!

Cheshire County Cricket League

FEBRUARY, 2016 NEWSLETTER!

Can Chester win Cheshire Cup for fifth season?

!WINNERS of the Cheshire Cup for a record fourth successive season in 2015, Chester Boughton Hall have been drawn at home to Davenham in the first round of next season’s competition which has undergone a complete revamp under new organiser Peter Hayes Now separate from the Shield, the cup in 2016 will comprise 32 clubs, 27 of them from the Cheshire County League’s top two divisions, plus Liverpool Competition (2) - excluding Birkenhead Park - with two from the Cheshire Cricket League Division Two and Elworth from the North Staffs & South-Cheshire League Last season’s Shield finalists Bollington and Timperley meet and other highlight games include Toft v Wallasey and Macclesfield v New Brighton. THE DRAW Round 1: Sunday, May 1: Quarter-finals: Sunday, June 26: 1. Brooklands v Sale 1. Round 2 Match 1 winner v Match 2 winner 2. Alvanley v Oxton 2. Round 2 Match 3 winner v Match 4 winner 3. Hyde v Port Sunlight 3. Round 2 Match 5 winner v Match 6 winner 4. Chester Boughton Hall v Davenham 4. Round 2 match 7 winner v Match 8 winner 5. Bollington v Timperley 6. Grappenhall v Cheadle Semi-finals: Sunday, August 7: 7. Macclesfield v new Brighton Winner of QF 1 v winner of QF 2 8. Toft v Wallasey Winner of QF 3 v winner of QF 4 9. Cheadle Hulme v Elworth 10. Chelford v Stockport Final: Sunday, August 21: 11. Upton v Warrington Semi-final winners toss for choice of ground 12. Oulton Park v Alderley Edge

13. Bowdon v Marple ……………………………. 14. Didsbury v Weaverham NOTE: Round One on Sunday, May 1 clashes 15. Nantwich v Urmston with the Herefordshire v Cheshire fixture in the 16. Bramhall v Neston Unicorns Knock-out at Colwall.

Clubs with two or more players selected for the Round 2: Sunday, May 22: county can apply for a postponement.

1. Winners of round 1 match 1 v winners of 2 Sunday, May 8 is also a Cheshire date: 2. Winners of 3 v 4 Wales at Chester 3. Winners of 5 v 6

4. Winners of 7 v 8 …………………………………… 5. Winners of 9 v 10 6. Winners of 11 v 12 7. Winners of 13 v 14 8. Winners of 15 v 16. !

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p2 ! NEW CLUBS IN SHIELD RECENTLY-formed clubs Great Budworth, who play at Arley Hall, and Maritime, an Asian side from Bromborough, are among 23 entrants for the Cheshire Shield. Other clubs who have entered for the first time or returned are Appleton, Barrow, Bredbury St. Mark’s, Chelford, Malpas, Stockport Georgians, Weston and Winsford.. Apart from newly-promoted Barrow and Lindow, the only County League clubs involved will be Congleton, Northwich and Widnes. Those who have pulled out are Broadbottom, Middewich, Mottram, Rode Park and Tranmere Vics. THE DRAW Round 1 (Sunday, June 5) 1. Great Budworth v Malpas 2 Stockport Trinity v Prestbury 3. Northwich v Ashton on Mersey 4. Weston v Appleton, 5. Winsford v Congleton 6. Parkfield Liscard v Wilmslow Wayfarers 7. Bredbury St. Mark’s v Stockport Georgians Byes: Maritime, Ashley, Disley, Romiley, Lindow, Hawk Green, Hale Barns, Barrow, Widnes. !Round 2 (Sunday, June 19) 1. Winners of match 5 v winners of 3 2. Winners of 4 v Maritime …………………………….. 3. Winners of 6 v winners of 1 4. Ashley v winners of 2 CALL THE ORGANISER 5. Disley v winners of 7 NEW organiser Peter Hayes is available to 6. Romiley v Lindow answer queries and/or to supply copies of 7. Hawk Green v Hale Barns the new regulations by e-mail on 8. Barrow v Widnes Hayespeter3@sky.com !

Quarter-finals (Sunday, July 10) ……………………………… Winners of round 2 match 1 v winners of 2 Winners of 3 v winners of 4 Winners of 5 v winners of 6 Winners of 7 v winners of 8 !Semi-finals (Sunday, July 24): Winners of QF 1 v winners of QF 2 Winners of QF 3 v winners of QF 4 Final (Sunday, August 14) Semi-final winners toss for choice of grounds. !Two CCL clubs in Davidstow National Village ko ALVANLEY and Tattenhall from the Cheshire County League are included in the draw for the opening rounds of the 2016 Davidstow National Village knock-out. Cheshire & Clwyd group round 1 draw (Sunday, May 1): Ashley v Carmel; Halkyn v Broadbottom; Tattenhall bye; Birch Vale & Thomsett bye; Alvanley v Corwen; Caldy v Northop; Mottram bye; Hawk Green bve. Round 2 (Sunday. May 15): Ashley or Carmel v Halkyn or Broadbottom; Tattenhall v Birch Vale & Thomsett; Ashley or Corwen v Caldy or Northop; Mottram v Hawk Green.

Round 3 is on Sunday, May 27; regional final on June 12; round 5 on June 26; round 6 on July 20; quarter-finals on July 24; semi-finals on August 7; final at Lord’s on September 4.

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p3

!Busy year ahead for new Cricket Committee

THE administrative heartbeat of the League, the Cricket Committee, has a busy year ahead with the first of eight monthly meetings at Warrington scheduled for Thursday, March 17 to preview a busy season starting five weeks later. Remaining meetings – all are at Warrington – are scheduled for Thursdays, April 28, May 19, June 16, July 21, August 18, September 15 and October 20. The composition of the committee including the newly-elected, is: President: John Bygate; Chairman: David Humpage; Deputy chairman and 2nd XI secretary Brian Boys; League secretary Geoff Wellsteed; Assistant and Registration secretary Tony Morris; Competition secretary Ian Sharrock; Sunday 3rd XI T20 Trophy and 3rd XI Premier, West and Central Divisions secretary Phill Evans; Sunday 3rd XI East Divisions secretary Peter Lawson; Website manager Darren Sutcliffe; Umpiring and Discipline chairman Ian Greensmith; Treasurer Matt Beckley; Junior section chairman Mike Carswell; Junior secretary David Vallance. Elected members (6): Duncan Anderson, Rob Arnold, Lee Dixon, Toby Drummond, John O’Donnell, Paul Sperring; Co-opted: Mike Talbot-Butler. ! CLUBS GIVEN ‘PAY UP’ DEADLINE CLUBS were criticised at the AGM at Bowdon on January 19 for falling behind with their dues, eight having failed to pay 2015 subscriptions while others owed ‘substantial sums’, all totalling more than £11,000 The meeting resolved that full member clubs still in default on April 13 – the date of the pre-season Management meeting at Warrington – would not be given an allocation of free cricket balls. A list of the offending clubs would also then be published. Full members’ subscriptions for 2016 will be £30. ! Toby Drummond is Under 21s manager TOFT captain Toby Drummond has been appointed manager of the League Under 21s team to play in a four-cornered mid-week competition in 2016 also involving Liverpool Competition, Northern League and North Staffs & South Cheshire League. The League will co-operate with the County club over selection involving Toby Drummond, Paul Sperring, Andy Newton and Lee Dixon. Details of fixtures to be played from July onwards have yet to be agreed.

! CRICKET BOARD NEWS CHESHIRE Cricket Board are supporting the introduction in 2016 of the NatWest Under 19 Club T20, a competition designed to give more opportunity for competitive cricket to older junior players. A total of 23 Cheshire clubs have entered so far Further information can be obtained from Club Development Manager Mike Woollard at cheshirecricketboard.co.uk - tel. 01606 871 200. SEVENTY clubs have so far applied to take part in the National Cricket Force Weekend from Friday – Sunday, April 1 – 3, when players, officials and helpers undertake work to make club pavilions and grounds ready for the new season. A record 102 clubs took part last year. Soft drinks firm Jewson are offering £300 in prizes for the clubs achieving the biggest improvements. ! Junior section fixtures out SECRETARY David Vallance has issued details of his 2016 Junior Section fixture plans to all clubs. For any queries contact David by e-mail on d_v_cccl@ntlworld.com or by mobile telephone on 07889 495 076. Chairman Mike Carswell reported at the AGM that 159 teams had taken part in age group cricket in 2015 with only two incidents of bad behaviour reported. There had been too many conceded games, however, the Under 15s experiencing a 17 pc cent fall out rate.

Cheshire Fifties’ new team manager ALDERLEY EDGE wicket-keeper batsman Tim Jackson has been appointed Cheshire Over 50s team manager, succeeding Paul Freedman, who remains secretary. For anyone wishing to play in the National Over 50s county championship, Tim can be contacted on 07736 692 597 (mobile); or bollard66@icloud.com Widnes’ Phil Catterall is to captain the team in 2016.

!FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p4

!ALL ABOUT UMPIRES …….

Promotion for Phil Prince LEAGUE panel umpire Phil Prince has been promoted to the ECB ACO D List which qualifies him to stand in County 2nd XI championship matches. Umpires & Scorers Association chairman Ian Greensmith says of Phil: “He joined the panel in 2010 after retiring as a player with Cheadle and Didsbury. His son, Joe, opens the batting for Cheadle. Phil retired from teaching PE at Parr’s Wood High School last summer and originates from Hull, where he returns occasionally to watch Hull City. He was also a keen footballer in the North-West Counties League”. Phil attended a Level 3 course at Loughborough in the 2014-15 winter and was afterwards appointed to a couple of games at Durham and Leeds Universities. He completed the season by standing in the National Club championship final at Beckenham between Blackheath and Chester le Street. !2016 MEETING DATES PRE-season meeting of the League Umpires & Scorers Association is at Timperley on Monday, April 18 Other 2016 meetings: Mid-season at Toft on Wednesday, July 6; End of season at Sale on Wednesday, September 21; AGM at Toft at Toft on Wednesday, November 9. All start at 8 p.m. !CCU&SA AGM THE annual meeting of the Cheshire County Umpires & Scorers Association is at Winnington Park CC on Monday, March 7, at 8 p.m. Current senior officers are Ian Greensmith (chairman); Tony Morris (secretary), Stuart Anderson (treasurer) and Jon Hacking (appointments secretary). O OFFICERS elected to the new Cheshire Umpires Retention Committee are chairman Geoff Young (tel. 01352 755 881) and secretary Martin Howe (07989 334 9756). Contact them if you have any queries, suggestions etc. !Ian Ramage in Bangladesh IAN RAMAGE, a former Premier League umpire whom members of the current panel will remember well, has been officiating in the World Under 19 Cup in Bangladash, which provided a shock result with West Indies beating hot favourites India in the final. Scotsman Ian has been sending back regular reports of his activities from exotic places such as Cox’s Bazaar. He officiated in no fewer than eight games in the Plate competition, including a group match South Africa v Ireland, then Afghanistan v Canada in the semi-final. He also stood the final when Afghanistan beat Zimbawe by five wickets. Ian, who has officiated in three major ICC tournaments in the past year, spent almost a month in Bangladesh despite once being taken so ill that he had to leave the field, this for the first time in 15 years. LOFTY BACK FROM ALGARVE LEAGUE umpire John Lofthouse is back home at Hyde after his annual jaunt to the Algarve in Portugal for his annual football splurge. Says he: “My trip was shorter than in previous years, but I still fitted in 19 Algarveian matches. Of the local Championship-level clubs, Portimao are in ‘danger’ of promotion to the big time to join Porto, Sporting and Benjfica. Just how they will hope to compete with home gates of around 1,000 is open to speculation! The weather was damp again (but not as bad as in the UK) which made for some fun-filled battles on waterlogged lake-like pitches. Brought back memories of Sunday League back home in the Seventies. Happy Days!” !

!FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p5 ! Lancs 2nd to play on four League grounds LANCASHIRE have selected four County League grounds on which to stage competitive 2nd XI fixtures in 2016. In the first month of the season the Red Rose men take on Warwickshire at SALE in a 2nd XI T20 match. A week later on Thursday, May 5, NESTON stage Lancashire’s home game against Derbyshire in the 2nd XI T20. Next comes a three-day 2nd XI championship match at URMSTON between Lancashire and Leicestershire from Monday, July 11 – 13. This will be the first Lancashire 2nd XI championship match on the ground since Leicestershre were last there – skippered by a young David Gower – in 1976. BOWDON’S South Downs Road ground will then stage the 2nd XI Trophy game between Lancashire and Leicestershire on Thursday, August 11. Lancashire have earmarked further outground home fixtures at Liverpool (3), Westhoughton, Glossop, Northern and Todmorden and will also meet the Unicorns at Knypersley. ! Cheshire launch Academy CHESHIRE’s Development XI is to be re-named the Academy in 2016 with emphasis on the under 19 age group. Fixtures arranged so far are: Tuesday, June 14: Shropshire Academy at Whitchurch: 11.30 a.m. (provisional) Tuesday, July 12: MCC at Marple: 11 a.m. Thursday, July 14: Warwickshire Academy at Kenilworth Wardens: 12 noon. Tuesday & Wednesday, August 9 & 10: Cumberland TBC.

EARLIER STARTS ON JUNE 18? THE Cheshire County club have asked the League to consider arranging 30-minute earlier starts in affected fixtures on Saturday, June 18 next season to help their players gather for a late night coach trip to Bournemouth to play Dorset in the Unicorns championship starting at 11 next morning. Premier League fixtures with scheduled 12.30 p.m. starts on June 18 are: Alderley Edge v Chester; Bramhall v Cheadle; Nantwich v Hyde; Neston v Macclesfield; Tinperley v Bowdon; Urmston v Toft. Division 1 (1 p.m.): Bollington v Oulton Park; Cheadle Hulme v Didsbury; Grappenhall v Davenham; Marple v Sale; Oxton v Weaverham; Tatternhall v Warrington.

Kingsley are Indoor favourites KINGSLEY are strong favourites to win the Vale Royal Indoor League title. After the latest games played, Kingsley lie six points ahead of Alvanley, Oulton Park (who have a game in hand) and Weaverham (two games). Their final two outings are against Weaverham on March 10 and Oulton Park on March 17. The League is is run by Oulton Park’s Peter Robinson with Andy Bennion doing to website legwork. All matches are played at St. Nicholas HS, Northwich on Tuesday evenings. TABLE TO FEBRUARY 23 ! P W L Pts. Kingsley 12 10 2 30 Alvanley 12 8 4 24 Oulton Park 11 8 3 24 Weaverham 10 8 2 24 Winnington Park 10 4 6 12 * Appleton 10 3 7 8 Oakmere 10 1 9 3 Winsford 10 1 10 3 * Appleton l pt. deducted

!FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p6

! MORE CLUB NEWS FROM! AROUND THE LEAGUE ……….! !SAWAS BACK @ ALDERLEY EDGE CHESHIRE batsman Khalid Sawas, who began his career there as a junior, has returned from Hyde to lengthen Alderley Edge’s batting line-up under skipper Adam Worrall. An as yet unnamed overseas player has been engaged. Chairman Andy Fluck says further fund-raising is enabling the club to instal long-awaited new nets which, along with the electronic scoreboard and the much-admired ‘Toblerone-style’ boundary rope, will help spruce up an already handsome ground. ALVANLEY SIGNING TOP-ORDER batsman Chris Wright joins Division Two promotion aspirants Alvanley from Chester County Officers. Other arrivals are Ian McDermott (Huddersfield), Will Holden (Langley) and Sam Baxter (Grappenhall). BARROW FIRSTS ONLY PROMOTED as Cheshire League Division One champions, Barrow will have only their 1st XI operating in the League this summer. The team will be captained by Alex Reid, who takes over from TACS Cheshire League title-winning skipper Gareth Hughes. BOLLY AT ALL-TIME HIGH AS the club enter Division One for the first time, prolific-scoring batsman Rick Hough will continue to captain the first XI. Julian McGowan takes over the seconds, ! NEW PLAYER - GROUNDSMAN @ BOWDON BOWDON have appointed Sportsturf expert Oli Makin as head groundsman following the death last summer of the legendary Peter Marron. A useful off-spinner who played for Norden in the Central Lancashire League last season, Oli has had previous groundsmanship experience in Dohar and at Rochdale FC. Other arrivals reported by re-elected skipper Simon Marshall are Danny Williams (Hyde), Ben Atkinson (Brooklands) and Ben Bowers (Roe Green and Leeds University), while old favourite Anthony Crozier expects to be available most weeks. !BRAMHALL LEGEND RECOVERS ONE of the league’s best-known personalities Barry Rickson continues to recover from a leg amputation at Manchester Royal Infirmary in January. Barry has been a club and Lancashire county stalwart for more than 40 years. Overseas player Dale McCay is expected to return from Australia. . ‘AJ’ TO LEAD BROOKLANDS STANDING down after eight seasons is Brooklands 1st XI skipper Dave Madden, with A.J. Hart taking over. The 2nd XI will have joint skippers in former Neston duo Alan Millington and Richard Palmer. Overseas player in 2016 is expected to be Kiwi Dan Duke, who plays grade cricket at Dunedin.

PAUL SPERRING SOLDIERS ON A PERSONALITY who has done so much to improve Cheadle’s standing in the League the past few seasons, Aussie-born Paul Sperring remains 1st XI captain. Aaron Wall is to lead the twos. !

!FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p7 Club news contd … !NEW KIWI @ CHEADLE HULME KIWI all-rounder Talor Williams is to be Cheadle Hulme’s overseas player following a fine season with Dolgellau in the North Wales First Division in 2015 when he scored 794 runs and took 39 wickets. Talor is currently playing Victoria grade cricket in Australia. New 1st XI skipper Keith Wellings succeeds Adam Wilde. There will be no 1st XI home games on the main ground at Grove Park after August 20 due to extensive outfield work planned. 2nd XI fixtures may be switched to the second ground. !CHESTER SIGN OVERSEAS QUEENSLAND Under 19s all-rounder Jack Prestwich is to be Boughton Hall’s overseas player in 2016. The attack will be led by former Glamorgan paceman Will Jones, who is also expected to play regularly for Cheshire. After taking a teaching post at Ryley’s School, Alderley Edge, the Oulton Park batsman Nick James adds further strength in depth as super-keen skipper Lee Dixon looks to end Hyde’s title-winning sequence. Chester will be running a 5th XI for the first time, playing their home games at Dodleston CC. TOM NORRIS LEADS CHRISTLETON TAKING over as 1st XI captain at relegated Christleton is Tom Norris. Russ Crowley again leads the twos.

CONGLETON NAME NEW SKIPPER NEW 1st XI captain at Booth Street is to be Jack Higginbotham, with Paul Condliffe skippering the twos. Guy Baxendale remains chairman, while secretary Alex French and treasurer Ian Slinger also continue in office. Congleton’s best close season acquisition – so far – is the return of the talented Jack Goode from Toft, while the club’s overseas player is to be Aussie Ben Scowen. !DAVENHAM BLANK….. THERE is nothing currently to report from Butcher’s Stile where Davenham look forward with confidence to another good show in the First Division. !ANDERSON LEADS DIDSBURY DIDSBURY’S bid for promotion to the Premier League will be led by Cheshire all-rounder Nick Anderson as 1st XI skipper. Shebaz Quasim continues to lead the twos. Bowdon batsman James McDougall joins to stiffen the top order. !GRAPPENHALL LINE UP AUSSIE ALL-ROUNDER Ryan Ninan, currently starring in the Victoria Premier League for Hawthorn-Monash Hawks, is to be Grappenhall’s overseas player He will play under the captaincy of opening batsman Adam Roylance who takes over from Liam Parkinson. Iain Wright leads the twos. Nick Sharp reports that the newly-laid outfield has knitted well and will impress visitors !HYDE INS & OUTS SPINNER Danny Cranmer is back at Werneth Low after two seasons with Denton St. Lawrence. He replaces Danny Woods , who has returned to captain York, but will continue playing for Cheshire. Another arrival is Marple’s Elliott Young, while the overseas player is to be William Walker, a fast left arm bowler who plays for Camberwell Magpies in the Victoria Premier League. ENTER LINDOW

THE second of the League’s new full members, Lindow will be operating at both 1st and 2nd XI levels. Ben Tyler and Rowan Day skipper the respective first and second teams respectively.

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p8 Club news contd … !ROB PORTER LEADS MACC LONG-SERVING all-rounder Rob Porter is to captain the 1st XI at Macclesfield . Craig Melrose takes over the twos. Ground improvements continue to be made by a group of enthusiastic workers. PAUL WOOD SKIPPERS MARPLE NEW skipper at relegated Marple is one-time Bredbury St. Mark’s all-rounder Paul Wood., reports Press officer Mark Brook in his informative February Newsletter Re-elected to lead the 2nd, 3rd and 4th XIs respectively are George Clarke, Andy Gichero and Richard Major Overseas player in 2016 is to be James Menzies from the productive Geelong club, near Melbourne. Menzies did well bowling fast for Widnes in Division Two last season, taking 54 wickets. New Juniors Section Head coach is Mudassar Panchbhaya, who holds an ECB Level 3 certificate and has experience in the UK and abroad. Aussie batsman Beau Webster, who hit 759 Premier League runs for Marple in 2013, scored his maiden first class century for Tasmania Tigers against Victoria at Melbourne in January. He followed this up with another ton against Queensland at Brisbane a couple of weeks later, Major ground work at Bowden Lane is planned and no home games will be played there after August 28. !MIDDLEWICH IN TRANSITION IN a state of transition after being relegated to Division Two, Middlewich are hoping for an influx of young players, notably from neighbouring North Staffs & South-Cheshire League clubs. They will be also be boosted by the acquisition of Perth first grade left-arm spinner Chris Webber from Down Under. Alex Gill continues to captain the 1st XI. Simon McGrory remains chairman, with former long-serving scorer Ray Davies as his deputy. Ian Corrigan succeeds Alex Gill as secretary. MOBBERLEY AS YOU WERE AFTER a successful 2015 season, Will Berisford-Ince remains 1st XI skipper at Church Lane.

ADAM SYDDALL LEAVES NANTWICH CHESHIRE paceman Adam Syddall has left Nantwich to play for Edgworth in the newly-formed Greater Manchester Premier League. He expects to remain available to play Minor Counties cricket. The Dabbers have shown faith in their 1st, 2nd and 3rd XI captains by re-electing Ray Doyle, Lee Prince and Simon Blackledge respectively. STOKES LEADS NESTON FORMER Oxton batsman Simon Stokes succeeds Brad Donelan as 1st XI captain at Neston. All other skippers are re-elected. The Hilyer McKeown pre-season dinner is to be held in the club’s handsome Cranston Suite on Friday, March 18 when former Middlesex and England fast bowler Angus Fraser speaks. For tickets contact Mark Garrett at m.d.garrett6@gmail.com. !NORTHWICH AS YOU WERE NORTHWICH have placed their faith in Mark Walker and Gavin Twigg to captain their first and second teams Chairman Darren Sutcliffe is delighted to report that all-rounder Chamindu Ishanka (677 runs and 54 wickets in 2015) has agreed to return from Sri Lanka. The acquisition of several new players is imminent.

STEADY AS YOU GO @ OULTON WICKET-KEEPER Pat Roberts remains first XI captain at Oulton Park with Mark Johnson leading the twos. Detailed plans for large-scale changes to the ground and pavilion at Little Budworth are expected to be revealed during the season.

!FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p9 Club news contd … !!!OXTON TRUST GIBSON SEEKING promotion back to the Premiership, Oxton again put their trust in skipper Andy Gibson, while Ian Gauntlett continues to lead the second XI The star-studded Lashings International XI return to Townfield Lane in another major fund-raiser on Friday, June 24 Hard work has been put in on the square which has been reloamed and reseeded

SALE LINKS WITH PERTH SALE-born Brooke Guest is joining from South Perth, a West Australia club with whom the club have partnered in the past. Guest was in the Aussie Under 19 squad for the World Cup in Bangladesh before the team was withdrawn on security grounds. He was due to make his debut at this level in a tri-series with New Zealand and Pakistan in Dubai. Chris Canning continues as captain with Tyrone Lawrence as his deputy. Iain Harrop leads the both twos and the Silverbacks.. A new 4th XI has been formed. Sale are calling on teenage girls in the district to become interested in cricket and Development Officer Mike Sambell has made visits to schools to talk about the prospect. Sessions for would-be recruits are being held on February 28 and March 20 at Sale High School. Further information is available from Rob Moore at cricket@salesportsclub.com.

COUNTY MATCH AT TATTERS HIGHLIGHT of the summer at Tattenhall’s Flacca ground will be the club’s first three-day Minor Counties (Unicorns) championship match, with Cheshire to host Wiltshire there from Sunday, June 5 to Tuesday, June 7 Stuart Sadler will captain the 1st and Mark Sandford the 2nd XI, while chairman Alex Sandland leads the thirds

MAJOR CHANGES @ TIMPERLEY A PERSONALITY who played a leading part in hauling the club up two divisions into the Premier League in the past five years, chairman Adam Horan steps down to prepare for the birth of his first child. Taking over is Bob Page, father of 2nd XI skipper Rick Page and also chairman of the South Manchester Junior League. Long-serving Simon Thompson has retired as secretary in favour of Tim Lucas. Craig Grindley continues to lead the 1st XI and has been promised reinforcements. The 4th XI has been reformed to play Sunday cricket. An audience of 150 attended the Sportsman’s Dinner to hear former Arsenal footballer Ray Parlour give an exceptional address. Timperley are about to appoint a new groundsman – only the third since the war – to succeed the dedicated Ken Hatton, who is retiring. The appointee is to supervise the complete renovation of the main square in August, which means no 1st XI cricket will be played there in the last four weeks of the season. BUSY DAYS @ TOFT WRITING in Toft’s 2016 fixture card, chairman Nigel Muirhead reports that the club continues to do well on and off the field. Financially, they raised ££9.5 k from club lettings which helped meet investments of £60k announced for the three previous years A new full-time pavilion manager has been appointed in Sarah Drummond, which will take the burden off groundsman Bernard Manning, Social events planned include a Sportsman’s Dinner (March 18: speaker Geoff Miller); Summer Ball (June 28); Golf Day (July 8) End of season Bash (September 17) and Bonfire Night (November 5). Toby Drummond remains club captain and his company Joseph Holt Brewery will be sponsoring the League T20 Finals Day at Booth’s Park on Sunday, July 10. Paul Ashley continues to captain the 2nd XI. It is hoped that outstanding young Lancashire all-rounder Rob Jones, who scored 1,000 runs and took 40 wickets in the ECB Premier League in 2015, will continue to be available regularly. Overseas player is to be Aussie Morgan Clark from Victoria Premier League club Camberwell Magpies. A wicket-keeper batsman, Morgan is expected to be available for the pre-season friendlies against Bowdon and Weaverham on Saturday and Sunday, April 16 and 17.

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p10 Club news contd … !BOWLING MACHINE FOR STOCKPORT STOCKPORT have purchased a number of training aids including a bowling machine following intensive fund-raising . There are plans to replace the net area at Cale Green with a new two-lane facility. The identity of an overseas player will be released in early March. Sam Edwards and Liam Danaher will lead the first and third XIs with Dan Wilson taking on the thirds. MARSLAND LEADS UPTON RETURNING after a season at Chester, wicket-keeper Tom Marsland leads Upton 1st XI and Mark Owen the 2nd XI. The League’s new Competition Secretary Ian Sharrock takes over the thirds Upton have formed a link with Vital Signs Foundation and plan to raise funds for various charitable initiatives.

AUSSIE GEM JOINS URMIES BACK in the Premier League, Urmston reckon they have nabbed a top-quality Aussie in Adam McMaster, a 19 year-old fast bowler who plays for Dandenong in the Victoria Premier League. Chris Turner stays in charge of the promoted 1st XI and Chris Watson the twos. Steve Espley is the new 3rd XI skipper succeeding Andy Skelley after 10 seasons, while club chairman Rob Arnold has (at last) decided to retire and stands down as Sunday 3rd XI skipper in favour of Rob Skelley. Mike Buckley is section chairman. The Chairman’s pre-season Newsletter reveals that 100-Test former England batsman Graham Thorpe will speak at the Sportsman’s Dinner on Friday, April 15, Tickets at £30 can be booked via Rob at 0777 375 0966 or raarnold@btinternet.com A pre-season friendly at the UCG has been arranged against Lancashire Under 19 on Sunday, April 10. First X1 regulars Cal Parkinson and Brad Yates have been starring in Victoria grade cricket in Australia with Mount Waverton. Headed by Mark Luby, EBS remain the club’s main sponsors.

ADELAIDER FOR WARRINGTON WARRINGTON have lined up 21 year old South Australian Huw Stone as their overseas player. Huw plays in the main Southern Districts Premier League, based on Adelaide. Having captained the 1st XI to the Second Division title last September, Richard Heaney not surprisingly continues at the helm, with Simon Swain leading the twos. !WEAVERHAM SKIPPER’S VENTURE RE-ELECTED 1st XI captain at Weaverham, Ian Eaton invites support for a 596 km (310 miles) charity cycle ride he plans from May 19 – 23. A young girl at the same Hartford Primary School as his daughter Lauren has been diagnosed with leukeamia and Ian intends his cycle ride to raise at least £1,500 to help combat the disease. He needs that sum promised in advance in order to enter the event which entails separate cycle rides from London – Calais – Abbebille – Beauvais – Paris. Offer your support via the following JustGiving website link: http://www.justgiving.com/ian-eaton1 !WIDNES CHANGES FORMER Warrington batsman Chris Kirby becomes 1st XI captain at Beaconsfield Road with 2nd team record breaker Tim Wearden remaining in post. Veteran batsman Phil Catterall is in the England Over 50s squad touring Sri Lanka. Phil was a prominent member of the Cheshire 50s and Widnes 1st XIs last season. !MEANWHILE , POYNTON IDENTIFY NEW GROUND POYNTON, whose only connection to the County League is now via their Brian Kingham-led Legends team in the Over 40s section, have identified a site at Glastonbury Drive, near the village centre, as their new HQ. Detailed planning permission for a ground and club house will be sought from Poynton Town Council and Chester East Council by the end of April. So reports Press officer Martin Saxon in the current issue of his comprehensive Newsletter The Dazzler. ! Clubs are invited to continue offering pre-season news

!FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p11 !

LEAGUE BID FAREWELL TO old favouRites!

FORMER BOWDON PACEMAN!NIGEL PEEL DIES at 48!

ONE of the best-known and most popular players in the League during his time at Bowdon from 1987-1999, Nigel David Peel died at his home at Euxton in central Lancashire on January 28, aged 48. He had been suffering from an incurable brain tumour, but was up and about until near the end. A large number of former friends and colleagues joined his wife Sian, son Luke, 13, and other family members at the funeral at Charnock Richard Crematorium on February 9. He was born at Wythenshaw in 1967 and attended school at Wellington road, where he first showed an aptitude for the game. He played for Winton, then Hale Barns, before moving to Bowdon in 1987 where he quickly became one of the league’s foremost fast bowlers. He helped the club win a hat-trick of League titles from 1996-1998 and the Cheshire Cup in 1997. His prowess was recognised by Cheshire and he took 159 wickets in 58 Minor Counties appearances, including a PB of 8-62 against Dorset at Weymouth in 1990. He also appeared in 12 NatWest Bank Cup games for Cheshire against first-class opposition and claimed a batting record he accepted with a rue smile, with ducks in his last four innings in the competition between 1992-1996 against Gloucester at Bristol, Nottinghamshire at Warrington, Essex at Chester and Northamptonshire at Northampton. He played for Lancashire 2nd in 1998 and also appeared for the League Cricket Conference and for the League in President’s Trophy games from 1992-1995.! LAST visit! Nigel made his farewell visit to at South Downs road last summer when he made it clear to many old friends, including the author of this obituary, that he would not be back. After retiring from Bowdon, Nigel moved to work and play at Charnock Richard and appeared for that club in the Palace Shield. His cricket was always wholeheartedly supported by Sian and together they encouraged Luke to take up the game which he has done so with the same enthusiasm as his dad. Among tributes paid to Nigel are the following: Current Bramhall chairman Ian Milligan who played with him at Hale Barns: “If ever there was a cricketer who was too nice to be a fast bowler, it was Peely”. Cheshire Board secretary David Sharp: “I knew him as courteous, thoughtful and grateful – qualities I never forget in a player”. County League president John Bygate: “Nigel and I used to correspond regularly as my son Andrew had a similar type of brain tumour, from which he sadly died last year”. Former Bowdon chairman Bruce McDougall: “It was very sad to see Nigel go so young. I am glad that we were able to welcome him one last time at South Downs road last summer”.

DABBERS LOSE TOP!All - rounder Ian Cowap

ONE of the best-known players and personalities at Nantwich and North Staffs cricket in recent years, Ian Cowap died on February 10, aged 65. Born in the town in 1950 and educated at Nantwich Grammar School, talented all-rounder Ian began his career in the North Staffs & South Cheshire League for the Dabbers, then became professional at Bradshaw in the Bolton League before returning nearer to home by starring as pro for Betley in the NS&SCL. He returned to finish his career at his home club where he played sporadically, becoming a keen cricket watcher and critic, always with a ready smile and good advice. Ian played 60 Minor Counties games for Cheshire between 1974-83, scoring 1,477 runs and taking 34 wickets. He was capped in 1975. His funeral is at Nantwich Parish Church on Monday, February 29 at 1.30 p.m., followed by a reception at the Cricket Club. !

!FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p12 Obituaries contd … ! ! ! NEIL FITTON CBE : SALE’S!

MAN OF MANY PARTS!ONE of the finest bowlers - and most interesting personalties - ever to play for Sale, Neil Fitton died in hospital at Chester aged 78 on January 18 after a long illness. His funeral at Chester on February 11 was attended by four club members who knew him well back in the 1970s, former 1st XI captain Glyn Roberts, Jim Younger, Bob Redmond and Roger Lee. Oldham born and bred, Neil attended Hulme Grammar School, and took 125 wickets in two seasons in the 1st XI there. After working and playing cricket in Bristol, Neil joined Sale in 1970 at the mature age of 33 and plied his off-breaks in the 1st XI for 10 seasons, taking 279 Manchester Association wickets at an average of 14.8, the best comparative club figures in 50 years. His best season was in 1974 when he claimed 50 scalps at an average of eight, his proudest moment coming when he captained the club in the HC Smith Cup final at Old Trafford. Sale won by one run, when Neil captured two wickets in the final over. His captaincy was widely regarded as among the best ever known at the club and many fellow players profited from his acute tactical acumen. He did not suffer fools gladly and opposing batsmen who found it hard to score off his miserly off-breaks would often be reminded of the shape and colour of the ball. Off the field, he was always good company and his views on the game were widely respected,

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION!He was eventually forced to retire with crippling rheumatoid arthritis, going on to pursue other interests such as the theatre, local charities and politics. He was a dedicated educationalist and worked his way up to become Director of Education for Stockport, then Cheshire, taking early retirement in 1991 when he was awarded the CBE for Services to Education. Living in Chester since 1986, he became an elected member of Chester City Council from 1992-96 and of Cheshire County Council from 1997-2001. Earlier in life he was a keen actor and once appeared at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester, an event he recalled as one of his most memorable experiences. He was also a poet writer and his one- act play Conscience Stricken won festival awards and played to audiences throughout the UK In 2004, Neil joined other members at Old Trafford for the club’s 150th anniversary dinner and several years later was a guest at a Club Open Day when new cricket and tennis facilities were opened. Neil’s two wives, Jean and Freda and his brother Paul all predeceased him. He leaves a son, James, daughter Helen and two step children Avril and Douglas Thanks to Rob Moore for providing much information

Comedian Brendan Healey!THE death from cancer at the age of 59 has occured of Brendan Healey, the comedian who delighted his audience of more than 300 men and women at the League’s Presentation Dinner at The Mere last October. Brendan’s agent Rob Sproston, who acted as MC that night, said Brendan’s loss would be keenly felt on the After-Dinner circuit where he was universally popular.

!!!

FEBRUARY NEWSLETTER: p13 Obituaries contd …

DEATH OF HAROLD SHARROCK ! SADDENS wirral cricket!CRICKET – especially on the Wirral - was dealt a blow on Saturday, February 20 when Upton’s wonderful servant Harold Sharrock died after a lengthy illness, aged 82. Better known as Harry, he was President at Upton at the time of his death, having previously served as chairman from 2000-2006 and had been made a Life Member for services to the club He greatly enjoyed his two-year term as League President from 2007-2009 when he made many new friends outside the Wirral. Before and afterwards he served on the League Cricket Committee and was always in the thick of discussions, with his strong views and positive comments. Sitting alongside his son and fellow committeeman Ian, Harry was never shy advocating the views of the so-called smaller clubs. Last October, he was proud to be called to Lord’s to receive an OSCA (Outstanding Service to Cricket Award) after being nominated by the Cheshire Board. Nearer home, Harry had been chairman of the Wirral Youth League from 2002 until last year. Born at Walton in Liverpool right opposite Goodison Park - where he once played as a centre-half for Liverpool Boys – he attended Gwladys Street Junior School and always followed the club’s fortunes. He served an apprenticeship as a draughtsman then followed National Service in Devon where he reached the rank of corporal in the REME. A MANWEB MAN!Resuming work as a draughtsman Harry qualified an electrical engineer, joining MANWEB in 1963 where he worked until his retirement. Remaining a busy man, he later worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau and sat on Employment Tribunals for many years. The majority of his cricketing life was spent with Birkenhead Wayfarers playing at Arrowe Park until the 1970s when the club found a permanent home elsewhere and he and a select few built a new clubhouse. He was an off break bowler, but was also very capable with the bat, passing on his knowledge to young players with whom he always had an affinity. The end of his playing days were spent at Upton, but his greatest impact was felt off the field, as detailed above. Said Gary Dixon, a close friend at Upton who played for the club for 25 years before retiring last September: “Harry was the finest cricket person I have had the privilege of spending many long hours with. He was always very kind to young cricketers and I will never forget the encouragement he gave to my sons Lee and Ross when they played for the club as young boys”. Other tributes have flooded in from throughout the League, especially from clubs in the Wirral with whom he had been associated most of his life. He leaves a widow Pamela, sons Ian and Nigel and a daughter Andrea, who lives near the New Zealand Test ground of Basin Reserve at Wellington where the family have a plaque. The funeral is to be held on Thursday, March 10 at Bethany Chapel, Holmlands Drive, Oxton, Wirral CH43 0TX at 1.30 p.m. This will be followed by committal at Landican Cemetery, then a Wake at Upton CC. Male mourners are urged to wear club ties and are warned that parking space at the chapel is limited. Thanks to Ian Sharrock for providing much information !WEBSITE UPDATE FOLLOWERS should note that the League’s already excellent Pitchero website administered by Richard Fennah now carries all current events and pictures, plus key documents including this and previous issues of Newsletter. The address is www.cheshirecountycl.org.uk The Play-cricket.com website run by Darren Sutcliffe will become a purely results facility next season. ! NEXT ISSUE: EARLY APRIL ! Mike.t-b@virgin.net: Monday, February 29, 2016