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Ruvin signs up for 2009

18/ 9/2008

AFTER Heywood clinched the CLL championship last week in the pavilion, almost as expected, their final game at Milnrow was one of only two to be cancelled due to conditions in the last league programme of the season.

With Milnrow’s overseas amateur and former Heywood professional Stephen John unavailable, some of the spice had already been removed from the encounter, so after a photo call, the team returned to Crimble to begin the celebrations early and get behind the second team.

The second team responded to the larger than average crowd, no-one more than club chairman David Fare who, watched by his mentor, slow left-arm legend Chris Kaye, teased and tormented Milnrow’s batsmen, ending up with a seven wicket haul, and a diving, yes diving, right handed slip catch.

Former Crimble man Chris Whiteman top scored with 30, but with Mark Wright also taking a blinding catch close in Milnrow’s total of 105 was never going to be enough as Heywood completed a four-wicket win.

The post-match party got under way early as Bobby Cross was re-presented with the League trophy and the club bade farewell to professional Ruvin Peiris, and hugely popular overseas amateur Royce Blight.

Fans were delighted with the announcement that the immensely influential Peiris has been re-signed for next season, and the club was also delighted with the news that Steven Cheetham has been awarded a much-deserved two year professional contract by Lancashire, but saddened as it means he will be unavailable for selection next season under current CLL regulations.

There will be a fuller review of the club’s season in the run-up to Presentation Night on Saturday 11 October, but at the end of yet another successful season it is appropriate to acknowledge the contribution of those without whom the club would not have enjoyed its recent run of success.

The ‘Groundforce’ team, admirably led by Keith Warren and Brian Fox, with help from Roger Smethurst, Rick Purser and Dave Blundell battled the conditions all summer and prevented the club from losing even more matches.

One of the season’s many high points was the staging of a Lancashire under 19 fixture which bodes well for the future.

Apart from an army of loyal fans, who continue to make the club the best-supported in the league, the club has had fantastic support from friends and sponsors.

The enduring contributions of Ken Barker, Brian Fox, Peter Gray of Kaberry Construction and Eric Riley of Woodford Sheet Metals continue to make the ground the best in the area.

The long term support of major sponsors BiWater Treatment and JW Lees remains vital to the success of the club.

This season, the club has been delighted to welcome local company, Mike Goldrick Window Blinds as the third of our ‘premier sponsors’. Owner Mike Goldrick and his family have really got behind the club, attending matches and functions and organising additional fundraising events - and all this while opening a new showroom in the town.

There are too many other valued sponsors to mention each one here, but Berwick Glass, and Archway Building Services are typical of the loyalty the club enjoys - both companies agreed to sponsor matches during the season, but the games were victims of the weather - although there was no match, and no entertainment or food, both companies paid up in full.

The costs of maintaining an ageing clubhouse, and the week to week running costs of the club continue to be mountains the club has to climb. Without the support of its volunteers and sponsors, the struggle would be impossible, and as a mark of the club’s appreciation, there will be a ‘Supporters Evening’ in mid-October with a buffet for our sponsors, old and new. Already, Heywood Blues have committed to sponsoring shirts for next season’s under 11s, and a ‘Championship 500’ raffle was launched last week with the first prize a week’s holiday in Spain.

Presentation night has already been mentioned, but there are a three other diary dates: On 18 October, a Casino Night is planned, while on 1 November, the club’s annual Firework Display will take place. The 15 November, sees a celebration dinner.