As we have gathered at the club for the first games of the season, we have all been aware of the missing presence of a loyal and knowledgeable member of our club Ronnie Goldsmith who passed away earlier in the year.

Ron had been a playing member of the club, not only well remembered for his stylish shots but also for his humour and wisdom on the field.

Ex teammates remember him well and there was always some great reminiscing when they came together on the boundary edge in recent years or at the Annual Vice Presidents lunch.
Ron was proud of his Vice Presidents membership and was always one of the first to make an annual contribution to the club.

There was a good representation of the club within a packed Christleton Church for Ron’s service, where we heard a very moving tribute written by Ron’s wife Carol and their daughter Katie.
We heard about a packed life with such a positive influence on so many people, young and old.
Sport was a massive part of Ron’s life….Everton FC, Welsh rugby and Christleton, Barrow and Lancashire Cricket clubs.

Fellow Christleton, Lancashire and Wednesday Club member Nigel Campbell was a close friend of Ron.
” Ronnie was a top bloke . He was one of the most sociable people I have ever met.I loved watching him hit the off-drive and he was my favourite company when watching cricket…two good boozers together !
I will miss him on my forthcoming trip to Old Trafford, just as I missed him at Christleton on the first day of the season”.

Carol and Katie are very much in the thoughts of us at the club and will always be very welcome to join us in raising a glass to Ronnie.

Christleton Cricket Club is sad to announce the passing of our longstanding member Paul Evans.

Paul joined our club in the 1980s from neighbours County Officers C.C. The youthful seam bowler had turned into a steady and obdurate middle-order batsman. Paul loved to caress the ball through point and often chipped in with useful runs, regularly taking great delight in hitting the winning runs. He was a regular player at the club for many years, playing veterans’ cricket into his sixties.

Paul had a great memory for cricket and would often recall minute details of a match from long ago. He simply loved cricket. As a watcher he was the first person I knew with Sky TV in the days when dishes were square. As a player he simply played every match he could. There were no holidays during the cricket season but numerous trips with friends to watch cricket in far-flung outposts, journeys that were always remembered with great affection. Travelling to games was often done at startling speeds at Paul displayed another of his talents.

Paul’s contributions have been substantial both on and off the field. He was a committee member for over 20 years and was our league representative throughout that time. He was proud to be a vice-president of our club and he loved the reminiscence involved in a vice-presidents’ lunch.

Those who played alongside him will think kindly of Paul as a genial man with a total passion for the game that we all love. We will remember him fondly.

Paul’s funeral will be held at St Peter’s Church Plemstall (Mickle Trafford) at 1pm on 10^th January 2024.

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David Spencer

Christleton Cricket Club is saddened to announce the passing of Vice-President David Spencer at the age of 91.

Universally known as ‘Dave’, his funeral was held at Christleton Parish Church on Friday 5^th October.

Born in Hoole, Dave gave a lifetime of exemplary service to local businesses and community organisations.

A lifelong love of sport saw Dave playing football and cricket as a young man. In cricket, Dave was a stalwart wicker keeper/ batsman in a successful Hoole side. Our own club’s scorebooks reveal some of Dave’s qualities as a pugnacious batsman scoring a high percentage of his team’s runs. Dave is remembered for his safe hands behind the stumps. If the keeper is the heartbeat of the fielding side, it is easy to imagine Dave setting a determined example as he drove his colleagues on.

When Dave’s son Chris began to play for our club, Dave’s interest in local cricket was rekindled. There was a lot of family interest as Chris regularly took over 50 wickets and smashed it over square with the bat. When Chris relocated to Merseyside, Dave continued to be a keen supporter of our club, diligently carrying out a selection of valuable roles on matchdays. For many years we were proud to count Dave amongst our steadfast group of Vice-Presidents.

We will miss Dave not just for his commitment to the club but mainly because he was such a lovely man to spend time with.

Our deepest commiserations go out to Chris and the whole Spencer family at this sad time.

Everyone at Christleton CC was saddened to hear of the recent passing of our longstanding member John Noden.

John started playing at the club in 1974. At the time, the club was still in the Manchester Association and playing on the ‘old ground’.

The next few years saw tremendous change at the club with a move to a new ground and the recently formed Cheshire League. In those days, John was becoming an increasingly influential figure at the club, taking over as 2^nd XI Captain in 1977 and doing this job for 6 seasons. Players of that era remember John as a good and fair captain. He was one of a select group of cricketers anywhere to have taken 4 wickets in 4 balls. John was skipper of the 2^nd XI in 1981, one of the club’s most successful years, a year in which the numerous trophies won included the Aggregate Trophy, reflecting the all-round playing strength of the club at that time.

As well as his playing strengths, John was one of a small group of qualified umpires at the club whose certificates were proudly displayed for many years. It was rare to meet a qualified umpire in those days and so John; Dave and Gareth were ahead of the game and very useful reference points on the laws of the game when information was not as freely available as it is nowadays.

John became Chairman of the club in 1980, a role he held for 11 years. He is remembered as a decisive and forthright Chairman, steering the club with a reassuring calmness and efficiency throughout his lengthy tenure in this key role.

Having already given so much to the club, John then agreed to become Head Groundsman, a volunteer role that John committed himself to for 20 years. John’s pitches were always well prepared, his task made more difficult before the era of covers by a succession of wet summers and a ground prone to holding water in the middle of the square. Rudimentary mathematics suggests that John must have prepared over 500 pitches at the club, which is quite a feat.

However, when the members and friends of Christleton CC remember John, whether as a player, captain, chairman or groundsman, the overwhelming memory will be of a friendly and dedicated chap, a lovely man who gave a lifetime of service to our club.

In recent years, John’s visits to the ground became fewer as a result of heath issues. However, he remained a loyal Vice-President, always supporting the current incumbents of his roles in the club.

John Noden was a Life Member for over 20 years and a true lynchpin of the club. His contribution was massive. We will remember John and everything he did here. We send our respectful best wishes to John’s family and friends.

John’s funeral will take place on Friday 5^th May, 3.20pm at Chester Crematorium.

We have moved on to Eurovision weekend. This festival– love it or hate it– is a fixed milestone on Game Day 5 every season. By this point you’ll be hoping to take up a nice position in the league ready to start stringing some good results together. It is roughly a quarter of the way through the season although this year we have seen no action yet for obvious reasons. Today would have been Game Day 5 of the season. Scheduled fixtures were against Hale Barns and Neston. We first played Hale Barns in 1978 and 74 Saturday league games have followed since that time. It was at Hale Barns in September 1981 that we won the Cheshire Cricket League for the first time in a season-finale of high drama that finished in pouring rain– times were different then. Neston, our near-neighbours from up the A540, first provided the opposition in 2005 and we were to be cast in the role of visitors today. Sadly, there will be neither action nor ice-cream for our spectators today. We send our very best wishes to both clubs’ players and officials– we are sorry to have missed you. Current cricketing news can be found on page 2 of the newsletter. Here, we’ll continue with a browse through some exciting mid-May matches of the past.

1st XI v Bollington Mid-May 2012

On GD5 of the 2012 season we were again away at Bollington on the Recreation Ground. The hosts decided to ask us to bat first on this occasion, not surprising as there had been rain in the build up, so much so that the corresponding 2ndXI fixture at Little Heath was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
After losing Iftikhar Naseer for 28 and Iroshan for a very rare duck, the Little Heath men were finding the going tough. However, the innings was held together by a determined partnership between Matt Astbury 42 and Delhi all-rounder Varun Sood. Varun subsequently had a productive 53 run partnership with Jamie Creek. Skipper Guy Newell batting at number nine was in at the end scoring a rapid 18*. Varun was unfortunate to finish on 99*, his highest score for the club and a quality, battling knock in a tea time total of 231-7.
What happened next was spectacular. Firstly, Russ Butcher produced his second big performance in suc-cessive newsletters. Here, the radar was operating with military precision as he hit the perfect length time and time again, taking the first 6 wickets. He finished with a brilliant 6-20 to demoralize the home batters. Varun then stepped in to clean up the tail finishing with 4-1 in a total of 41 all out. Varun was and is a bowler of astonishing accuracy. He gives batsmen nothing so that they have to eventually take a chance against him. His finest cricketing moment must be when dismissing Ian Bell, Joe Root and Samit Patel in 2013. Scorecard here: https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/12286/scorecard/565805/delhi-vs-england-xi-tour-match-england-tour-of-india-2012-13

1st XI v Timperley Mid-May 2015

Meanwhile, fast forward to GD5 of the 2015 season and and our 1stXI were away to Timperley. Skipper Mike Gaynon decided that he wanted to chase that day. The Timperley batters were happy to set a substantial target with the 244-6 amassed at the half-way point always likely to prove a challenging quest. Dave Mumford was the most successful bowler with three hard-earned wickets. The 6 wickets was 1 more than the 5 point haul of Electro Velvet that year. Thanks to San Marino for those 3 points.
In the 2015 season we had a very formidable batsman in our ranks. Kiwi Mitch Renwick scored well over 800 runs in 15 league games that season at an average of over 92. His severe hamstring tear ruled him out at that point when he was on course for something like 1350 runs. We will never know what might have been but this was a day when he impressed all who were present, making 136* at a run-a-ball with 18 fours and 5 sixes, over a century in boundaries. Turfail Talha provided great support at the start of the innings with a rapid 65, before supporting contributions from Matt Astbury and Josh Morgan-Jones got us over the line at 246-3 in 43.4 overs and 25 points.

Read about Mitch’s maiden first class hundred here: https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/cricket/renwick-century-anchors-otago-innings. 

Mitch currently plays for Ota-go Volts. Based in Dunedin, their beautiful home ground is the world’s southernmost test venue. Mitch has shots all round the wicket but you can-not bowl short to him or he’ll rock back and dispatch over mid-wicket as he’s doing here.

2nd XI enjoy success at Mobberley mid-May 2006

The 2ndXI travelled to Mobberley for this Eurovision weekend fixture in 2006. After a wet week, captain Brian Wareing had no difficulty making his mind up to ask the hosts to have first knock. 31 overs later, congratulations were due to the Swans’ bowling attack, and in particular to Dave Graham. Dave is a tall chap bowling a brisk medium pace slightly off the wrong foot and with a high action. When he was on song, Dave could cause teams to fumble in haste at those pad straps in the expectation of being in soon. Dave has 3 of the top 5 best-ever 2ndXI post 1978 bowling analyses to his name. At the lovely Church Lane ground in 2006, Dave had the remarkable fig-ures of 15.2-9-14-9, with the ever-dependable Richard Morgan-Jones ruining Dave’s chance of all 10, although his wicket was the second man out, so he is excused.
A total of 48 was always going to be hard to defend but the hosts made a good fist of it knocking over 5 wickets before the target was reached. Chris Brooks was top scorer in the match with 18*, an innings worth a lot more and almost twice as many as anyone else managed. Fittingly, Dave Graham was in with the battling Brooksy at the end as the win was secured. For the record, UK entry in 2006 was the rap meets St Trinians ’Teenage Life’ which wasn’t disgraced in 19th place.

Look back to last year

Going back in time to the 2019 season, we all remember the success of the 2ndXI and the magnificent run of wins that unfolded. GD5 was a trip to our local neighbours and good friends at CCO. The team knew that this would be a good test. Skip Pete Roberts won the toss and elected to bat: there was not much option last season if you wanted a 25 point win. When the wickets started to tumble on the old Brookhirst ground, we were not in robust batting health. Fahad Dar’s patient 29 was the start of the recovery. The stand for the 7th wicket between Jack Harding 42 and Nick O’Connell 27 was studious and responsible, and one of many times last year when the lower order produced the goods. Quick-fire runs from Adam Bayley and Louis Mullineux boosted the total to 179-9 at tea. Our square-keeper Alen Roberts bowled with his usual accuracy for CCO taking 2 wickets.
After tea wily batsman Ian Barlow made a doughty 39 for CCO but wickets were falling at the other end as the spin of Jack Harding and Dave Phillips claimed 3 victims each. There were wickets also for Louis and Nick as CCO closed on 121-9, with Alen having a good all round game defiantly 24* at the end. The points were 25 to 13 in favour of the Swans whose battling win against good opposition gave them the confidence to kick on for the rest of the season.

Some of our Sunday contingent are of the opinion that the Iceland entry this year is brilliant. What do you think?

Staying alert – thanks to the County Board staff who are keeping us informed

This week’s edition of the ECB newsletter focuses primarily on the new guidelines for the safe use of outdoor facilities, published yesterday by ECB. This has been produced to support the advice of government and medical experts, and to offer practical guidance to players and clubs on the steps they must take to remain safe whilst undertaking exercise in an outdoor cricket club environment.

PLEASE NOTE: No decision has yet been made by the club as to whether we believe these stringent requirements allow for the resumption of some very limited cricket activity. We will discuss on Tuesday to try to decide whether such cricket activity is feasible, manageable and safe. We will let you know what we decide but until you hear otherwise… THE NETS REMAIN CLOSED.

This week’s ECB update is a bumper edition with lots of excellent content, including:

• Dynamos Cricket App – download brilliant games for 8-11 year olds
• Free coach development webinars accessed via iCoachCricket
• Nominate your NHS heroes (deadline Monday)
• Natwest Moneysense featuring Michael Vaughn (Monday 18th May)
• Play-cricket updates

The communications from the ECB are required reading if you want to stay up-to-date with what’s happening in the recreational game. This week’s can be found here:

https://ecb-comms.co.uk/1FT6-6VE30-D6SSQJ4NB2/cr.aspx

https://ecb-comms.co.uk/1FT6-6VEJU-757G090DCD/cr.aspx

Brian Wareing has kindly provided a couple of photos from the archive which I think will be of interest to a lot of people.
In both cases were going back around 20 years. To the left we have the absolute beast of a roller that was in use throughout the 80’s and 90’s. This device was very slow and lurched quite a lot. Parking it in the garage was a nerve-racking experience I remember only too well. Local Mercedes specialist Tony Forbes was amongst many keeping this monster working. You will notice too how open the surrounds are and how much the trees and hedges have grown in the intervening years.
A kind and generous donation from a club member allowed us to purchase the comparatively svelte roller that we use today. Thank you

Heading back to the same era, we have the start of the new net area.
For many years the net area was in the corner that now houses the scoreboard. This gradually fell into disrepair and was replaced by the facility you see. Steve Johnson, a true master of many trades, provided the skills to lay the concrete and build the brickwork. Steve is a remarkable man when it comes to ability to apply practical skills.
Standing on the concrete you can see the smiling figure of our much-missed former President Jim Partington. Respected throughout the area, Swans’ President for 20 years and 2nd XI captain for 10 years was always a man with a smile and some kind words. The ‘Partington Oak’ in the village centre still stands proudly as a tribute to the man.

…and finally

Cricket knowledge question – Level: Very Hard

Earlier, we reminisced about Dave Graham’s amazing bowling performance. You can see from the table above that this was no fluke. When he was on song, he was deadly, recording 3 of the best 5 2ndXI bowling analyses in league cricket from 1978.
My question for you today is, who else has recorded a 2ndXI 9-for?

Last weeks answer: Terry Dandy, the original safe hands. Well done Pete Roberts and Chris Spencer for getting that one

Due the restrictions placed on recreational sport, the hospitality sector and leisure, the Cricket Club are generating ZERO revenue. You as players and members have not been asked to pay your membership for the immediate; match sponsors have not been approached; and functions that are normally arranged cannot be held. Our outfield mower requires some repairs and we have machinery insurance costs to cover for the immediate.
As such we have setup a crowdfunding page which is being supported by the ECB. If we can pledge at least £100 to the page then the ECB will also lock-in £100.
Can I ask you all to pledge your support via the below page – no pressure as to how much to pledge, but even the cost of a bottle of wine, or a couple of beers will help. Please share this link too, every penny helps.

Your community club – it needs your support.

https://www.spacehive.com/christleton-cricket-covid-19-relief

Warmest greetings to all Christleton CC members and friends to this Bank Holiday bumper newsletter edition. Today would have been game day 4 of the 2020 season. Scheduled fixtures were against Stockport and Port Sunlight. We first played Stockport in 2011, with Port Sunlight appearing in our fixture list for the first time in 2001 – there were games against Port Sunlight last year, when club members were very excited about plans for a new pavilion. We send our best wishes to both clubs’ players and officials– we are sorry to have missed you. Current cricketing news can be found on further below.
Here, we’ll continue with a browse through some exciting May matches of the past. For both 1st and 2nd teams, we’re casting the memory back to the 2010 season. National Treasure David Attenborough was celebrating his 84th birthday on the day of these fixtures, and in the World Cup T20 local lads Pietersen and Kieswetter were helping England to a hard-fought win against South Africa.

1st XI v Irby 08/05/2010

Game day 4 of the 2010 season was productive for both 1st and 2nd XI’s. The 1st team played at home to Irby. The morning had provided several sprinkles of rain that persuaded captain Paul Allen to ask the visitors to bat first. The Mill Hill Lane men found life difficult at first and at 48-5 could have folded quickly. This was not to be as a defiant lower order shepherded the team to a respectable 159 at half-way. Skipper Allen was in good form with the ball with 4-37. There was a wicket for Matt Parkinson, 2 for Guy Newell, and 3 for Iroshan de Silva.

A mirror image of the first innings was seen after tea, with the loss of early, key wickets followed by a steadying of the ship. Jamie Creek provided the steadying with a diligent and determined 45 off 90 balls. However, when he was out, closely followed by skipper Allen, at 108-8 Swans’ hopes were hanging by a thread. At this point, Andy Heyland decided that he wasn’t going down without a fight and began to smash the ball to all parts of Little Heath. His run-a-ball 44* proved decisive in securing a Swans’ win. Nick O’Connell, experienced in so many similar situations, provided the invaluable support with a doughty 12*. Andy played many bigger innings but this was one of his most important as it helped to secure victory at 161-8 and 20 hard-earned points.

2nd XI enjoy success at Mobberley 08/05/2010

This weekend in 2010 was a 45 pointer for the club. The 2nds under (ever dependable) Richard Morgan-Jones travelled to picturesque Mobberley, always a delightful place to play cricket. Our hosts asked us to bat first that day, only to find Swans anxious to gorge on runs. Willy Lamb 63 and Ollie Morgan-Jones 30 laid the foundation of a big score. Rob Marks (clearly in great form– see below) added acceleration with a stylish 70* before Russell Butcher, in uncharted territory batting at number 4, larruped a lightening 41 to enable a declaration on 222-2. Many quality players did not get in that day.

The adrenalin was clearly still raging for Russ after tea as he quickly removed 3 upper-order players. He also caught 2– MOM stuff surely? Ollie, having a good all-round game, also had 3 wickets, and Jimmy Dathan bowled one with a lovely nip-backer. It was then left to the wily Wareing to entice the tail into playing some shots. Brian duly did this, finishing with 3 wickets to wrap up a very good team performance and the 25 points.

Over 40’s action from Bramhall

Around this part of April is the time when midweek matches start to be played. This week, we’re going to turn our attention back to 2005. You will remember the Vets’ photo from last week’s Newsletter. This week we get to see them in action a week before Tony Blair’s 3rd General Election
victory.
Bramhall batted first and were pinned down by mercilessly accurate bowling, the innings closing in the 20th over at 85 all out. Nigel Campbell was remembered this week as a very fine leg-spinner by our Sweden correspondent Scott Thurling. This is true, but on this occasion one of his wickets was a really filthy ball smashed venomously into the waiting hands of Tony Collard, who had put himself into the right place, as he so often did and still does. Amazingly wickets fell in succession recorded as ‘Run out Hollindale’ and ‘LBW Hollindale’. [Not as under-bowled as Nick O’Connell, but definitely under-bowled.] Wickets also for Steve Johnson [2-8] Phil Tidy [2-9] and for current turf manager Alen Roberts. [There’s a nice picture of Alen below.]
The run chase was successful in the 19th over for only 3 down with Mike Field 30ret and Phil Tidy 27* stinging the hands of a busy backward point.
After the game a very welcome sight was that of a chap appearing in the pavilion with a large box containing 24 portions of rapidly demolished fish and chips– great hospitality fondly remembered even after 15 years.

Pictured relaxing at his street’s VE Day celebrations yesterday, squarekeeper Alen is clearly making the most of the limitations imposed by lockdown.
Cheers!

Under 18 season starts well

Back in 2010, Under 18 supremo Mark Astbury had assembled a side that he thought could do very well in the Cheshire Cup. The team’s first game of the season, a true test, was at home to a Brymbo team that had been strong in the previous summer.

Brymbo batted first that night and rattled up a useful 131-6 from 20 overs. There were 2 wickets apiece for the brisk Tom Allen and for future Peruvian international all-rounder Matt Astbury. We were left to hope that the 19 extras conceded would not prove to be the deciding factor.

The target was imposing but achievable and the young Swans chased it down with gusto, supplementing boundaries with daring and swift running between the wickets– always a feature of this side’s play. The Little Heath youngsters laid down solid foundations, only 44 at half way but with deep batting and wickets intact. Eventually Swans reached 132-8 after 19.4 overs to seal the victory, no mean feat against strong opposition. Rob Marks led the way that night with a dashing 52ret, whilst multi folk music award winner and broadcaster Greg Russell weighed in with a vital 27. There will be more reports from this U18 team later in the season.

Lockdown – thanks to the County Board staff who are keeping us informed

The Bank Holiday edition of the latest ECB newsletter covers the following:

• Details of a new Emergency Loan scheme for junior/senior leagues
• Info about the new Dynamos App (for 8-11 year olds) which launches next week
• National Emergencies Trust (NET) Coronavirus Appeal
• Spacehive Crowdfunding reminder (deadline 14th May)

We have registered for Spacehive and need everyone to get involved. Pete Roberts will let you know how. Follow Swans social media pages and outline details can be found here: https://ecb-comms.co.uk/1FT6-6V2RL-D6SSQJ4NB2/cr.aspx

Other things that will be of interest:

Groundsmanship
Level 1 Cricket Grounds Maintenance (online)
Find out more and book here.

Umpiring– online courses
ECB Association of Cricket Officials has created a range of free online courses for aspiring umpires and scorers. The courses are a great way for people to use thecurrent downtime to learn a new skill or brush up on their knowledge.

Basics of Umpiring – : http://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/jnqlsg
Umpire Stage One – http://booking.ecb.co.uk/d/fnqrf1

Coaching
Cheshire Cricket Board have organised an online batting masterclass with former West Indies and current ECB batting consultant Toby Radford, which takes next Wednesday May 13th from 7pm. Register your interest via the link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/master-class
A reminder that coaches can also access ECB’s excellent online resource iCoach
Cricket free of charge, with hundreds of drills and games to choose from: https://icoachcricket.ecb.co.uk/

Mentioned in dispatches

This week’s ‘mentioned in dispatches’ looksback to GW4 in the 2019 season. Swans 1stXI visited near-neighbours Tattenhall on this day.
Asked to bat first, only 2 Swans’ batters recorded double figures, namely Kiwi Josh and Arslan. Fortunately, someone racked up 3 figures. This was Mubashir Hassan. Muby scored 116, completely dominating proceedings. When he was 7th man down, he had amassed 116 with 7 fours and 10 sixes. A
final total of 182 looked formidable. Scored off only 87 balls, the power and class of his strokeplay will long be remembered.
After tea, Kiwi Josh and Javid had 5 wickets apiece as spin won the day, delighted Swans leaving the Flacca with 25 very useful points.

Cricket Sudoku – Week 4 Lvel: Easy

Holiday bonus

Some cricketers have been animated here. How many can you name?
Which bears most resemblance to a Swans’ player?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRMQbQJt_WY

Swans Cricket knowledge question – Level: Hard

Which legendary Swan took 14 catches for the 1st XI in 1984 (joint club record) and 13 catches for 2nd XI in both 1983 & 1990 (a club record)?

Last weeks answer for amassing 814 runs for both teams: Mark Hughes

How our ground is judged by others