ACCRINGTON Cricket Club have formed a working party in a bid to increase the income at the club and try to make it successful in the Lancashire League again.

The Thorneyholme Road club called an EGM last Thursday to look into ways of raising money for the club - and make sure they are in the black by the time the season starts. And work will begin straight away as the club, struggling at the wrong end of the table in the last few years, bids to move up the league.

"We called the meeting because we felt we needed to inform the members of the financial situation at the club," said chairman Peter Barratt, who will step down after 10 years in the hot seat in January due to ill health. There were rumours going around about the club but it was never in danger - it was always a case of developing the club and doing something now rather than leave it to when the cricket season starts.

"Cricket is expensive as every local club knows, with the professional and things like that, and we do need to raise some money. It is a struggle. The working party has been formed to do this - whether by Sportsman's Dinners or new initiatives. The members were also asked to put a levy on themselves voluntarily to pay a certain amount each week or month which will boost the club's coffers.

"We were never in danger of disappearing - it was just a case of making sure we can develop the club and avoid falling into debt and, if it carried on year after year, getting into a deeper debt we couldn't get out of."

Accrington CC have around 200 members and around 40 people attended the EGM. The working party had its first meeting last night at the club to discuss the ideas.

  • ACCRINGTON haven't yet got a professional for this season but their former pro Tama Canning, who was at Thorneyholme Road for part of 2000 and 2001, has been named in the New Zealand One Day squad to play in Pakistan.
  • CHURCH Cricket Club have recorded a profit of £706 this year. In September 2002, Church recorded a loss of £2,747 but the Blackburn Road club have turned it around. Church's League Representative Jack Houldworth said: "It is a very satisfying situation for the club. We were helped in that the wages charged were reduced because of an insurance recovery when Greg Mail was injured. The wages were reduced from £9,112 to £5,956. And the bar takings were up by more than £1000 thanks to the good weather." Meanwhile, Church cricketer Andrew Bentley was the Lancashire League Under 23 bowler of the year. It had been given to East Lancs star John Fairless but, in fact, the Church bowler took 42 wickets and will be presented with the award next season.
  • CHURCH are hoping to admit children under 12, accompanied by an adult, in free next season. This has yet to be ratified by the AGM. It is part of Church's ongoing work in the community after being named Hyndburn Club of the Year at the Lancashire Sports Awards.
  • FORMER Church cricketer Stan Johnson, who wanders the world watching Test matches - he has seen over 160 - can be contacted on stanlsf@yahoo.com .