Middlewich Cricket Club enjoy an incredible year

Their junior teams have been picking up awards both individually and collectively, while record numbers of all ages have been heading to the club to try the game for the first time.

As well as running competitive teams in the South Cheshire Junior Cricket League and Cheshire Cricket League from under 9s through to under 19s, Middlewich also ran both the ECB All-Stars and Dynamos programmes for younger members, which proved so popular they had to limit numbers.

Children enjoy the ECB All-Stars and Dynamos sessions at Middlewich Cricket Club

More than 50 children per week were regularly in attendance at the club's junior training nights on Fridays, and those sessions have produced some incredible feats on the field.

Perhaps the standouts were the under 13s, who managed to complete a league and cup double.

They were joint winners of the league competition with Sandbach but then overcame Nantwich in a well-contested cup final.

As well as the SCJCL, the under 13s also competed in the Cheshire Cricket League against "bigger clubs" and for the first time in the club's history, they progressed beyond the first group stage to finish an impressive third place.

A run to the quarter-finals of the ECB under 13s Vitality T20 was also a Middlewich record.

Indeed, three of the triumphant under 13s side were picked by Cheshire to take part in their annual District Festival, competing against the best players from across the county to select a Cheshire under 13s team, with one making it to the final group.

The team's success has even convinced the parents to get involved, with the junior mums forming the club's first ever women's team. They have taken part in four tournaments organised by the Cheshire Cricket Board.

Further up the age groups, the under 19s exceeded expectations and after finishing third in their Cheshire South Central group, they managed to progress to the Plate Finals Day at Christleton – another club first.

"Everyone at Middlewich is so proud of the juniors and the effort put in by the volunteer coaches and parents to provide cricket to the community - from recreational cricket to offering competitive games," the club's junior co-ordinator Richard Clorley said.

"As junior co-ordinator, my aim for the juniors is to progress them through the age groups and get them playing in our senior sides.

"It has been very pleasing to see that within the Saturday seconnd team through the 2021 season, we have had over 10 juniors ranging from under 13s to under 19s regularly playing and making significant contributions for the team cause."