Edgworth Cricket
Club achieves
Clubmark
The Lancashire
Cricket Board
would like to
congratulate
Edgworth
Cricket Club
from the
Blackburn with
Darwen MBC
on achieving the
ECB & Sport
England Clubmark
Accreditation
award.
We would like to
thank them for
their hard work
and commitment
towards the
development of
their club, in
particular John
Mather and his
committee.
More information
about their
efforts and
achievements are
available below.
Edgworth
Cricket Club
delighted to
achieve Clubmark
Around 1902
Edgworth Cricket
Club paid an
annual rent for
use of the
ground. In
return, all
maintenance,
ground and
wicket repairs
were undertaken
by the
groundsmen
employed at the
Barlow
Institute.
Consequently,
the public
observed a
discipline in
their use of the
area. The club
became a member
of the Bolton
and District
Cricket
Association (in
Division 2A)
under the
Presidency of Mr
JH Whitehead,
whose influence
and guidance
were of great
importance
during the early
years. During
the first World
War (1914~18),
cricket
continued at
Edgworth,
overcoming the
difficulties of
that period and
ensuring the
club would be
ready to compete
again at the end
of the war.
During this
period Edgworth
Cricket Club
became members
of the 1st
Division of the
Bolton and
District Cricket
Association. In
1938 the club
signed its first
professional,
Bob Taylor, a
fine cricketer
whose
inspiration and
encouragement
resulted in the
team winning the
championship in
his first season
at Edgworth. His
service was
short-lived
however, for the
outbreak of the
second World War
in 1939 caused
him to leave at
the end of that
season.
Undeterred, the
committee
secured the
services of J
Heap who, in the
summer of 1940
produced his own
"blitzkrieg"
against Walkden
MM taking all 10
wickets for 31
runs and hitting
the stumps every
time.
The war years
1939~45 were
very difficult
for all those
concerned with
activities at
Edgworth and the
club will remain
indebted to the
late Mr Charles
Lill for his
dedicated work
and service
during the
period and
continuing years
thereafter.
Pavilion
facilities had,
through lack of
finance,
deteriorated to
the point of the
Association
required a
substantial
improvement or
the club being
removed from the
league. After
much effort by a
number of
people,
including
provision of
initial capital,
new premises
were located and
erected using
member's labour
and expertise.
The President,
Mr Whitehead
opened the
pavilion in 1981
and the event
celebrated with
an invitation
game featuring
opposition drawn
from
professionals of
previous
seasons. One
interesting fact
emerging from
the match saw
the appearance
of three
brothers on the
Edgworth team
sheet.
Championship
success in 1984
was enjoyable
supported with
victory in the
Halliwell
Shield, the
double
achievement
being rewarded
for a club keen
to maintain a
place amongst
the top
positions.
Evidence of that
consistency is
provided by
qualification
for the
Lancashire Knock
Out in
successive
years.
Required by the
Association
rules to
organise and
field
competitive
teams of young
players
commencing at
under 11 age
group, the club
has been
consistent in
its youth
policy. The
practice nights
held weekly have
regularly
entailed
organisation to
accommodate an
average of sixty
players, which
has required
both diligent
and dedicated
attention by
senior players
and club
officials.
Throughout the
period several
players of high
promise have
emerged from the
junior ranks to
progress to
senior sides.
Net practice
indoors has
commenced in the
winter in
preparation for
the early
opening of the
season in April.
Increasing
concern over the
deteriorating
condition on the
pavilion
signalled a
lengthy and
tedious attempt
to resolve the
main difficulty
of the club
occupying an
area of Trust
property and not
having benefit
of a lease.
Years of endless
correspondence
with the
relevant
authorities
failed to secure
a satisfactory
solution until a
meeting with the
Charity
Commissioners
insisted upon
and arranged by
the Clerk to our
Parish Council
produced a
successful
agreement. The
main obstacle of
the transfer of
lease resolved,
future planning
for the
provision of new
accommodation
may hopefully be
concluded, so
ensuring a
continuance of
the game of
cricket by a
club approaching
its century.
Optimistic in
mind and
attitude the
cricket club
faces a new
century
determined to
preserve its
existence and
build to secure
a bright and
successful
future. 2006
will see a new
era for Edgworth
Cricket &
Recreation club,
with the endless
work done by the
committee and
hours and hours
of
correspondence
between Steve
Simpson and
Sport England,
Edgworth in 2004
were awarded a
Grant and in
2005 knocked
down the old
club and rebuilt
with a brand new
state of the art
Clubhouse.
Achieving
Clubmark is the
next step in
ensuring the
future success
of Edgworth
Cricket Club. As
a club we must
thank all who
have been
involved in the
development of
the club during
the recent
difficult times
and the
contribution
made by John
Mather and his
committee
towards
achieving
Clubmark. Thanks
must also go to
Rudra Singh
(CDM) for his
continued
support and
Gerry Thomas
(CSO) for his
very helpful
advice in
helping us
achieve
accreditation.
Edgworth
Cricket Club
Bolton Road
Edgworth
Turton
Lancashire
BL7 0AP
Website:
www.edgworthcc.co.uk
