C Sharp Cricket Fixtures

Sit Down with the Skipper – Part 2 – Pavail Aqeel

Welcome to part two of our feature “Sit Down with the Skipper” as we build up to the start of the 2025 season. This time we chat with Pavail Aqueel. He joined the club four years ago and has thrown himself into a leadership role taking charge of the 2ndXI.

Q: How are you feeling ahead of the new season?

PA: Excited and optimistic. I can’t wait to get out on the pitch with the lads, welcome new faces into the side, and build on the momentum from last season. It’s my fourth year at Stretford and second as 2nd XI skipper, and every year it feels more like home.

Q: Have you made any signings, or are there any players to watch out for this season?

PA: We’ve strengthened nicely. Connor Bliss joins the 2nds this year from New Zealand as our overseas — his experience and leadership will be a huge asset. We’ve also picked up two handy all-rounders: Rai Faizan (ex-Knutsford CC) and Kevin Ninan, who’s bringing London energy up north. Uwais Siddique returns as well, which gives us more firepower.

With the ball, keep your eye on Blake Crawshaw — he’s developing fast and bowled with serious maturity last year. And in the batting department, Hamza Arif remains our resident big hitter — if you’re parked near the boundary, maybe move your car.

Q: What are the team’s main goals this year?

PA: Promotion is 100% on the radar. But more than that, I want the team to give their best, play with freedom, and enjoy every moment. Winning becomes easier when you’re having fun and playing for each other. Effort, team spirit, and a few good cricketing memories — that’s the goal.

Q: How does the 2nd XI fit into the wider club structure this season?

PA: The 2nds are a vital bridge between the 1sts and 3rds. We’re here to develop talent, give players opportunities to step up, and ensure there’s a strong pipeline feeding into the top side. A healthy second team means a stronger club.

Q: How important is your role in preparing players for potential 1st XI opportunities?

PA: Very. It’s not just about cricketing ability — it’s about confidence, attitude, and preparation. My role is to help players mentally and technically get ready for that next step. If someone’s pushing for 1st XI, they’ll know about it — and I’ll be backing them all the way. If you’re smashing it in the 2s, I’ll be the first to shout about it.

Q: What does it mean to you to captain the 2nd XI?

PA: It’s a big honour and a good laugh. I get to lead a great bunch of lads, give something back to the club, and stress about the weather forecast every Friday. Thanks to the club for backing me again.

Q: What lessons have you learned from your first season in this role?

PA: A lot! From managing player shortages to keeping morale high during tough games, I’ve learned the importance of patience, organisation, and staying calm under pressure. Communication is key, and I now know that a captain’s job doesn’t stop once the game begins — it’s a constant role. And I’ve also learned that no matter how many times you explain the fielding positions, someone will always ask, “Where do I stand again?”

Q: What personal goals have you set for yourself this year as captain and player?

PA: As captain, I want us to win 70% of our matches and be real contenders for promotion. As a player, I’ve set myself the challenge of scoring over 500 runs and taking 35 wickets. But more than stats, I want to be a consistent performer and lead by example.

Q: What will be your toughest challenges this year?

PA: We’ve got some tough fixtures — Little Hulton, Failsworth Macedonia, Swinton Moorside, Woodhouses. These are quality sides, but we’re backing ourselves this year. The challenge will be consistency, especially during the mid-season stretch.

Q: How important is it to have a strong connection between the 1st XI & 2nd XI?

PA: Massively. A strong bond between teams creates a united club culture. When players move between sides, it should feel seamless. That only happens when there’s mutual respect and open communication.

Q: What do you want to see from the squad, regardless of results?

PA: Commitment and togetherness. Turn up to training, be punctual, do your jobs on matchday, and support one another. Results come and go, but the culture we build is what lasts. If we stay united, the wins will follow.

Q: Any message for club members and supporters ahead of the new season?

PA: We’d love your support — whether you pop down for an hour or stay the whole day. Bring friends, family, and a chair. There’s no better place to spend a summer afternoon than watching local cricket with a cold drink in hand.

Looking forward to a big season ahead. Up the 2s, and up Stretford!

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.

ML & GR
C Sharp Club Officers

20/20 Vision: Guy Robinson – Director of Cricket

I’ve always tried to live by the principle of giving 100% in everything that I do. If you give 100 % and it is not good enough you cannot question yourself. Thats exactly what I try to do from day one when I joined Stretford in 2015.

I have been involved in cricket for many years and whilst Junior Chairman of a thriving junior section at Brooklands,I was approached to see if I would be interested in overseeing all cricket at Stretford in the role of Director of Cricket .I could see massive potential in taking the club forward and jumped at the chance to try to fulfil that potential .I had already had a good rapport with Stretford over the years whilst both playing and in a coaching junior teams against them .

Being such an active club member natural to me.We are getting a very good core of club members not who are willing to help in all aspects of the club now which is very encouraging.

I would hope that I was approachable to everyone and if they need any advice I am always available. There is not one style of management,certain players need an arm around their shoulder or others need to be encouraged in a slightly stronger way .

Bonfire night was a prime example of what the club does well.It is such a massive event for the club and the number of club members who volunteered in many capacities to make it such a success was  absolutely fantastic.We are always looking for more volunteers and new ideas coming into the club so if anyone is willing to help in any way we would love you to get involved.

There are many things that can be improved at the club but I feel better communication is needed.We are doing an awful lot of work on our new website  to make it easier for players to advise their availability and paying memberships etc at the moment.

My vision for the club on the field is to keep improving and to continue to give opportunities to younger players in the senior teams.All our senior teams have players who have come through or are still in the junior section and I am very keen for this to continue.We are always looking to increase our junior and senior members so any new members would be made more than welcome.

I would say the highlights would have to be the 1st team getting promotion in my first season and the Under 18/19 having great successes in reaching the the Lancashire Cup final and winning the South Manchester League .

I have had my own opticians practice for 30 years in Stretford Mall,’Specialeyes Optical Centre which keeps me very busy and all club members get discounted rates for all their optical needs!! I love all other sports and have been a ‘massive’ Manchester City fan all my life so watching the style of football we are playing now is fantastic.

C Sharp Admin

True Grit: Australian Leary signs for Stretford and promises to show true fighting spirit

We are delighted to announce that Australian, James Leary has signed for the club for the 2020 season to fill one of our overseas slots. The highly regarded 19 year old from Sydney is an innovative right handed batsman currently playing for UTS North Sydney Bears.

It has been no ordinary journey for James who has already achieved so much at a young age both on and off the pitch. His story is one of defiance, stark realisation and triumph over adversity. His passion for the game has never been brighter and he is intent on giving it his all in trying to achieve his dream.

I’m left feeling humbled very quickly only seconds into our conversation and it becomes clear that this Aussie is someone who thrives with his back to the wall. He has a serious will to win and passion for the game along with with a clear perspective on life that developed early;

“I’m from Sydney and I currently live on the Central Coast in New South Wales. I was born with a heart condition called Aortic Stenosis, which is a narrowing of the aortic valve opening. I’ve already had 3 open heart operations in my lifetime when I was one, fifteen and another at the start of 2019.

I live with my Dad and Granddad and have two brothers and two sisters (Duan, Lilly, Kiara and Jezzie) My mum passed away in 2009 when I was 8 and it was about that time I first started playing cricket.”

A young James instantly took to the game of cricket and managed to bag 3/3 off 2 overs and scored 21* retired in his first game. His most cherished moment in cricket as scoring his first century as a 13 year old with his Dad (who is a bloody legend) batting at the other end.

Despite his remarkable duck to water introduction into cricket it was by no means easy. He already overcame a number of odds to begin playing but it was not until his dream was threatened that James began to properly focus on his game

“Dad tried to keep me off the streets as a young kid but I grew up in a really tough area so it was hard up until around 15 when I got into some trouble. I got selected in a touring team to play cricket in Sri Lanka. My Dad had told me that if I ever got into trouble that I would not be able to travel. That was a scary moment and was a bit of a wake up call. I got my head together and needed to be more mature. I got my life on track and completed school and now I’m training exceptionally hard to hopefully one day fulfilling my dream of becoming a professional cricketer. In the end I went on tour and its the only time I’ve ever left Australia but I did score the most runs on that tour including three half centuries at an average of 38 ”

“I love the game, there’s not a day that goes by where I haven’t either trained at the nets or played backyard cricket with my mates, I work very hard on becoming the best cricketer I can be and I hope to bring a focus and will to win to Stretford. I wear my heart on my sleeve and will do anything required to see the team over the line for a win and sing the team song.

“I take my cricket seriously but I love to see people laugh and having fun, I think I’m also very easy to get along with and I love meeting new people, getting to know my teammates and club mates really well. I think my teammates would say that I am a fighter at the crease. I love it when it’s tough and difficult that’s when I bat the best especially when I copping a lot of sledging from the opposition about my unorthodox shots and shot selection I love a celebration when I take a wicket and when our team gets a wicket you will hear my “whoooooo” in the next suburb!”

Over the last few years consistent run scoring has been an issue for the club. The bowling has generally been good and we’ve managed to bowl teams out. I spend a few minutes talking about the club and I ask what he knows already:

“I heard you guys finished third last season and just missed out on promotion however due to a league restructure the standard will be better than last season. So on the field I’m hoping to contribute runs and wickets to drive us up the league and win games. Winning a comp with your teammates has to be the best feeling in the game of cricket! Personally I am setting my targets very high and hope to get a couple of centuries and some wickets!

I briefly tell James about what he can expect in Manchester and at Stretford. I inform him that there is something for everyone whether you like music, sport, art, eating, pubs, clubs but such is his focus on cricket that the conversation again turns to what he can do better;

“Off the field I want to experience some good nights out in Manchester and London. I have a couple of mates from my club in Sydney who play in th Lancashire set up that have told me those places are good for a night out. I’d like to travel a bit to places like Paris, Amsterdam, Ireland and I would like to go to some place with snow. Despite this I do want to start eating a lot more healthier in England than I do in Australia and become a lot fitter than I am at the moment”\ which I think will help my game”

We are looking forward to James joining the Stretford team and can guarantee that he will be well looked after at the club. We wish him luck for the rest of his summer in Australia as our search for new members and players continues.

Join the club here

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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