150 not out for Werneth
Reporter: KEITH McHUGH
Date published: 17 January 2014
A LOCAL cricket club with a rich history is about to celebrate its 150th anniversary.
Werneth CC, founded in 1864 and Central Lancashire League members since 1910, will be staging a series of special events to mark the milestone.
The highlight will be the Coppice club’s staging of the John Willie Lees Wood Cup final, the CLL’s flagship knock-out competition, on August 3.
Werneth CC was formed by Samuel Platt, a director of Platt Brothers, the world’s biggest spinning equipment manufacturer.
For the first five decades of their existence, Werneth played a variety of friendlies, including one against an Australian touring side in 1880 which attracted an amazing 8,000 spectators.
The subsequent link-up with the CLL has proved a lengthy and productive one. Though only one league title has been forthcoming, Werneth have appeared in 16 Wood Cup finals and won 10 — the last in 1990.
One of Werneth’s proudest moments came in 1977 when West Indies captain Clive Lloyd officially opened a new extension at the Coppice.
The Wood Cup final apart, events to mark the anniversary are likely to include a celebration dinner and a match against Moorside for the Trevor Bland Memorial Trophy.
Mr Bland, who died in 2012, had spells as president of both cricket clubs.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1New look for Coliseum revealed as renovation takes step forward after major knock-back
- 2Councillors overpaid £110k as local authority apologises
- 3Oldham outfit Clear Value Trading receives King’s Award for Enterprise
- 4Royton and Crompton Academy celebrates Ofsted success
- 5The building by the canal that played a crucial role in local history to be put up for auction