2015: ANOTHER YEAR OF PROMISE AND DEVELOPMENT
2015 is already shaping up to be as important as any 12 month period in our club's proud 127 year history. The committee and many of the club's members have been working tirelessly over the winter to help progress various initiatives, finalise events and plan new development to ensure that Tottington Sports Club continues to grow and thrive. In this article we'll take a look at some of the events and features coming your way in 2015!
Since 2008 we've refurbished our old, run down pavilion, then built an extension/function venue, added and expanded the bar, built a car park, added a net facility worth £40,000, and started to transform the club into a place we can not only continue to be proud of but which is really beginning to thrive. We've hosted Tottington's Big Day Out, an event which saw over 4,000 visit our ground in summer 2014, and which was supported and received in magnificent style by the community, started a new junior section, put players through coaching courses, added a women's division in partnership with the LCB, opened up our facility for community use, and started to look at many other avenues of development. All this has gone alongside the usual club development work and initiatives needed to keep TSJCC going from day to day.
So are we ready to sit back? The answer should be fairly obvious - no! Many of you are already aware that we have further ambitious expansion plans in mind and hope to make significant progress in the near future. We're also looking at further plans including ground levelling, finally sorting the fences, acquiring new equipment, and much more. We're also actively involved in the discussions surrounding the new proposed Greater Manchester Cricket League, which NMCL members and officials such as Martin and John are very much helping to shape.
In 2014 a Lancashire-based ladies squad became part of our club, branding themselves as Tottington St John's Ladies. In 2015 this becomes more formalised, with sponsors acquired and the players playing home matches at Crompton Meadows. This is an astonishing development for a club like ours, and one of which we're justifiably proud. The fixtures start with a home match on April 12th, and we hope the side will be well supported by our members and friends.
Over the winter, we've been running coaching sessions for younger ladies, and have been thrilled to have current England international Kate Cross (also part of our our ladies setup) running the courses in conjunction with the late and much missed Derek Kay. These have been really popular, and continue to take place. The junior boys have also started their training, and will be joined by the seniors from March.
There's tons happening in 2015, with the action kicking off very soon. At time of writing (Feb 12th), we're only 3 weeks away from our 5th annual overseas tour and 4th to Benidorm - around 40 players and supporters from Totts, Woodbank and elsewhere will be making the trip and it's sure to continue a fine tradition of Totts on tour!
Back home, senior nets start on Monday March 2nd, and at the end of the month we're hosting both NatWest CricketForce Day and an open day for the ladies down at the ground on March 28th. Cricket kicks off for the 2nds and ladies in April, with the men starting with a league and cup double header on the opening May weekend.
Tottinton's Big Day Out returns to Crompton Meadows on Sunday July 5th, and our annual golf day and dinner will take place in September (date TBC). Alongside those major events are a whole host of other events including 20/20s, match days, BBQ and bar evenings down at the club, plus rounders of course, junior footy, training making use of our new bowling machine and nets, and so much more!
The big success of 2014 was of course the 2nd XI, who won their league and narrowly lost out on a league and cup double; they'll be hoping for further success as they step up to Division 3 this year. The first had a mixed season, mainly due to player absences, but will again be hoping to make progress this year - with some possible injections of new blood and juniors coming through, will this be the year we start to get back to previous heights? Of course it could be a big year for every team in the NMCL, as much of our future direction will depend on what happens with the GMCL!
As ever, there are 101 things happening down at Totty. If you want to find out more, come to our AGM on March 4th, or speak to one of your committee. Dates and details of events will appear in the clubhouse and on the website / social media. It's shaping up to be yet another corking year, and we hope you can be a part of it!
