Boxing Day Cricket

The annual Boxing Day cricket match has been a traditional event since the mid 1960s. The teams of Brooksbottom and Bolton Road got together every year, come rain or shine, snow or frost, fog or monsoon, to take part in a keenly-fought and entertaining contest.

The teams battled for honour and to win the Brian Statham Trophy, initially sponsored by the former Lancashire and England fast bowler himself.

In 2006, with Bolton Road (now Elton Vale) no longer able to fulfil the fixture, Tottington St Johns were approached to take their place, and we accepted with no little haste. Since that time, each game has been played at Brooksbottom CC, with the trophy exchanging hands every year. In 2009, Tottington will host the game for ther first time on our newly-installed artificial wicket.

We urge any cricket lover, friend, family member or any lover of the absurd to come down and watch 22 players and 2 umpires partake in this most entertaining Boxing Day tradition - you are assured of a warm welcome, a decent pint and very friendly company.

Check out photos of previous events now!

2006 Match Report

Well that was tremendous fun. We finished at 2pm and I think I'm just starting to thaw out now, 3 hours later.

For the record, TSJ totalled 96 for 11(!) off 22 overs, having at one stage been about 40 off 5! The artificial wicket was one of those very low bouncing ones, so it was ideal for the dibbly dobblies - and indeed anyone who bowled straight! The total was not bad under the circumstances! Good work from all in the perishing cold.

We got off to a dream start as the unlikely opening pair of Cotters - bowling perhaps his most inspired 2 overs of the year - and Dasher had the Brox 3 down in moments. Another soon followed and the home side were up against it at 5-4 off 5 overs. Julian Marcroft played a good knock for Brox, but wickets continued to fall until eventually it came down to 20 to win off 5 overs. Matt Hunt then took 2 in 2 balls before bowling possibly the worst hat-trick ball in history, a beamer that Pete took at full stretch!

Another wicket went down, and Brox were 9 down needing 4 off the last over. Despite the valiant efforts of Dickie P, who must have been the most nervous man in Lancashire, Ashcroft kept his nerve to hit the winning runs and nick the MOM award. A great afternoon's fun, some very good cricket played - especially considering a) the cold, b) the 3/4 months since we've picked up bat or ball and c) the cold! Fantastic!