Above is Skelmersdale Cricket Club, early
1900's..
Player on front row, fourth from left is
Thomas Muldoon
(Picture courtesy of Mr Jim Muldoon)
A match report taken from an Ormskirk
Advertiser cutting, reports on a game - Ormskirk
(Extra Eleven) versus Skelmersdale:
"This match was played at Ormskirk on
Saturday last, and produced a very tame game.
Muldoon was the chief cause of Ormskirk's
collapse, as he took seven wickets for 13
runs, four being taken in five balls.
H Taylor secured the other three wickets
for a run each.
Skelmersdale's first wicket knocked up
the necessary runs, and then all interest
in the game was lost as they went on to bat
out their innings. The tempting nature
of the Ormskirk bowling will be seen from
the fact that six of the Skelmersdale wickets
were caught".
Score: Ormskirk 17 all out
Skelmersdale 53 all out.
The team comprised:
E Brierley; T Hardman; T Muldoon; S
Butcher; H Taylor; F Swift;
J Taylor; JE Clayton; W Murphy;
R Birchall; and J Davis.
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 1st XI in 1910..
Back Row: J Ashcroft; T Webster;
H Marsh; S Lockett; J Webster;
G Heath; R Fraser.
Centre: W Taylor; JE Clayton;
T Muldoon; T Fraser; B Davis;
A Tyrer.
Front Row: R Arnold; T Hardman;
R Webster; E Brierley; HS Taylor.
In the Southport & District Cricket League's
formative years the teams were mainly church-based,
such as St Pauls; St Phillips; Burscough
St John's; Derby Road Methodists and
Holy Trinity, and later St Simon's. In subsequent years, the League evolved
to include village and rural town teams.
The League grew, up to the 1st World War,
and by 1925 had four divisions, and by 1928
had Reserve Divisions 1 and 2 added. Of
the pioneer clubs only Hesketh Bank and West
End (part of Halsall/West End) still exist. The
league now covers an area of approximately
20 miles radius, from Southport town centre.
Shown below are
The Management Committee and Players in 1921/22
Standing at back: Mr Tasker; Inspector Pendlebury; Mr Harwood;
Mr Rushton
Standing: Mr. Edwards; Mr Huntington; George Blackledge;
Jack Gale; Tom Esp; Sergeant Nuttall; Arthur
Leyland; Edmund Brierley; Jim Eccleston;
Mr. Garner; Doctor Rotheram
Seated: Mr Ashcroft; Bill Roberts; Jim Yates; Harry
Bridge; Dick Lyon; Harry Taylor; Mr. Lyon
From the above team we know that:- Mr Tasker
owned a bakery;
Inpector Pendlebury was a Police Inspector
in Skelmersdale; Mr Harwood was part-owner
of Skelmersdale Shoe Company; Mr Rushton
owned a grocers' shop; Mr Edwards
was a pit boss; Mr Huntington was a councillor;
Ellis Blackledge owned a cold-meat and grocers'
shop; Jack Gale owned a grocers'
shop; Sgt Nuttall was a Police Sergeant in
Skelmersdale; Edmund Brierley was a pit boss;
Mr Garner was Co-Owner of T&W Garner;
Doctor Rotheram had a surgery in Sandy Lane;
Mr Ashcroft was a shop owner; Harry Bridge
was a Bickerstaffe farmer.
In 1921 Skelmersdale reached the final of
the Sandhurst Shield facing Derby Road Methodists.
Despite posting a creditable score of 70,
Derby Road knocked the runs off, for
the loss of just four wickets.
An extract from a 1921 scorebook, when Skelmersdale
beat near-neighbours Burscough. Skelmersdale
reduced Burscough to 14 all out,
thanks to 7 wickets from Arthur Leyland and
3 wickets from Jim Eccleston.
Arthur Leyland was a pace bowler of some repute. He
was known to snap a wicket with the ferocity
of his bowling.
The Club purchased the ground at School Lane,
Skelmersdale on 26 November 1924, for the
sum of £240 at auction from Lord Lathom
Estates. It was 4.746 hectares in size.
The purchase was due entirely to the testimony
and foresight of five trustees:
JA Harwood; E Huntingdon; E Blackledge;
H Singleton-Taylor; and Doctor Rotherham.
The contours of the ground at School Lane
were variable, and at the end of World War
II, Pilkington Brothers Limited offered to
level the area whilst mining sand for glass
production, from surrounding areas.
The offer was declined by Management as it
was felt that upon cessation of the War,
that playing members would expect to
resume their playing careers as soon as possible
after hostilities ended.
Below is Skelmersdale Cricket team from circ.
1924
One player who was a major asset to the team
between 1922 and 1932 was Police Sergeant
G Nuttall. Sergeant Nuttall recorded
his highest score of 142, in a match between
Ormskirk Police and Ormskirk Banks, played
at Skelmersdale's School Lane ground.
The Club won the Southport & District
Cricket League Division 1 in 1921, but
then had to wait until 1936 to win it again.
It was followed soon after, with a third
triumph in 1939.
Our First XI were Division 2 winners in 1928;
1931; and 1934.
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Tom Corbett
Tom Farrimond
Joe Blackledge |
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Bill Hallsworth
Bill Draper |
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Bill Wilson
Harry Thompson
Jim Bridge |
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| Bill Sedgebeer |
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Above are Skelmersdale players from the early
1930's
During the 1920's and 30's tennis
was also a major part of the Club's activities,
and the two grass courts were in constant
use. In the early 1950's further
facilities were added with the installation
of a hard court. However, due to lack
of funding and maintenance the courts were
to fall into disrepair. And so the
land was leased for a short period to Skelmersdale
Young People's Club, who erected a clubhouse.
Fred Ackery's Division 2 Winners Medal
from 1934
(Donated to the Club by Mr Ackery's daughter
Mrs Di Dixon)
In 1936, Lancashire County cricketer, Jack
Iddon, visited us to present the League Champions
trophy.
With Jack are Left to right: Bill Briscoe; Tom Farrimond; James
Draper; A A Clucas and Jack Iddon.
Unfortunately, for a while Skelmersdale suffered
from inconsistant form resulting in a number
of relegations and promotions
between Divisions 1 and 2.
Below: Skelmersdale Cricket Club -
1935
Back Row: R Hunt (scorer); J Anderton; T Hardman; J
Denny; T Berry; C Rigby; and G Beck (chairman)
Middle Row: E Winward; J Bridge; A Lawrence; W Briscoe;
J Briscoe; T Farrimond (president)
Front Row: H Welding and W Roughley
Around this time, Management Minutes show
that Mr Briscoe and Mr Hunter had enquired
about the purchase of sheep to keep the grass
down. The cost of the sheep was quoted
as between £13 and £15 each.
This was thought to be too expensive, and
the two gentlemen were asked to continue
with negotiations.
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 1st XI in 1938.
The team that defeated Eccleston in the Final
of The Sandhurst Shield.
Back Row: F Ackery; C Rigby; W Smallshaw; J Blackledge;
J Briscoe; A Lawrence.
Front Row: R Gill; F Hunter; J Davies;
???; W Briscoe; H Welding.
In the late 1930's we had one of the most feared and skilled fast bowlers in the
whole league in Robert Waller Beck. In fact
'Waller' as he was known, still
holds records to this date that remain unbeaten.
Robert Waller Beck was actually picked for Lancashire, but unfortunately due to the war and other
commitments could not dedicate himself to
playing for the Lancashire team.
Above is the Skelmersdale team in 1950 -
Back Row: H Welding; B Bithell; F Ackery;
R Waller Beck; W Roughley.
Front Row: A Yates; W Taylor; W Briscoe;
E Winnard; A Lawrence; R Gibbons
In the 1950's photograph (above) are several prominent and long-serving members
of Skelmersdale Cricket Club: Harry Welding; Fred Ackery; Robert Waller
Beck; Bill Briscoe; Albert Lawrence;
and Bill Taylor.
In 1953, it is minuted that Skelmersdale
Cricket Club made a donation of 3 guineas
to the Weymouth Disaster. In the same
year Gregson's Coaches quoted £8
to take the team to Southport for a Bank
Holiday away fixture. The Club declined,
and instead decided to go on the 12.48pm
train from Skelmersdale.
During the 1950's, and on the introduction
of the New town in the 60's, Skelmersdale
Cricket Club ran it's own cricket knockout
competition for local hostelries and businesses.
No doubt, many budding cricketers were borne
in this competition.
Some of the participants were: Callow
Engineering; Carborundum; Dalton,
Engine; Fire Brigade; Gas Board;
Gillibrands; Grimwoods;
Hattersley's; NALGO; Ozzie
Molyneux's; Pilkington; Richards
& Merrill; Skem Arms; Skem
Development Corporation; Skem Police;
Stormy; Victoria; and The Wardens Club.
Below is the triumphant Victoria Hotel, winners in 1954...
And in 1956 a strong Stormy team went on to clinch the trophy.
The Stormy team went on to provide several
players for our Club - Roy and Alan Pheasant,
Eddie Moss and Charlie Daniels to name a
few.
Stormy team:
Back Row: Frank Davies; Derek Cheetham; Stan Blackburn;
William Ackerley; Frank Parr; Roy Pheasant.
Front Row: Maurice Houghton; Charlie Daniels; Eddie
Moss; William Bromilow; George Ackerley;
John Gregson. (Roy Melling not in photo).
In 1962 the existing pavilion was renovated,
and in 1968 an extension was added in the
form of a function room with dance floor. Messrs F & J
Halliwell carried out the work, and Joe Halliwell,
who was a patron of the Club, made an offer of "pay for the work,
when you have the funds". The
new function room was named 'The Halliwell
Room' after Joe Halliwell's generous offer
was accepted.
Club captain, Roy Allerton rings the 'Calling
Bell' at the Remembrance Service at the
start of the season...
Club padre and cricketer, Reverend Peter
Killick with Horace Heaton at the 1968 Remembrance
Service..
An extract from a junior scorebook in July
1962, Burscough versus Skelmersdale
In 1962, our Junior team was up and running.
As can be seen on the scorecard above, several
long-time members of the Club were just getting
their first taste of competitive cricket
- John Forster jnr; Bill Regan;
Bill Hardman; Frank Bradshaw;
John Pye; and Harold Nelson. They
were soon followed in 1964 with -Jim Rainford;
John Ericson; Norman Fenney; Derek
Farrington; Alan Birchall, Ken Crosbie; and
Roy Dugdale.
Following on, in 1965 came: Ian Ramsbottom;
Stephen Price; Graham Crossley; Joe Wharton;
Derek Bolton; Steve Birchall; Pat Sharples;
Harry Donnell; Keith Higham; Barry Bradshaw;
and Jim Briscoe.
Below: Players, officals and supporters assemble
for the pre-season Remembrance Service in
the clubhouse..
Skelmersdale 1st XI, who were Division 1
Champions and Sandhurst Shield Winners in
1965...
Back Row: W Beck; K Hodge; A Forster; B Waller Beck;
J Stopforth; B Smith; J Finn; and C Webley.
Front Row: E Simpkin; J Nelson; R Allerton; G Beck (President);
J Forster jnr.
And the photograph below is the Skelmersdale
1st XI at the opening of the new pavilion
at School Lane..
Back Row: H Heaton; H Welding; W Briscoe;
W Roughley.
Centre Row: D Slee; A Forster; W Regan;
F Bradshaw; W Hardman; D Terry.
Front Row: N Stephenson; H Nelson; A Pheasant
(capt); J Forster; B Finnegan
Umpires: C Webley and J Wright.
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 1st XI in 1969..
Back Row: Horace Heaton; Harold Nelson; Brian Finnegan;
Joe Yates; John Stopforth; Roy Allerton;
George Beck
Front Row: Ken Wainwright; Alan Pheasant; Norman Stephenson;
Alan Forster; John Forster jnr.
Big-hitting Alan Pheasant, who scored 102 not out in 1972, which was
the first century scored at School Lane,
since Jimmy Nelson in the late 1950's.
Following the superb 'double' triumph
in 1965, the First XI went one better in
1973, when winning the 'treble' as
Division 1 Champions, Sandhurst Shield Winners,
and Six-a-Side Trophy winners..
The Sandhurst Shield had also been won in
the previous season, in 1972, whilst Divison
1 Championship was won again in 1976. This was quite a successful period in the
history of Skelmersdale Cricket Club.
Back Row: Alan Forster; John Bell; Les Birchall; Harold
Nelson.
Middle Row: Alan Pheasant; Bill Regan; John Forster jnr.
Front Row: Wally Sherbourne; Frank Bradshaw; Jimmy Spencer;
Roy Allerton.
Lancashire's Jack Simmons presents a
cheque to our club Skipper, Roy Allerton
L/R: Brian Finnegan; Joyce Pheasant; Jack Simmons;
Keith Middlehurst; Roy Allerton; Bryn Jones;
Sheila Birchall; Alan Pheasant; Alan Forster
John and Alan Forster show their batting
prowess at St Simons' in 1970..
Below - Mr Bill Briscoe makes a presentation
to long-standing player, member, and official
at
Skelmersdale Cricket Club, John F Forster.
In the early 1970's it was decided to
build an extension with bar. Obviously,
times were hard and we needed to beg and
borrow to complete the build. It was
described as 'like an episode of Boys from the Blackstuff'. A handful of Club members worked at
weekends to complete the extension, which
was completed with the help of an £800
grant from Burtonwood Brewery.
Below: Alan and John Forster put away bat and pads to make a start on
the footings. We were offered cheap
bricks from the local Lathom Brickworks.
Rumour has it, that one day a wagon driver
turned up at our ground asking for directions
to somewhere in Skelmersdale. He was
told that we would point him in the right
direction if, in return, he would collect
us 'one or two' bricks from Lathom
Brickworks. He duly agreed and came
back with several pallets of bricks.
We are forever grateful to the wagon driver
and indeed to Lathom Brickworks.
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 1st XI in
1980
Back Row: Michael Moss; Joe Yates; Eddie Berry; Geoff
Ashton;
Peter Fletcher; Dale Gordon (scorer)
Front Row: Arthur Goldstein; John Forster;
Alan Pheasant; John Robinson; Gary Hadfield.
The Division 1 Championship almost proved
illusive in the 1980's, when Skelmersdale
were Runners-Up on four occasions, in 1982,
1985, 1986, and 1987, but the much-desired
win did come in 1984.
At around 1983, a further major development
took place. This time the old pavilion
was demolished, and replaced with new changing-rooms,
lounge, kitchen, and toilets. Below is an artists impression of our School Lane ground, presented by
Mr Tommy Ollerton.....
OUCH !!! Chris Berryman takes a nasty delivery on
his 'box'
Below: A dismissal at our School Lane
ground, and the batsman makes the long walk
back to the pavilion.
Below: Skelmersdale 2nd XI openers,
Bill Regan and Eddie Moss, look composed
as they make their way to the crease.
As part of various refurbishments in the
1970's, a new bar was installed, and
duly opened by Lancashire and Indian wicket-keeper,
Farokh Engineer.
Left to Right: John F Forster; Cllr Philip Bond; Bill Briscoe;
and Farokh Engineer
In the mid 1980's Skelmersdale enticed
prolific batsman Derrick Knight (pictured below) to join the Club.
It immediately proved to be a shrewd move,
with many consistently high scores.
In 1988, Derrick rattled the bowlers of Ormskirk,
Northern and Darwen to all corners of the
ground in The Cockspur Cup. He scored
101 against Ormskirk, 79 against Darwen,
and a superb 95 against Northern. It
was followed by a quick 49, in a 1-run win
against Eagley. After 15 innings he
had scored a magnificent 862 runs.
Below is the popular tennis section at Skelmersdale
Cricket Club
Left to right: .....??;
Jennifer Rigby; Marjorie Davies;
Jennifer Hardman; Florence Johnson;
June Hardman; Susan Berry
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 1st XI, in
1990..
Back Row: Phil Wright; Jimmy Green; Mark Syers; Bill
Molyneux; Neil Middlehurst; Alan Pheasant;
Sheila Birchall (scorer)
Front Row: John Forster jnr; Peter Blakey; John
Bell; Tony Manley; Paul Bailey
Over the years our ground and clubhouse has
been used for a number of sporting activities
(as well as cricket) - football, ladies hockey,
and table tennis. Also quiz and domino
teams have enjoyed the facilities of the
club.
Lady members of the Club have been the backbone
of fundraising throughout the years, in the
form of bingo evenings, summer fayres, dances,
and the 200-club draw. We look to have
at least one Sportsman's Evening per
year.
In November 1991, we held a Sportsmans'
Evening. The guest speaker was former
Lancashire cricketer, Jack Simmons with comedian Danny O'Hara. Below are the two guests with members of
our Management committee.
Some of the other sportsmen to be our guest
for the evening are -
Ron Yeats (Liverpool FC); Alex Murphy Ray
French, and Kel Coslett (St Helens RLFC);
Geoff Miller (Derbyshire CCC); Jim Mills
(Widnes RLFC); Mike Cowans (Yorkshire CCC);
Brian Labone and Gordon West (Everton FC);
John H Stracey (World Welterweight Boxing
Champion); Mike Watkinson and Stuart Laws
(Lancashire CCC); Frank Worthington (Bolton
Wanderers FC); Ellery Hanley (Wigan RLFC);
and Kevin Lynch (Premier League referee).
In 1990 the 1st XI pulled off an impressive
victory over Southport & Birkdale, from
the higher-grade Liverpool Competition, in
the Cockspur Cup. The team had won
the previous day in a league fixture at Halsall,
off the last ball of the innings, before
defeating S&B the following day at Trafalgar
Road.
Below - Skelmersdale Cricket Club 1st
XI in 1990...
Back Row: Neil Middlehurst; Alan Pheasant; Paul Bailey;
Bill Molyneux; Steve Maddocks; Michael Moss.
Front Row: John Forster; Jimmy Green; Tony Manley; John
Bell; Peter Blakey; Phil Wright.
In our Centenary Year of 1991, we were delighted
to be crowned League Division 1 Champions.
Back Row: Jim Briscoe (Umpire); Derrick Knight; Bill
Molyneux; Alan Pheasant; John Bell; Michael
Moss;
Neil Middlehurst; Sheila Birchall (scorer)
Front Row: John Robinson; Steve Birchall; Tony Manley;
Paul Bailey; Peter Blakey
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 1st XI, in
1997...
Back Row: Peter Blakey; Dave Hornby; Ian
Morris; Phil Ashcroft; Joe Till;
Jonas Smith; Eddie Hornby.
Front Row: Paul Mercer; Brett Milini; Neil
Middlehurst; Tony Manley; Andy
Donnelly.
The Division 1 Championship was won for the
eighth time in 1991. We began the next
century with former skipper John Bell making
a triumphant return to the Club. He
guided us to Division 1 Champions in 2000
and 2001.
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 1st XI, at
the start of the 2000 season...
Back Row: Danny Maddocks (scorer); Chris Killorn;
John Bell; Andy Molyneux; Joe
Till; Ian Morris; Jonas Smith;
Eddie Hornby.
Front Row: Tony Manley; Peter Blakey; Phil
Wright; Andy Donnelly.
Below, Skelmersdale Cricket Club 1st XI are
crowned Premier League Champions in 2000.
Back Row: Chris Killorn; Ian Morris; Andy Molyneux;
Joe Till; Neil Penketh; Andy Donnelly; Dave
Hornby
Front Row: Jonas Smith; Peter Blakey; John Bell; Phil
Wright; Tony Manley; Danny Maddocks (scorer)
Skelmersdale 1st XI won its first Southport
& District League title in 1921, with
the latest one in 2001, which led to promotion
into the Merseyside & Southport Cricket Alliance.
-----ooooo00000#00000ooooo-----
The Sandhurst Shield always proved to be a popular knockout competition
for Skelmersdale, with many exciting encounters
against local rivals. The Sandhurst
Shield goes back to 1913, when it was presented
to The League by the now-defunct Sandhurst
Cricket Club.
We won 'The Shield' in 1925, then
1938, and the following year 1939.
There were a few barren years, but we did
reach the Final four times in the 1950's,
only to finish Runners-Up on each occasion.
After finishing Runners-Up in 1960, we got
our name on The Sandhurst Shield again in
1965, at the same time competing the 'double',
as Division 1 Champions.
Skelmersdale 1st XI, Runners-Up in The Sandhurst
Shield in 1955
Back Row: Jim Yates; Jim Nelson; Jim Proctor;
Roy Allerton; Alf Carlisle; Brian
Holland; Arthur Leyland; George
Beck
Front Row: Frank Taylor; Alan Sumner; Alan Yates; Bill
Briscoe; Harry Welding; Ronnie
Marsh; Jim Sumner.
Seated: Kenny Hodge (scorer)
In the Sandhurst Shield Final of August1955,
the Ormskirk Advertiser reported that 2000 spectators
watched the game between local rivals
Skelmersdale and Burscough, which Skelmersdale
narrowly lost.
Skelmersdale 1st XI skipper Roy Allerton
and his team are presented with the Sandhurst
Shield in 1965
In 1968, we were again Runners-Up in the
Sandhurst Shield, with the team below -
Back Row: Brian Finnegan; Roy Allerton; Ben Ford; Joe
Yates; Derek Bell; Harold Nelson; Jim Briscoe.
Front Row: Les Birchall, Alan Forster; Alan Pheasant;
John Forster jnr.
The 1970's were to be successful for
Skelmersdale in the Sandhurst Shield, winning
in 1972, 1973, and narrowly missing three-in-a-row,
when Runners-Up in 1974. We did go
on to win it again in 1977.
There were some outstanding personal performances
in this era, notable from: Roy Allerton,
Brian Finnegan, and Eddie Berry with the
ball; and John Bell, Alan Pheasant, Les Birchall,
and Harold Nelson with the bat.
Skelmersdale 1st XI skipper, Alan Pheasant
collects The Sandhurst Shield in 1977
Skelmersdale and Hesketh Bank pose for the
camera prior to The Sandhurst Shield Final
in 1974
Back Row: John Bell; Joe Yates; Eddie Berry;
Frank Bradshaw; Alan Pheasant; Jim Briscoe
Front Row: Harold Nelson; Alan Forster; Brian Finnegan;
John Forster jnr; Les Birchall
Skelmersdale reached the Sandhurst Shield Final on several
occasions in the 1980/90's, without being
able to win the trophy. Below is our
1st XI from 1991 when we were defeated in
the Final by Orrell Red Triangle.
Back Row: Derrick Knight; Alan Pheasant;
Phil Ashcroft; Steve Birchall;
Peter Blakey; John Robinson;
Sheila Birchall (scorer)
Front Row: Michael Moss; Neil Middlehurst;
John Bell; Tony Manley; Bill
Molyneux.
Below are some of the many overseas international
players who have played at our School Lane
ground:-
Mark Greatbach - Preston and New Zealand
Sonny Ramadhin - Little Lever and West Indies
Collis King - Westhoughton and West Indies
Andrew Kennedy - Blackburn Northern and Lancashire
Ashley Noffke - Sefton Park and Australia
Joe Scuderi - Nelson, Lancashire and Australia
Phil Jaques - Northern, Northants, Worcs,
and Australia
~~~~ooo0ooo~~~~
In the meantime our Skelmersdale 2nd XI were competing in The Southport & District
Cricket League Reserve Division 1,
and The Pochin Cup knockout competition.
Below is Skelmersdale 2nd XI circ.1952
(Can you help me to fill in the missing names??)
Back Row: Harold Thorne; Bob Leyland;
John Wiffin; ???; Dave Chappell; Gordon
Rawsthorne; Arthur Leyland
Front Row: ???; Norman Webster;
Brian Holland; Arnold Taylor;
Jack Gaskell
And the following season the 2nd XI team
has changed considerably.....
Back Row: Bill Stockley; Bob Leyland; Ken
Platt; Brian Marshall; G Dobson; Mary
Leyland (scorer)
Middle Row: Dave Chappell; Fred Hunter; Jim
Blackledge; Brian Holland;
Front Row: Jack Gaskell; Ronnie Stockley; Les
Appleton
Above is Skelmersdale 2nd XI in 1956
Back row: R Moores (Umpire); Jimmy Spencer; Harry Wynn;
Brian Marshall; William Roughley; Brian Smith;
Eric Simpkin; Arthur Leyland
Front row: Colin Lawrence; Alan Forster;
Stan Price; Harry Ramsay; Les
Appleton; Ian Roughley; Arthur
Foulkes (Scorer|)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Second XI had been Division 3 winners
in 1922, and Reserve Division 2 winners in
1928. We were also Divison 4 winners
in 1934.
Below is Skelmersdale Cricket Club 2nd XI,
in 1962..
Back Row: R Moores (umpire); Joe Blackledge; Jim Spencer;
Bob Leyland; Brian Marshall; Brian Beck;
George Beck
Front Row: John Forster jnr; Bill Taylor; Norman Stephenson;
John F Forster; Ray Farrington; Frank Stacey
Skelmersdale 2nd XI in 1968 above..
Back Row: Jim Briscoe; Joe Yates; Brian Marshall; Eddie
Berry; Jimmy O'Neill; John
Stopforth; Geoff Lowe (Scorer)
Front Row: Joe Sweeney; John F Forster;
Jimmy Spencer; John Ericson;
Ken Wainwright
Skelmersdale 2nd XI went on to win the Reserve
Division 1 in 1972; 1976; and 1978..
Back Row: J Spencer; S Walsh; E Berry;
G Ashton; G Hadfield; P Chalmers
Front Row: K Harrison; J Bird; W Briscoe;
W Regan; E Moss
Seated: S Birchall
Skelmersdale 2nd XI were Division 2 winners
in 1983 and 1992, as well as being Divison
3 Winners in 1991..
The Pochin Cup had the name of our 2nd XI engraved on it
at regular intervals, particularly during
the 1970's and 80's. We got
a taster with Runners-Up in 1969 and 1970.
Below is Skelmersdale Cricket Club 2nd XI
for the 1969 Pochin Cup Final......
Back Row: Norman Fenney; Joe Sweeney; Tom Berry;
Frank Bradshaw; Kenny Hodge;
Eddie Berry;
Jimmy O'Neill; and .....???
Front Row: Jimmy Spencer; John F Forster; Brian Marshall;
Bill Regan; Wally Sherbourne.
In 1971 our Second XI won the trophy for
the first time.....
Back Row: JF Forster; .....??; W Sherbourne; J Dawson; J
Legge; R Aspinwall
Front Row: J O'Neill; J Spencer;
K Wainwright; E Moss; W Regan
Then from 1974 to 1980, we won the Pochin
Cup five times, in 1974, 1975, 1978, 1979,
and 1980.
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 2nd XI from 1979...
Back Row: Peter Blakey; Mike McEvoy; Brian Finnegan;
Norman Fenney; John Pye; Eddie Moss; Arthur
Goldstein; Gareth Jones
Front Row: John Bennett; David Wright; Michael Moss;
Geoff Ashton; Bill Regan; Stuart Smith
Further wins followed in The Pochin Cup,
in 1982, 1983, 1986, 1991, and 1992..
Senior members enjoy a spot in the sun at
our School Lane ground..
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 2nd XI, in 1990
Back Row: Ruth Middlehurst (scorer); Joe Yates; Phil
Ashcroft; Phil Wright; Mark Syers; Mick Vella;
John Forster
Front Row: John Ericson; John Pye; David Holcroft; Steve
Maddocks; and Ian Girvin
Below is the Skelmersdale Cricket Club 2nd
XI team
at the Pochin Cup Final in 1992.......
Back Row: Bill Regan; Mick Vella; Paul Mercer; Phil
Wright; Ian Morris; Phil Ashcroft; Joe Yates
Front Row: Michael Forster; Steve Maddocks; David Holcroft;
John Forster; Gary Hadfield; Philip Yates
After winning The Pochin Cup again in 1993,
there was a gap before we won it again in
2001 and 2002...
Back Row: John Littleton; Neville Faza; Ian Morris;
Matt Fenney; Kyle Till; Kevin Panther; John
Hudson (scorer)
Front Row: Dave Farrell; Peter Blakey; Steve Maddocks;
Michael Forster; Steve Griffiths
A game in progress at our School Lane ground...
Skelmersdale Cricket Club 3rd XI
were Leyland Trophy Runners-Up
in 1989
Back Row: Paul Bennett; Stuart Smith; Peter
Melling; Peter Davies; Alan Taylor;
Barry Bradshaw; Ian Morris.
Front Row: Phil Wright; Dave Ashley; Mike
Vella; Malcolm Moss; Dave Cassidy
Two stalwarts of our Club, Bill Taylor and
Gerard 'Snowy' Peat, discuss the
game over a quiet pint...
Another character who would frequent our
Club with banter and tales from the past,
was the dapper Frank "Whisky-weasel"
Sedgewick. On one away trip for a Knockout
Cup game in Yorkshire, Frank challenged the
locals to a game of pool in the clubouse
after the game. He refused a selection
of pool-cues, and promptly started the game
with his walking stick. And he won.
In 1998, Skelmersdale Cricket Club made the monumental decision to move from
its School Lane ground in the old town, to
a purpose-built facility on the outskirts
of the town. Former Lancashire and
England fast-bowler, Peter Lever was commissioned to oversee the new development.
The new ground and clubhouse at 'Firswood Park' Lathom was officially opened in 2002, with
a match between a Skelmersdale XI and a Southport
& District Representative XI.
And so, after over 100 years, the time has
come to leave School Lane.
A place of so many memories, for so many
people.
But before we closed the gates for the last
time, we had to play a challenge match between
players 'past and present'......
A large crowd gathers for the last game at
School Lane...
and a party atmosphere gets into full swing..
And so the final game commences at School
Lane..
The leaves are falling on the outfield, and
the sun sets on the final game at School
Lane..
Players past, present and future assemble
for a final photograph at School Lane
An exciting new era is about to begin........
Please press the 'History 2' button
for our continuing history at our new Firswood
Park ground..
This website has been compiled by Derek Lowe,
with considerable help from John and Alan
Forster, who provided most of the information
and photographs.
It is an ongoing project, and your help in
providing further information, would be gratefully
received.
We need: Old photographs
with team names if possible (I will scan
and return)
Old scorebooks to extract various batting/bowling
records.
E-mail me your memories of Skelmersdale
Cricket Club.
Any other relevant information from our friends
and rivals at other
Clubs that we have played.
Thanks
DL
Copyright © Derek Lowe - Skelmersdale
Cricket Club, 2010 - All rights reserved | 
