Latest News from Thorneyholme Road
April 2003 Newsletter

A winter of Junior Success
It has been a winter of success for the juniors. You may recall that the Under 13s and Under 15s both won their respective leagues last summer. Since then things have got even better. In October, a Junior Committee was formed under the chairmanship of Saf Ali to enable the club to apply for various funding. So far a total of £7575 has been awarded to the club:
£4,900 - Awards for all (Towards various programs, including coaching)
£1175 - Lancashire Partnerships against Crime 'Lanpac' (TV/audio kit for the club youth nights)
£1,000 - Accrington Area Council (Towards bowling machine)
£500 - Community Chest fund (Towards nets)
Other applications are also pending.
Back on the field of play or should we say in the Sports Hall we also have had great success: the Under 13s won the inaugural Hyndburn Indoor League at Moorhead and then went on to win the runners up trophy in the Lancashire Indoor Finals at Thornton, Cleveleys two weeks ago. On Friday May 9th the Under 13s will receive their trophies at a special Presentation Evening. Back into the great outdoors the side began the season in great style with a cup win over Lowerhouse with Simon Hanson hitting a superb unbeaten 25. The team will play at Colne on Friday April 25th in the next round. The Under 15 joined in the fun too, beating East Lancs in the ECB Cup. Andy Thompson hit 53 and took 1-26 to earn a home tie with Colne before May 4th.
We have six newly qualified coaches who have just passed their Level 1: Steve Juliff, Saf Ali, James Hayhurst, David Kennedy, Mick Donnelly and Mark Duckett. This means the club now has 13 people with coaching qualifications - Damian Clarke, Alven Burrows, Ian Wilson, Rod Kenyon, Lol Sneddon, Mark Croasdale and Nigel Stockley being the others.

Appointments
Ian Wilson has been appointed as first team manager. Father of Matt, Ian is a qualified ECB Coach and will be on hand to sort out any problems that arise.

This seasons men in charge are:
1st XI captain Damian Clarke
2nd XI captain tba
3rd XI captain Dave Kennedy
A Team captain Zaed Hussain
Under 17 captain Adam Barnes
Under 15 manager Mick Donnelly
Under 13 manager Mick Donnelly
Under 11 managers Saf Ali and James Hayhurst
Scorers
1st XI Lionel Cooke
2nd XI tba
3rd XI tba
A Team tba
Groundsman
Ian Macrae
Assistant Groundsman
Paul Young
Gateman
Jonathan Hanson

Functions
This year we have a calendar full of exciting events. Already local boy/girl band Graffite have entertained a packed clubhouse with their varied repertoire of material on Chairman's Night. New assistant groundsman Paul Young is featured in the band. Next up is a Sports Quiz on Friday May 16th. A Race Night is being organised for which we need sponsors at £30 each.
Social Diary
May 9th Special Junior Presentation
May 16th Sports Quiz
May 24th Cabaret Night
TBA Race Night

Sponsorship
Main club sponsors Fraser Eagle have financed the new tracksuits for the players. This year we are re-introducing Ball Sponsorship. Any individuals or companies interested should contact Nigel Stockley 01254 392923. Other sponsorship packages are available by contacting Rod Kenyon. Full details are on the club website www.accringtoncc.co.uk. Please make every effort to support all Club sponsors whenever possible.

Player ins and outs
Former Baxenden batsman John Pilling is the only new signing. Steve Birtwistle, Wayne Roberts and Stefan Heins will not be playing this season. Nasser Hussain has informed the club that he will be playing in Yorkshire in future. Martin Whittle has also called it a day and the A Team has lost two of its stalwarts - Mick Donnelly and Nigel Stockley. Len Dewhurst has decided to take a break from the 2nd XI captaincy.

Results and fixtures
The first team beat Clitheroe and lost at Leyland in pre-season friendlies. The seconds lost their opening league match to a strong Ramsbottom side. High spot was a 91 run stand between Danny Greenwood (46) and Scott Hudson (34). The thirds begin on Monday May 5th with a derby match at home to Enfield. The A Team take on All Stars at King Georges on Saturday May 3rd in their opening fixture.

Development
The club has a new brewery. Thwaites PLC have financed a loan to the club to develop the clubhouse. A planning application for the proposed alterations has been submitted and the work has gone out to tender.

The new toilet block, with a disabled facility, has been completed during the winter on the left hand elevation of the clubhouse.

An Orange telecommunications mast has been erected in the corner of the ground at the Huncoat End. This will earn an annual income for the club. This season the boundary at the Highams End will be 6m shorter due to damage done by the contractors who carried out the work on the Orange mast.

Thanks go the the CSO people and Training 2000 for the maintenance work done on the ground.

Mechandise
Duncan Warburton is taking orders for cricket sweaters in club colours. Lancashire League ties priced at £5 can also be obtained from Duncan. New club pens are also available for only 50 pence. The new Lancashire League handbooks are also now available and there are still a few copies of Golden Moments, Accrington's Club History, left.

Great Weather Lottery
Please support the club in raising funds for the future by subscribing to The Great Weather Lottery. For just £1 per week you can win up to £10,000 per day. For details contact Peter Barratt (234666) or Alven Burrows (234897).

Ian Macrae

Ian McCrae has joined the club in a part-time capacity from to work on the square and to prepare the wickets. Ian has just taken early retirement from Hyndburn Council, where he was based at Wilsons. Ian has worked for the club before in this capacity between 1978 and 1979 and he is also a well known former local amateur footballer and cricketer. Ian played in midfield for Accrington Stanley in the early 1970s and he also played cricket for YMCA in the North East Lancs League. Ian will be assisted by student Paul Young, who will work on the outfield and be on hand on match days.