Greetings from Galle to everyone at Greenmount Cricket Club.
John Stevens and Amal Dalugoda are halfway through their tour of Sri Lanka.
So far the X Pro academy team has won two and lost one against tough opponents.
Yesterday’s highlight was a two hour net session and tour of the test match arena in Galle, an amazing experience for all.
The Mount pair will be back in Greenmount on Good Friday in time for the start of the 2025 season.
It is with a huge amount of gratitude to the work carried out by Andy Skinner and his team that I can report that our ground is looking rather splendid with the cricket season almost upon us writes Junior lead and welfare officer Leigh Dickinson.
Junior training is set to start Friday 25th April for our U9s, 11s and 13s.
This summer we embark on a very new adventure at the club with the start of a girls section, with a girls All Stars (ages 5-8) and a girls Dynamos (ages 8-11).
We do need more volunteer helpers especially with the Dynamos. We have received fantastic support from the Lancashire Cricket Foundation who have managed to secure funding so that the Dynamos at Greenmount will be free for the first 24 girls who sign up.
Please email myself, Leigh Dickinson, on gccupdates@gmail.com for further information.
This summer…
All Stars will be held on Mondays starting April 28th
Dynamos will be held on Wednesdays starting May 14th
Junior training will be on Fridays – please watch out for changes to some dates as we will switch to Thursdays to avoid clashes with the T20 matches.
We will always try to provide “game time” for children, however this may be restricted due to squad rotation and also child safety. Cricket balls are very hard and we need to make sure our future superstars are able to play safely.
Again another thank you goes out to the volunteers who have said they will give up their time to organise teams and to provide coaching.
The lead contacts are…
U9s Andy Kerr ably assisted by Oliver Dixon
U11s development team Andy Kerr
U11s Wayne Stewart
U13s James Sharples
New juniors will receive a complimentary T20 top and I will be armed with a box of pens and membership forms on the 25th!
Back in 2023 Greenmount amassed a record 443 for 8 against Accrington.
Only four players reached double figures: Tom Heaton (80), Dan Stevens (31), Sammy Greenhalgh (15 not out) and Jacques was the fourth with a mind-blowing performance of 269 not out.
He struck 15 sixes and shared another League record partnership of 133 unbeaten for the ninth wicket with Sammy.
Jacques then bagged four wickets!
A genuinely Herculean effort and an obvious Champagne moment.
Jacques Snyman returns to Greenmount for a third season just in time for our first match away to Colne on 20th April.
Congratulations are in order to our good friend Jacques’ brother Bernard who will wed girlfriend Lane on the 16th April.
Jacques will fly out after the wedding. Meanwhile, here are some stats for those who like that sort of thing.
Jacques has scored 2,731 runs for Greenmount at an average of 68 including eight hundreds and 18 fifties.
He’s taken 113 wickets too at an average 15 with three five wicket hauls.
There’s a small matter of 37 catches and five run outs as well.
He’s all-action and he’s set to return in just three weeks.
Get down to the Mount and join the fun!
Our new caterers will be opening this weekend. On Friday 4pm to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday – 12 noon to 8pm
We are very excited to share that it’s the same team as behind the very successful @ ‘The Lamppost – Burrs Country Park’, (Nicola & Mark) and will led by Chef Ben, and a newly dedicated Greenmount team.
The Lamppost is known for brilliant breakfasts, and great lunch options; plus cakes, tray-bakes and amazing coffee, all which will be coming to Greenmount Cricket Club (plus they will be offering newly created and varied evening food options!) and in keeping with our unique location, our new food caters will be known as @‘The Boundary – Greenmount’
Please follow The Boundary – Greenmount for opening hours and menus.
We are delighted to share the fantastic news that Edward Dickinson (pictured right) has been selected to represent Action Indoor Cricket England at the 2025 Indoor Cricket World Cup in Columbo, Sri Lanka.
Indoor Cricket is an 8-a-side fast-paced game played in a netted area. There is a real emphasis on being a complete all-rounder with rankings based on your contribution/runs scored less runs conceded when bowling.
Representing your country in an international tournament is a remarkable accomplishment and the experience will be invaluable to Edward’s career and personal development.
This tops a great winter for Edward who enjoyed huge success in South Africa, ranked second in the Indoor Cricket under-21 Super League and now chosen for the World Cup squad.
Everyone at Greenmount wishes him all the best of luck and we look forward to further exploits in senior cricket this summer.
Not sure if we are in a dream but this isn’t your usual pre-season weather.
The forecast for the week is dry and warm – you could be forgiven for thinking the cricket season is about to start!
We’ve enjoyed a great pre-season both on and off the field. Senior nets are well-attended, eight weeks of junior age group delivery, four new players coming in and a couple coming back. We are all set for a very positive season start – so what’s in store in the coming weeks and what are your main diary date events going forward?
Tuesday, 8th April at 6pm – senior nets and training start and will run weekly.
Saturday, 12th April – internal senior squad practice match to be played at home.
Friday, 18th April – friendly senior squad match arranged away at Horwich CC.
Sunday, 20th April – first Lancashire League matches with the twos at home to Lowerhouse while the ones travel to take on Colne.
Friday, 25th April – first junior practice for ages Under-11 and Under-13, 6pm start.
Note: Junior practice will switch to Thursday night from 29th May for five weeks covering the T20 group stages, this ensures continuity of coach availability and avoids cancellations.
Saturday, 26th April – first threes match, away at Littleborough.
Monday, 28th April – All Stars programme starts, 6pm – Please note the change of day and the schedule which incorporates Wednesday, 7th May.
Wednesday, 14th May – Provisional planned launch of Dynamos for girls aged 8 – 11 years.
Friday, 30th May – First home senior T20 fixture.
Friday, 13th June – T20 local derby v Ramsbottom.
Wednesday, 2nd July – Sir Curtly Ambrose and Courtney Walsh courtesy of Lashings World. Details will be released soon.
Friday, 5th September – Junior Presentation Evening.
Sunday, 14th September – Final round of Lancashire League matches.
Saturday, 20th September – Senior Presentation Evening.
Further details of all events will be communicated on our website and Facebook site as usual.
Alternatively, you can speak with any member of our cricket commitee about any of these subjects and they will be happy to help.
Leigh Dickinson will be sending our further details on our junior age group training and team structure within the next few days.
Your cricket committee have been working hard to prepare for the season ahead – if you don’t know who they are, here’s the team line-up:
John Stevens – Chair
Andy Skinner – Club Chair and Head Groundkeeper
Travis Townsend – First Team Captain and Junior Lead Coach
Leigh Dickinson – Junior Lead and Welfare Officer
Oliver Dixon – Second Team Captain and Junior Support Coach
Mark Crowther – Third Team Captain
Andy Kerr – Senior Player and Junior Age Group Lead Coach
Richard Birtwistle – Player Liaison, Match Management, Administration
Keep an eye out for more information on the various Whatsapp and Spond chat groups along with our regular marketing updates.
On behalf of the cricket committee I wish all players and supporters an entertaining, enjoyable and successful season ahead.
Best wishes
John Stevens (Cricket chairman)
Greenmount pair Amal Dalugoda and John Stevens will be spending pre-season in the heat of Sri Lanka.
The twosome are jetting off on a 10-day tour under the X Pro academy brand to coach and manage a group of young players who will be pitting their skills against some elite Sri Lankan opposition.
They will be accompanied by Hyde Cricket Club’s senior coach Dave Leighton.
The boys have all played at representative level in the last three years but conditions and pitches will offer fresh challenges to test their talent.
We are glad to hear our two guys will be rushing home to be at Colne on the season’s opening day, Sunday, April 20th… Might be a slight contrast from Colombo and Galle though!
Ed Dickinson, Max and Noah Birtwistle are now back in the UK following a six week intensive cricket sojourn in South Africa writes JOHN STEVENS.
The boys are all studying and of course advancing their cricket skills at Scarborough College.
The trip was an outstanding personal success for Ed who starred with the bat and ball, scoring an unbeaten 69 and taking 4 for 10 with his off-spin in one man-of-the-match performance.
Brothers Max and Noah also reaped the benefits of this amazing experience and look very sharp in the nets since they have been home.
Congratulations to Noah who has joined Yorkshire CCC on their emerging player programme.
We are glad to have you home chaps, looking forward to seeing some stellar performances at the Mount!
Greenmount Cricket Club has a number of opportunities for volunteers to get involved in making a positive difference to our club.
This summer will see a number of initiatives to establish a new women and girls’ cricket section.
We are looking for volunteers who are prepared to help with coaching, training or game management.
We will be launching a Dynamos Girls programme for ages 8 to 11 years and also looking to develop a Women’s team.
Ideally, we’d also love to find a qualified coach within the membership. Someone with leadership experience who may be prepared to take a lead role in the project.
If you have the appetite to get involved and help make a difference, please get in touch as all support is appreciated – no matter how small – as we really do need more volunteers at the club rather than always relying on the same few folks to do everything.
