On behalf of Northwich Cricket Club I would like to extend a very heartfelt thank you to everyone who has contributed in whichever way to a very successful and enjoyable 2025 Season. I have tried to post regular updates, but I’ve been a little bit busy with work.

Starting with the youngest group, a very successful All Stars programme made the most of the excellent summer evenings, and we hope to see the players and parents again next season.

The 9s, 11s and 13s were again excellent and competitive on the field and personally it is so rewarding to see the ground so busy on Friday training nights, we really have been bursting at the seams some weeks.

The stand out side for me was the Under 15s, only losing 3 games all season is a tremendous achievement of which they should all be very proud. Additionally many of the older boys represented the 3rd team with several taking key roles in the second team throughout the season.

My thanks to Steve Capper for the amount of time and mileage he spent with the Junior transition group, 15s and the 3rd team, really above and beyond. Thanks Steve.

The girls continue to grow and have played their first league games this season, again with some moving up to represent the Ladies side, who again are multiplying in numbers but I’m told need some work on their Karaoke skills :)
Another successful season and again hosted their own softball tournament. Well done to Rachael and Emma (plus others) it really is a model section that promotes fun, inclusion and progression.

If anyone judges a 3rd XI made up of 13s and 15 year olds on results, well, I’m sorry but you’re a bit sad.
As a club we never set out to achieve a result churning 3rd team, we could have, but we would rather focus on youth development. Juniors are the mainstay of any cub, or any sport. We have two boys and two girls in the County district squads and without being greedy, we want more! We also want these players to progress through the senior sides and create a fully home grown club. Well done to all the lads who turned out for the 3s, I know Steve had many headaches picking teams such was the availability of junior players, my thanks to them and there were many, many personal firsts and milestones achieved.

The twos, I dont think I can find the words, thoroughly entertaining on and off the pitch plus Division A - LEAGUE CHAMPIONS! Congratulations to Ashley, Nigel and the team, absolute joy to watch throughout the summer and a really tremendous team ethos to build on in future years.

The first team finished mid-table but again reached their second T20 final in two years. I would like to offer my own personal and the club's most heartfelt gratitude to Gladwin Cherian for his work and dedication as first team captain.

Sincerely, from myself as Chair, thank you all so much, just a few stats that I’m personally proud of in 2025. The ground has hosted 101 matches, from under 9s upwards through the structure of the club and two national quarter finals with Cheshire Cricket Board. The best of all though is ZERO safeguarding reports!

Anyway, moving on and I am not one to rest on any laurels, but I’m worn out and need a few weeks off to recharge. Whilst Cricketers hibernate over the winter months, there is still much work to be done before 2026.

At last season's AGM an amended constitution was approved which included the following clause.

11.9 In exceptional circumstances it may be the wish or the requirement of the Trustees and General committee to consider the best interests of the club and appoint by agreement person or persons deemed suitable for the roles specified below to maintain the club’s methodology and long term sustainability.

There is now the opportunity to build further on the successes of the 2025 season. There have been much improved junior performances and 2026 will see an under 17s side at NCC that it has not seen for many years.

It is vitally important that the improving social and cricket culture within the club is acted upon in the best short/mid term future of the club and that junior players (and parents) have a clear and visible pathway to attain potential opportunities and progress through the senior sides.

Therefore as Chair I feel it imperative that senior player roles are appointed for 2026 and not elected at an AGM. I feel this puts out a strong statement of intent as to what we want to achieve and demonstrates that as a club we mean to strive forward to be a very successful club on and off the pitch.

Therefore the appointment of roles for 2026 is:

Cricket Lead/Director/Chair/Posh title - Ashley Sefton

1st XI Captain - Alex Claridge-Ingham - VC to be announced
2nd XI Captain - Ashley Sefton - VC to be announced
3rd Team Captain/Manager - Pete Gibbon - Structure to be agreed

Further information on the 2025 AGM will be announced

But before that please come and join us to celebrate the 2025 season on Saturday 4th October. Starting with the juniors at 5pm going on until very late with senior presentations starting 7.45/8.00pm. All welcome, food available with disco and Karaoke throughout the night.

As always, any questions please get in touch.

Ian