Micklehurst CC looks to a brighter, more visible future

MICKLEHURST Cricket Club is looking towards the next generation as it attempts to secure a long and prosperous future.

Following a summer of transition in 2023, the Richmond Hill outfit reassessed its options. Now it will be implementing a series of changes to become a focal point of the local community.

As well as reducing player costs and investing the money into other areas, there are plans to launch a recruitment drive to entice more youngsters to the club before the 2024 season.

Micklehurst’s efforts have been a huge success in recent years, with no fewer than 40 juniors turning up every Thursday to take part in fun and engaging training sessions.

Such was the surge in participation rates last year, it was forced to create two Under-9 teams to accommodate the numbers.

Micklehurst Cricket Club

Now, with the new season less than four months away, officials are planning to interact with more youngsters by increasing the club’s visibility in local schools and through social media.

Improvements to the social club and overall infrastructure for the betterment of the local community will also be carried out.

Speaking positively about the plans, first team vice-captain Andy Pearson told The Correspondent: “We went through a transitional period last season. We lost some players due to family commitments and having babies, so we ended up finishing sixth in the GMCL Championship Division Two.

“Although it wasn’t the greatest year for the seniors, there were lots of positives to take from last season as a string of youngsters we’ve brought through represented the club at senior level.

“That’s something we want to increase further.

“In previous years we’ve paid players to represent the senior teams but we’re adopting a different approach with the aim of enticing local people to join and build the teams in a sustainable manner.

“One of our Under-13s played his first game for the first team last summer, while another three represented our third XI.

“We want to develop even more juniors to a point they can represent the club in senior cricket, despite their young age and inexperience.”

The club was helped in its aims last season with the launch of All Stars Cricket – an activity-packed eight-week children’s cricket programme for boys and girls aged five to eight-years-old.

Inclusivity and enjoyment are two components the club has prioritised – but to achieve their objectives, it has made big changes to deep-rooted beliefs.

Andy, who has been associated with the club for 22 years, added: “We got stuck in our ways for a good number of years, but we’re aiming to change that and bring in fresh blood and new ideas to help the club grow.

“Part of the process will be based around hosting events and appealing to businesses for advertising opportunities. Ultimately, we want to bring in as many new faces as possible and potentially build a long-term future at the club.

“Having looked at the accounts, we seem to be doing OK financially. Sponsorships are a massive aspect to local clubs progressing. We’ve been very lucky in recent years and built a good relationship with various sponsors.

“However, we still need strengthen that area and secure new deals with local businesses.

“Social media has become a massive part of what the club wants to develop. Myself and two other lads have taken on that responsibility and built our brand as best we can.

“It’s one of the easiest and best ways of making the club accessible to a wide range of people from all backgrounds.”

Like every club in the local area, Micklehurst has ambitions to progress on the pitch with a view to winning trophies – but delivering silverware, as Andy puts it, would be a bonus.

He continued: “A lot of teams are paying big sums of money to decent players with the objective of winning trophies.

“I know a lot of good lads who have been associated with clubs for a long time, and they’ve fallen into a habit of wanting to win competitions at a big expense.

“I suppose it’s all down to what an individual wants to achieve but in my opinion there’s a bigger picture to look at.

“We’re competing in the second division Championship, so there’s no real basis for investing big amounts of money to win. Other areas of the club must be prioritised.

“First and foremost, it has to be an enjoyable place to come for players, family and the local community.

“We’ve had our changing rooms renovated by a project called V.I.Y, a local volunteer project. We also had a meeting which addressed the need for new toilets, so we’ll be working hard over the coming weeks to resolve that.

“We’re also saving up to have a new netting facility installed. Ultimately, we’re working on a long-term plan to use the money put aside for the benefit of the club as a whole. Then, once the infrastructure is right, we can look at recruiting better players to rise up the leagues.

“We owe a massive amount of thanks to Julie Kippax, our secretary for 20 years. She’s recently taken a step back as she’s taken so much on.

“Julie and her family have been the heartbeat of the club and everyone connected with Micklehurst sends our thanks and appreciation to Julie for her loyalty and commitment over such a long period.”

Micklehurst CC has an exciting curtain raiser at Richmond Hill on Good Friday, March 29, lined up.

In what is hoped to spark an annual tradition, they will compete in a T10 round robin tournament alongside Greenfield, Stayley and, hopefully, Delph.

It has the intention creating a fun and friendly family occasion, while reuniting the clubs after a sustained period away from each other. There will be entertainment and refreshments on the day.