C Sharp Uncategorised

Help Needed – Land Contamination, Ecology, Biodiversity Assessments for our Club House Rebuild Project

I’m leading on a project to rebuild the club house at Stretford and we are at the stage of applying for planning permission. However, pre-planning advice from the council says we need to conduct a land contamination assessment, ecology assessment & bio-diversity assessment to submit with our application. If anyone knows any consultantants or companies that might be able to help with some social value related activity or volunteering/pro-bono please contact me. The club is located on an old landfill site and is part of the green belt therefore the cost just to get to planning is considerable. And I mean considerable. Especially for an open access community cricket club that is already paying £6000 per year for electric (and thats with solar panels covering a third of our use)

exisiting clubhouse at Stretford Cricket Club
C Sharp Junior Cricket

Junior Subscriptions 2024

As the 2024 approaches we are pleased to announce our Juniors Subs for the season. This year we have taken a new approach to subs for juniors and incorporated all costs into a package.

There are 3 different packages available depending on your child’s age.

All Stars (Ages 5-8) £40

  • All Stars Kitbag inc Bat and Ball
  • All Stars Shirt
  • Full year of All Stars designed sessions

No SCC merchandise is part of this package however parents are welcome to order separately. 

Any current all stars players who want to attend indoor training at Lancashire are welcome to as part of this package.

SCC Softball (Ages 9&10) £84

  • All Winter Training Sessions included
  • All Summer Training Sessions included
  • All Match Fees Included
  • 1 Match Shirt & Training Top included

SCC Hardball (Ages 11+) £120

  • All Winter Training Sessions included
  • All Summer Training Sessions included
  • All Junior Match Fees included
  • 1 Match Shirt & Training Top Included

This package does not include senior match fees any child if selected for a senior must pay a match fee.

C Sharp Admin

Autumn Newsletter

First of all, thanks for navigating to this newsletter! You’ve either followed a QR code off a leaflet at bonfire night (we hope you are having a good time!) or have simply surfed here along the waves of the information superhighway (yikes, not heard the internet called that since the early 00s)

As all the leaves turn brown and the sky turns grey, it appears to be a long walk to next cricket season however, the club is working hard to make progress.

South African Luke Smith Joins as Overseas Player for 2023
We are delighted to welcome Luke Smith as our overseas player for the 2023 season. The 24 year old, from Kimberley, South Africa, is a left handed top order batsmen and top quality wicket keeper. Luke has enjoyed sucessful seasons at Prestwick CC and Helensburgh CC in Scotland and, last season, at Ainsdale in the Liverpool Comp.

Luke has been schooled in the Northern Cape High Performance Academy and has spent time as a player coach in New Zealand for Takapuna CC in Auckland and is spending the winter playing in Melbourne Australia.

The well travelled yougster is hungry for runs and is keen to immerse himself in the club and offer support to our own youngsters within the junior section.

Membership Price Drop
We are looking for new members!!!! – that’s players both junior and senior of any ability to boost our ranks and social members. If you are new to the area, get on board and make new friends, if you are not getting a fair crack of the whip at your current club, come along! We have loads of opportunity. Our 1stXI finished a respectable 5th last year after promotion to the Championship in the GMCL so if you can join us and make a difference to push us that further forward, please get in touch! We have slashed playing membership for senior players to £90 and students to £70. Junior membership is currently £30 and includes training. We are reviewing the junior rate and details will be available soon because we want to offer winter sessions and increase the number of coaches to aid development for our young people. Anyone of any ability is welcome along. We have 3 senior league teams, a Sunday friendly team and bustling junior section.
If you like to join in socially, we have associate membership available from only £15.00. We are launching our full social calendar shortly so stay tuned but upcoming events are listed below. Follow this link to start joining up so we have your details


Winter Nets
We will start our winter practice program a little later than usual however we have been lucky enough to be able to secure slots at Lancashire County Cricket Club’s Indoor Centre. I understand only four clubs in the whole county were able to use the Centre, whose facilities are one of the best in the UK.
Seniors – every Monday at 9pm from 13th February to 27th March. £5.00 per session
Juniors – every Friday at pm from 27th February to 31st March. £5.00 per session including coaching

Ground & Room Hire
Our cricket ground, complete with pitch, scoreboard and changing rooms is available to hire starting at £50.00. It’s ideal for a charity cricket game, business match or school games. Why not book the whole field and bar for a fun day? Are you more interested in just having a party? Our bar has been newly refitted and our main room will undergo refurbishment following bonfire night, it’s an ideal space for a birthday, anniversary or social gathering. We can accomodate any requests if you need music or food and we are more than happy to let you cater for yourself. Head over to our contact page or email sccadmin@stretfordcricketclub.co.uk. We offer very competetive rates for playing members and social members!

Sponsorship
Sponsors are key to the club’s survival and help us to reinvest in our own facilities. Recently we have re-laid our playing square, gained two new sightscreens, improved outdoor seating and refurbished the bar. Next on our agenda is to install Solar Panels to reduce our expenditure on electricity and reduce our carbon footprint.
If you would like to support the club with sponsorship, we have packages available from £30.00 and with a social media following of over 2000 and 5000 different people through our gates every year we hope to help you with your promotion too!

Bronze – Match Ball Sponsorship £30.00
Silver – Social Media & Weblinks £50.00
Gold – Social Media & Weblinks/Advertising Board at Ground £120.00

All sponsors will be invited down to the club for a day of hospitality at a first team match with food, drink and entertainment.

If you can support us, please email sccadmin@stretfordcricketclub.co.uk or call Vinny Walsh on 07908 555 454

Cricket Fixtures

Double Delight on Opening Day

Stretford 1XI v Whalley Range 1XI

After a long celebratory winter and numerous replays of that Cameron Ball run out. The Division One Champions finally began their new campaign hosting Whalley Range. 

Stretford won the toss and elected to bat on a flat wicket. New overseas signing Josh Julius opened the innings with SCC staple Tom Coulson. Both got the season off to a solid start by producing an opening stand of 47. A couple of quick wickets fell, but once AJ and Munir got to the crease the ship was steadied. A commanding partnership was built by adding 105 for the 4th wicket, AJ hitting a superb 84 and Munir 35 to guide the home side to a total of 223.

The second innings got off to an ideal start for the 1st XI. Normal service resumed for skipper Williams as he picked up 2 early wickets and finished with 4-57. 

After that Range put on a 120 run partnership for the 3rd wicket; with their overseas hitting 73 and some rusty fielding helping them along the way. 

With the assistance of Off spinner Jeff Marshall, Stretford held their nerve. Tighter lines were bowled and a few more wickets fell and the 1st XI closed off victory by a solitary run. Or as former New Zealand keeper Ian Smith would put it, “by the barest of margins.”

Up next for the 1st XI is a trip away to newly relegated Royton.

Stretford 2nd XI at Golborne 2nd XI

Saturday saw a refreshed second team travel westwards to take on last season’s promotion hopefuls Golborne. 

After losing the toss the Stretford men took to the field. Things couldn’t have got off to a better start when what can only be described as a loosener from captain Renforth was edged and snaffled by keeper Lomax.

With young gun Taylor looking dangerous from the other end, Golborne found it difficult to score. Page and Grant both took to the stage bowling fast and destructive spells throughout the middle order. Page took his first senior 5 wicket haul backed up by Grant’s 2 victims and with the additional help of Ben Riddell’s wicket, Golborne left the field amassing 137-9 from their 45. 

Stretford got to work chasing a competitive total on a wicket which was giving something for everybody. Fortunately Pav Aqueel was up to the challenge scoring a boundary filled 35 to help Stretford get underway. However, when he was dismissed along with the rest of the top 5 Stretford were left 71-5 at drinks. A set Riddell and new to the crease Renforth slowly began to build a partnership, patiently waiting to punish any loose deliveries. 

Riddell fell victim when trying to cut away to the off side boundary. Renforth was met by his newly appointed vice captain Wild and showed no hesitation in attacking the remaining runs. 

Golborne bowler Corfield being dispatched over square leg for six sent a message of intent to the home side. Both skipper 38* and vice 14* seeing the blue boys home for a 4 wicket victory. 

Next week the boys take on Deane and Derby at home and look to build on their impressive start.

C Sharp Uncategorised

Kaptein! Span die seile (Captain, man the sails)

Ryan Williams enjoyed a successful first season at the club following his switch from Rainhill. He’s proven to be a popular member of the squad and earned the respect of his fellow players quickly with his quality all round performances. Having picked up the Players Player of the Year Award, Ryan is now set to start his first full season as 1st XI Captain.

SCC: What is your cricket potted history?
RW: I’ve been playing cricket since I was 11 years old and got hooked after the 2005 Ashes which was simply the best series ever. I’ve played Lancs age groups between 14 and 17 and i’ve played for three clubs; Rainhill in the LDCC, Chester-Le-Street and now Stretford

SCC: You’ve had a season at Stretford, how do you feel it went?
RW: Really enjoyable. The people have been great with me from the first time I walked through the gates. We had a good season finishing third in the league meaning we are now in a slightly division next season following the GMCL restructure. Making the cup semi final was a highlight, we played very good cricket in the cup with everyone contributing. I was very proud to be appointed captain midway through the season and is a career highlight because it’s an acknowledgement of respect from the players and club and i’m really thankful for that.

SCC: What do you like about the club?
RW: I love the togetherness of the club and the can-do attitude the club has. The club is fortunate to have such a dedicated management committee and that helps to emphasise the community feel of the club. I like that we all have a laugh and it’s generally a great atmosphere

SCC: So how do you contribute to that atmosphere?
RW: Well I think I am a very easy going person who can be serious. I like to think I am approachable and can have a laugh. I have an old head on young shoulders and as a player I like to lead by example and I’m an experienced player who still believes he can learn.

SCC: How can the club improve?
RW: I think we need to believe in the brand of cricket we play and believe in ourself as a club to help us reach our goals. Off the pitch we need to build the junior section but to do that we need to engage with parents more effectively. That’s something I am aiming to do. We have beginners sessions planned for new year and we want to get those sessions filled and incentivise juniors to join the club with the parents being encouraged to get involved. It’s so important to the club to invest in youth and help them through into the senior ranks in a more measured way.

SCC: What do you do away from cricket?
RW: I’m a big Everton fan and yes being from Liverpool I do get some stick but its all harmless banter. I enjoy the simple things in life like food and drink and I like watching films and TV series. I love living in Stretford as its full of friendly locals who support businesses to thrive. This area has great transport links, top class sport and shopping nearby so its ideal. I even go for the odd walk around the marina and along the canal. On a day to day basis I work in the city within the Print & Design industry where I design packaging.

SCC: What are your hopes for next season?
RW: I really believe that we are strong enough to get promoted next season. We were close last year and with a few more runs on the board we would have gone up. It would be nice to go to a cup final and maybe lift some silver items

SCC: What is your opinion of the music played in the 1st XI changing room?
RW: Where do I begin?! I do like some modern music but mainly lots of old classics. Iv’e seen Coldplay lots of times however I have some guilty pleasures like Simply Red, Beautiful South and the Lighthouse Family. I enjoyed the sing song we had in the Longford Tap at the end of the season where the whole pub joined in to High when we put it on the jukebox! I also enjoyed the knees up at the end of season do with a special adapted version of Go West by the Pet Shop Boys. I have a wide taste and even got into some Afrikaans music thanks to Francoise, the overseas player.

C Sharp Features, the friends of stretford

Only one Mitch: Catching up with former overseas batting star Mitchell Williams

Its almost a decade since Australian Mitch Williams played at The Boundary and we managed to catch up for a chat about his memories of the club

It’s hard to believe that it’s almost a decade since Mitch Williams signed for Stretford as overseas player but he still remembers his time at Stretford very fondly.

“I was fortunate enough to be the overseas player for Stretford CC for the 2010 season and what an amazing experience!”

Mitch primarily signed as a batsman and had a very fruitful season amassing over 700 runs and always batted with distinctive brutality. Possibly to his own surprise he also contributed wickets with his bustling medium pace.

Left handed Williams cites his time at Stretford, playing in the MDCA at the time, as a being important in his development as a player.

” The cricket was very enjoyable and I feel my batting developed a lot playing in different conditions. It was very different from playing cricket in Sydney but just as tough. I still play first grade for the Fairfield Liverpool Lions in the Sydney Premier cricket league and have recently passed 200 first grade games for the club “

Though a hard hitting bully with bat in hand, Mitch was a true gent off the pitch and forged some great relationships with everyone at the club, especially the few long suffering Everton fans.

“The people are what made Stretford so special. It had a great family feel and some of the best memories I have are enjoying a beer in the Clubhouse with the locals. Being on the door step of Manchester was also great and I definitely made the most of it!

It was was definitely box office viewing watching Mitch dismissively swat away bowlers to the rope; more Gayle than Gower and hopefully we will see Mitch again soon

” I look forward to bringing my young family to the UK in the next few years and Stretford will be one of the first stop ”

If you would like to bat for Stretford in brutal fashion like Mitch, join the club here
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