Club bowled over by new equipment

HOWZAT . . . Councillor Roger Hindle (right) and club president Ray Entwistle with members of the youth teams

YOUNG members of Moorside Cricket Club are celebrating the delivery of their latest piece of equipment.

A grant from the East Oldham Area Committee enabled the club to buy a portable bowling machine.

Club president Ray Entwistle said: “We applied to the area committee for a grant to purchase a portable bowling machine, which will benefit all of our teams, but will be primarily used for training our more junior teams.”

The club, in Turf Pit Lane, currently has four junior teams of under nines, under 11s, under 13s and under 15s, as well as two senior teams and attracts around 60 youngsters to training sessions.

The bowling machine, which cost £1,899, will last for around 10 years.

Councillor Roger Hindle, chairman of the Area Committee Budget Group, said: “We were very pleased to support the cricket club with this funding application. They have proved they are already established and are successful by attracting a good number of players.

“They also offer a summer coaching school during the summer holidays.

“Hopefully this bowling machine will help improve the players’ skills and you never know, may help provide the next Andrew Flintoff or Michael Atherton.”

Ray Entwistle added: “Also, with this machine being portable, we could use it to publicise the club and provide a taster session at community events in the area, such as park fun days or school fetes.”