Dear Member
As the new season approaches, I would like to give you an update on the club’s progress over the last few months and what we have planned for the coming season.
Our appreciation must go out to iMEP for bringing such a fantastic music event to the iMEP Arena and we can’t wait for round two which is planned in for September this year. Many thanks must go to our other shirt sponsors LED Controls and Amazing Accrington who feature on the back of our playing shirts and sleeve sponsors CS Creative Design and Ark Plastics. Big thanks for the continued support we receive from all other types of sponsorship including perimeter board, ball, and match sponsorship. All monies generated by sponsorship go into the running of the club and enable the club to invest in our future. If you would like to support the club in this way, please get in touch with either myself or any club official via email. Along with this letter there is a full list of Sponsorship opportunities and Club Memberships.
This year will see an increase to subscription costs for most memberships, but we have recognised the importance of growing the membership and removing barriers for siblings, parents and partners, with this in mind we have frozen the cost of additional family members at £20 per person. The club hopes this will encourage an increased membership which will mean more people benefiting from what the club has to offer.
Graeme Sneddon will continue as 1st XI captain with Jurie Snyman returning after a first successful season as professional. After several years captaining the 2nd XI Afrus Ali decided to stand down as captain but also retire from playing, we must thank Afrus for his hard work over the years. The club moved quickly to appoint a new captain, with Antonio Lo-Giudice taking over for 2025. Unfortunately, the club has seen George Mills leave who was 3rd XI captain last year but once again we made a swift appointment making Arshad Mahmood the new captain. I’m sure you will join me and wish all players and captains the best of luck for the 2025 season. Our 3rd XI will be looking even more youthful in 2025 as more juniors become available from our ever growing junior section. At the January Lancashire League meeting several new rules were voted in including a new start time for all senior fixtures of 12:30 moving from 1pm.
The new Ladies section continues to thrive as they have been training throughout the winter in preparation for a summer of cricket. Training is currently taking place on a Thursday night at Mount Carmel, 7pm - 8pm. Any ladies wanting to get involved these sessions please come along as they are for all abilities. The summer will see ladies training move outside and once again take place on Friday nights.
This year the junior section will see a full house of teams from under 9s all the way to the under 15s and additionally entering an Under 18s team for the first time in the club’s recent history as we join forces with Edenfield to create a team. The successful All Stars programme will be run in the early summer once again, introducing 5-8 year olds to cricket.
As always, thanks must go to our volunteers who continue to help improve the facilities. I cannot thank these enough for their hard work over the last few months. Without all our volunteers the cost of the jobs undertaken would have been well beyond our reach and we would not have been able to achieve the amount
of work we have carried out. If you think you might be able to help the club in anyway, please get in touch we’d love you to be involved.
On Sunday 6th April we will have our annual ‘Get Set Day’ which gives the club chance to get ready for another busy season by carrying out some of the most important jobs, so we are ready for the busy season ahead. We would really appreciate some help on this day as many hands make light work.
Let’s hope for a successful season on and off the field and I look forward to seeing you at the club over the summer.
Many Thanks
Jonathan Hayhurst
Accrington Cricket & Tennis Club Chairman
Dates for the Diary
Saturday 22nd February – Bar open from 12pm.
Six Nations with Wales vs Ireland and England take on Scotland.
Wednesday 12th March - AGM starting at 7pm.
Saturday 15th March - Casino Night Returns. Tickets can be purchased online.
Sunday 6th April - Get Set Day will take place from 9am, getting the club ready for the coming season.
Saturday 12th April - 1975 Winners Dinner, Details to follow.
Saturday 19th April – 1st XI Friendly vs Lostock at the iMEP Arena 1pm start.
Sunday 20th April – 1st XI First league game of the season vs Nelson at the iMEP Arena 12:30 start, followed by Meet the Pro Night in clubhouse.
Club Members £35.00
Patrons (minimum) £50.00
Vice Presidents (minimum) £50.00
Playing Members (including match fees) £130.00
Ladies Playing Member £30.00
Student Player £60.00
Junior Playing Members (under 18) £45.00
Senior Citizens £25.00
Playing members can add an additional partner, parent or child for just £20.
New Perimeter Board Sponsorship
£250.00
(includes manufacture of the board)
Existing Perimeter Board Sponsorship
£150.00
Ball Sponsorship – £30.00 or 3 for £60!
Player Sponsorship – Min £50.00
Match Sponsorship Available on Request.
