Greengate out to build on a solid start

THE Greengate CC squad

TWO years on from its humble beginnings, a North Manchester cricket club has experienced great changes in fortune thanks to its ambitious and dedicated members.

Vinny Clark (25) and a group of pals worked together to form Greengate Cricket Club in 2006 but, with very little money between them, their only option was to rent an artificial wicket in Foxdenton Park from Oldham Council.

Said Vinny: “They charged a ridiculously large amount for very little, without providing regularly-cut grass or even a guaranteed training night during the week.

“There seems to be an emphasis on developing football at the grass roots while local club cricket, which caters for thousands of enthusiastic young players, is comparatively ignored.”

Since then Greengate have secured a world-famous fast food chain as a sponsor, powered into the internet age and raised a staggering amount of money which has allowed them to step inside a lucrative new venue for 2008 and beyond.

Greengate CC have just finished playing their first season at the Lancaster Club, situated off Broadway in Failsworth - an excellent location from where they hope to build on their success.

Club captain Vinny, who lives on Moston Road, Middleton Junction, was the driving force behind the plan and is thrilled at how far they’ve come in such a short time.

He said: “The playing facilities are second to none compared with what’s generally on offer within our league.

“The Lancaster Club offers so much that we had never benefited from - sightscreens, a full grass square with a good number of strips, clearly visible boundaries, well maintained outfield, for example.

“We also have spacious dressing rooms with hot showers, so all this means that we can welcome opponents into a top-notch environment and give them a day to remember.

“We are also able to boost our social side by having access to a nice bar, with kitchens serving hot and cold food a stone’s throw from the crease.”

The Chadderton franchise of Subway sponsors Greengate CC and provides them with refreshments which make them the envy of the other clubs in the league.

It comes as little surprise that Greengate currently run a visually impressive website at www.myspace.com/greengatecc and it’s one of their key areas of communication.

Said Vinny: “We recruited a new player this season who found us through the website, so it proves it does work.”

It’s been a tough season on the pitch, Greengate finished mid-table in the Ashton and Oldham Cricket Alliance, but Vinny feels his team can look back with pride on what they achieved in a short space of time.