Longridge Cricket Club achieves Clubmark in its 150th year.

Longridge Cricket Club is delighted as well as proud to have achieved Clubmark status. All the hard work that has produced this award has taken Longridge CC to a new level of organisation. We have achieved this through partnership with LCB notably Rudra Singh (CDM) and Gerry Thomas (CSO) who gave much support and guidance to the club committee particularly Tom Haworth (Junior coordinator) Brian Simpson (club secretary) and Pete Harwood (Clubmark coordinator).

Cricket has been played in Longridge over many years, our earliest recorded match is from 1856 which means we celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2006 and in all those years we have been active locally and taken a full part in the development and running of local competitions. The unique geographical position of the town means that Longridge CC is actively involved with the Lancashire League, the Palace Shield and Ribble Valley Forum, supporting these leagues with various committee positions.

The club ground is on Chipping Road, Longridge and with the rapid development of the junior section comes our newest exciting project. The club, having developed the well known Newsham Memorial ground, had to satisfy the increase in demand for practice and playing space as more members were attracted. We rented and developed a second ground opposite the main ground on Chipping Road. This last year a generous benefactor has given an interest-free loan to buy this ground out-right and we are currently developing this area complete with a pavilion thus giving us two full size grounds to accommodate all our junior and senior games as well as providing spacious areas for practice. This is a measure of our development of over the past few years we now need two grounds and two separate practice nights.

The Cricket Club run seven junior teams and five senior teams. In the last five years the senior teams have 15 winners or runner up titles and all the junior teams now play in the highest divisions in the Lancashire league. Many of the players in the current 1st XI have developed through the junior ranks and there are more ready to move into senior cricket. We also have some notable juniors. We regularly have players in district and area teams as well as Lancashire trials. Two of our ex juniors have progressed to even greater feats. Andrew Flintoff current England star was the first winner of our Under 11 Player of the Year trophy in 1989. Andy Miller, one of our a recent junior stars, is now playing for the current England U19 team and Jenny Coupe has played for Lancashire Women.

Longridge CC is an LCB focus club and is hoping through the ‘chance to shine’ initiative to strengthen further, the existing links with local schools.

This really is a club going forward and you will be made very welcome, Longridge CC is a great place for boys and girls to develop their cricketing skills. with ever increasing membership and number and expertise of coaches.

You can contact the club through the secretary Brian Simpson 01772 784432 or Tom Haworth 01722 782969.