Desperate situation for Friarmere
Date published: 08 February 2012
Photo: PICTURE by DARREN ROBINSON
CLUB chairman John Morris has seen player numbers dwindle.
CRICKET:
If we can get through this next season, it will be a success — like winning a trophy - chairman
FRIARMERE Cricket Club, one of the founder members of the Saddleworth and District League, are in urgent need of new blood.
With fewer than three months to the start of the season, only two players from 2011 first team — John Patterson and Atiq Ur Rehman — remain.
And with the club due to celebrate their 150th anniversary in two years’ time, it is feared they won’t reach the milestone.
Chairman John Morris, whose family connection with the club goes back more than a century, admits they are facing a fight to secure their future.
Mr Morris (67) said: “It is a desperate situation — I may even have to register as a player.
“It could be a case of just trying to get a first XI out on the field.
“If we can get through this next season, it will be a success — it will be like winning a trophy.
“I am always optimistic but, although it isn’t long to our 150th anniversary, it seems like 20 or 30 years away at the moment.”
Friarmere boast a rich history on both sides of the Pennines. They were crowned the very first Saddleworth League champions in 1899 and 14 times in total — still a record.
Friarmere have also lifted the Huddersfield League’s Sykes Cup on three occasions, including the inaugural competition in 1920, and a hat-trick of Huddersfield League titles.
In his second stint as chairman, Mr Morris has also filled the roles of president, secretary and treasurer . . . that’s as well as tending to the ground and being regular first-team scorer.
What makes it even more disheartening for officials is that Friarmere enjoyed a fine 2011. They finished in sixth place and reached the last four of the Twenty20 Cup.
But almost all of the players who helped achieve those results have either gone to other clubs or packed in the game.
Mr Morris bemoaned the lack of allegiance from players for Friarmere’s struggles and also their locality.
He added: “Years ago you had the same players turning up come what may just for a game of cricket, but they just seem to come and go nowadays.
“There is no loyalty any more. Another one of the problems is that this isn’t a big catchment area and it is hard to attract new players.
“It’s very sad. Having no Friarmere in the Saddleworth League, would be like Paris without the Eiffel Tower.”
Interested in playing for Friarmere? Call John Morris on 01457 873874 or Craig Ramadhin on 01706 849611
