church remain current leaders on 118.

Meanwhile, the second string enjoyed a runfest at the Log Cabin when their counterparts from Middleton were the opposition.

The Mount ran out victors by 165 runs, leading the way was Brad Edge who fell unluckily just short of a ton with 97 while there were also valuable knocks from Matthew Senior (38), Jake Chadwick (37) and Chris Sherrington who hit 34.

The home total of 305 for 8 was always going to be a bridge too far for Middleton who lost wickets steadily throughout their innings before succumbing at 140 all out in 28.1 overs.

All six of the Greenmount bowlers helped themselves to wickets with the day’s leading scalp-taker Oliver Dixon with 3 for 32.

NEXT WEEKEND

Greenmount’s first eleven are at home to Rawtenstall next Saturday (July 24) while the seconds travel to take on Rawtenstall’s seconds at the Worswick Memorial Ground.

The club’s third team are in action at the Log Cabin on Sunday (July 25) when they face Rishton III. WP for all three games is 1pm.

With Covid rates continuing to increase across Greater Manchester and the UK as a whole, at Greenmount Cricket Club we don’t feel we are ready to cast aside all the protocols and processes that we have introduced over the last 13 months since we re-opened in July last year. We will therefore open from Monday 19th July under the following protocols and procedures :-

• As staff will continue to be the main movers between rooms within the clubhouse, they will continue to wear masks when inside the clubhouse.
• While we cannot mandate it, it would be very much appreciated if members and visitors could continue to wear masks when moving around the clubhouse.
• We will continue to supply a waiting on service as we are not only aware that members and visitors have really enjoyed this service, but some aren’t yet ready to go back to queuing at the bar for drinks.
• While we will continue to supply a waiting on service, we will allow members and visitors to queue at the bar for drinks. It would be very much appreciated if masks were worn when queuing at the bar. We do request however that having bought drinks at the bar, members and visitors then drink their drinks away from the bar. Once again we feel it is a bit too early to go back to the days of people drinking at the bar, either while seated or standing.
• The bars will have space set aside for waiting on staff to work from, alongside space for those members / visitors who wish to order from the bar themselves.
• Hand sanitising units will remain on the walls within the clubhouse with dispensers remaining on the tables and we urge our staff, members and visitors to keep on making use of these; we think such units are probably here to stay and welcome their continued use.
• The restrictions that have been in place in relation to toilets will no longer apply but please just be sensible in relation to numbers actually within the toilets.
• Opening hours remain unchanged, ie
• o 4pm to 11.30pm (last orders at 11pm) Monday to Friday
• o Midday to 11.30pm (last orders at 11pm) Saturday
• o Midday to 11pm (last orders at 10.30pm) Sunday
• Monday to Thursday we will serve from the Members’ Bar and have the Members’ Bar / Pool Room open. We will only open the Function Room if required as an overflow.
• Friday to Sunday we will have the function room open as well and have both bars open.
• Members and visitors outside are welcome to continue to order from our waiting on staff or come inside to order from the bar. As noted above we would appreciate it if masks were worn when queuing at the bar.

If everyone is careful and respectful of our staff, fellow members and visitors to the club then I’m sure that we will all be able to enjoy the rest of the summer and the freedoms that the vaccine roll out have afforded us. We will continue to review the above protocols and procedures that we have in place.

ROB KILVINGTON (GCC chairman)

With a cracking sunshine weekend ahead of us, Greenmount’s first eleven aim to make more hay than the Sellers family could store when they take on Haslingden at Bentgate on Sunday (18^th July).

Haslingden are currently in second place in the Lancashire League Division Two table on 105 points, one point behind leaders Church and 12 points ahead of third-placed Mount who have 93 points.

The Rossendale side enjoyed a seven wicket triumph in the corresponding game at the Log Cabin in the first weekend of May.

So the game is a crucial one to win for Ryan Senior’s lads as they endeavour to break into the top two promotion places in their first season in the league.

With that in mind, it is hoped that the club take a good following up to Bentgate to give the team some support in what will be one of the most important games of the season.

Entry to the ground is £4 per person and wickets are pitched at 1pm.

Meanwhile, the second eleven are in league action at the Log Cabin on Sunday when Middleton are their opponents. WP 1pm.

There is no cricket at the club on Saturday, nevertheless, the bar will be open from 12 noon.

The weekend’s activities begin with Junior Practice at the club tonight (Friday, 16th July), starting at 6pm.

Covid 19 restrictions

Covid regulations are still in force with social distancing still to the fore, masks being worn inside and table / bench service still required for the purchase of alcohol.

Please also remember that you need to remain seated when drinking outside so that unfortunately means no walking around with alcohol.

We have increased our seating capacity significantly since the start of the season and there will be more tables going up over the weekend so this shouldn’t cause an issue and you are welcome to bring your own camping chairs along to increase that seating capacity further.

In the light of the current high incidence of infection throughout England we respectfully ask that you don’t come to the club if you are experiencing any Covid symptoms.

As we move towards 19th July and ‘Freedom Day’, I just wanted to let you know that I will be confirming the changes that we will be implementing as a result of this in my next newsletter which will be out over the weekend.

Before then can I just remind members that all covid regulations remain in force at the club and ask that everyone continues to abide by them and don’t come to the club if they are experiencing any symptoms.

We have experienced a slight increase in positive tests for staff since the weekend and have been advised that some members who were at the club for the Euro 2020 final on Sunday night have now tested positive.

If you were in the function room on Sunday night it might be wise to take a lateral flow test if you aren’t ordinarily taking them for work purposes just to be on the safe side.

As I noted I’ll be updating you all on our plans for the rest of the summer in my next newsletter which is due this weekend, in the meantime please take care.

ROB KILVINGTON (GCC chairman)

There was double delight for the club’s teams on Saturday with both the firsts and seconds enjoying relatively comfortable victories over Bacup.

The first team hoisted themselves into third place in the table with an eight wicket triumph at Lanehead.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, the Mount bowled a 10-man Bacup side out for 100 with the bowling plaudits going to Callum Hunter who finished with figures of 5 for 42.

In reply, professional Chesney Hughes led the way with 48 from 55 balls while Andy Kerr’s unbeaten 22 saw the lads home with 101 for 2 from 17.4 overs.

The win saw Greenmount leapfrog Littleborough after they were beaten by Church, the new league leaders in Lancashire League Division Two.

Meanwhile, at the Log Cabin, the second eleven also ran out eight wicket winners against Bacup seconds.

Each of the Mount’s bowlers chipped in with wickets with 3 for 43 from Oliver Dixon and two wickets apiece for Kieran Edwards, Bradley Edge and Ryan Edge and one from Max Birtwistle as Bacup finished all out for 142 in 37.1 overs.

It was a total that proved insufficient and the home side cruised home with 148 for 2 in 19 overs.

Pride of place with the bat was wicketkeeper/opener Jake Chadwick who hit an unbeaten 53 and his innings, aided by 43 not out from Bradley Edge and 39 from Ben Hornsby, proved to be the backbone of Greenmount’s winning reply.

On Sunday it was a different story for the third team when they travelled to take on their Middleton counterparts.

The home side won the toss and elected to bat and it proved to be the correct decision as they put on a score of 228 for 7 from their 40 overs.

Main man in the Moonrakers’ innings was Ryan Baxter who hit one six and eight fours in his unbeaten knock of 87.

That total always looked to be a tall order for Greenmount and despite 34 from skipper Mark Crowther, 21 from Nigel Franklin and 28 from Henry Dickinson, they finished their innings 87 runs short of their target for the loss of seven wickets.

The club will be open to members for tonight’s England v Italy Euro 2020 football final (kick-off 8pm) but please remember that due to Covid regulations we have significantly reduced capacity inside.

Only 25 people will be allowed in the Members’ Bar, 25 in the Pool Room and 50 in the Function Room where the big screen will be showing the match.

If we reach capacity unfortunately we won’t be able to let anyone else in and this will be strictly adhered to.

With that in mind it is advised that members arrive in good time to get a seat and table as there will be no standing allowed.

Can we also remind members that masks need to be worn when moving about inside and table service is required for the purchase of alcohol.

This weekend’s cricketing activities begin with Junior Practice at the Log Cabin tonight (Friday, 9th July), starting at 6pm.

Saturday sees the first eleven travel to Bacup in Lancashire League Division Two action while the seconds host their counterparts at the Log Cabin. Wickets are pitched in both matches at 1pm.

On Sunday the third eleven make the trip to Towncroft to face Middleton thirds. Again, wickets are pitched at 1pm.

Also on Sunday, there’s the chance to cast an eye on some of the best young cricketing talent in the area when the club hosts the Lancashire League Under-18s against Bolton League Under-18s at Brandlesholme Road. Wickets are pitched at 11am for this one.

It’s Coming Home…

The club will be open to members for the England v Italy Euro 2020 football final on Sunday evening (kick-off 8pm) but please remember that due to Covid regulations we have significantly reduced capacity inside.

Only 25 people will be allowed in the Members’ Bar, 25 in the Pool Room and 50 in the Function Room where the big screen will be showing the match.

If we reach capacity unfortunately we won’t be able to let anyone else in and this will be strictly adhered to.

With that in mind it is advised that members arrive in good time to get a seat and table as there will be no standing allowed.

Finally we’ve already touched on Covid regulations in relation to capacity inside the clubhouse, but can we also remind members and visitors that masks need to be worn inside and table service is required for the purchase of alcohol inside, as it is outside.

Please also remember that you need to remain seated when drinking outside so that unfortunately means no walking around with alcohol either inside or outside.

We have increased our seating capacity significantly since the start of the season so this shouldn’t cause an issue if you are outside and you are welcome to bring your own camping chairs along to increase that seating capacity further.

THREE LIONS

Members visiting the club for tonight’s England v Denmark Euro 2020 semi-final tie should remember that due to Covid regulations we have significantly reduced capacity in the Log Cabin.

Only 25 people will be allowed in the Members’ Bar, 25 in the Pool Room and 50 in the Function Room where the big screen will be showing the match.

If we reach capacity unfortunately we won’t be able to let anyone else in.

With that in mind it is advised that people arrive in good time to get a seat and table as there will be no standing allowed.