History

Penwortham Cricket Club has a rich and very proud history.

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Bill Fidler, Will Kirkham and Daniel Sanderson are believed to be the original founder members who formed the Cricket Club in 1880. That same year the Club had its very first competitive cricket match against Hutton Grammar School. It was played at Hutton and the game was later featured in the ‘Preston Chronicle' newspaper dated 11th September 1880. Penwortham won this low scoring encounter by 18 runs. Between 1880 and 1892 the Club played friendly matches opposite the Black Bull public house, Pope Lane, Penwortham. The playing area was locally known as ‘The Bull field’. 

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The Club moved to its current Middleforth Green site in 1892. A local squire, a Marshall Finch, had initially leased the ground to the Pear Tree Inn public house. Our playing field was subsequently rented to us by the Pear Tree Inn and for a £10 annual payment the Club had the right to enclose a portion of the middle as a wicket to play matches during the cricket season. The outfield playing area used for the cricket was used by drovers, night-stopping with cattle which were taken from market to market. Marshall Finch became aware of the payment situation between the Pear Tree and Penwortham Cricket Club and he was most displeased. He strongly objected to this arrangement and promptly discontinued the lease to the Pear Tree. Apportioning no blame to the Cricket Club, Marshall Finch let the Club have unrestricted use of the ground at a cost to him of £10 per year.

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The first ever game at Middleforth Green was on the 4th May 1892 when the Club played against Lostock Hall CC. Penwortham won the game by 51 runs. Teams that visited Middleforth Green often complained about the uneven playing conditions and the Club took steps to rectify these issues.

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On 4th November 1901, a meeting was held in the Railway Hotel, Talbot Road, Blackpool, at which our Club’s representative, Daniel Sanderson, proposed that a Shield Competition be formed. Since that day we have had unbroken membership of the Palace Shield.

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In 1902, the Club made a great stride forward. In readiness for the very first league season a two-storied white wooden pavilion was built. This served the Club for three quarters of a century until 1977. It was originally a boathouse on the riverbank, probably somewhere near the Continental Hotel as boating on the River Ribble was a very popular pastime in those days. It cost £10 to buy, plus £100 to have it dismantled, transported and erected. 

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Preston District Librarian Richard Watson, (friend of the then Club Treasurer, Bert Ward), drew a gold-coloured martlet with a royal blue coloured background. The Club Committee discussed this and agreed that the Club colours would officially be royal blue and gold. The martlet is believed to symbolize the “constant quest for knowledge, learning and adventure”.

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After finishing Palace Shield runners up five times, the Club won its very first Palace Shield title in 1914, just before the outbreak of World War 1. During the 1914-18 War, the pavilion was used as a furniture storage facility.

Sadly, two members of Penwortham Cricket Club were killed in action during WW1, Norman Blackburn 25yrs and Thomas Saul, 26yrs. The former represented England at both cricket and hockey. Thomas was also a gifted sportsman. He signed as an amateur for Preston North End in July 1913. Thomas’s brother, Frank Saul, also played for Penwortham Cricket Club and Frank’s name is on our batting Honour’s Board showing his century made in 1928.

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The Club had great success between 1919 and 1929, winning the Palace Shield a further 5 times and finishing runners up on another 3 occasions. 

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11th October 1920 was a truly historic day for the Club. The Committee entered into negotiations with M/S Fair and Rea, agents and executors of the late Rev. TR Finch for the purchase of the Middleforth Green ground. On 21st February 1921 an Extra-ordinary General Meeting was held. Club members were asked to cover as many residential areas as possible for the purpose of making house-to-house collections towards the cost of purchasing the ground. Finally, on 28th November 1922, it was announced by Club Secretary, Mr. T Robinson, that the statement of accounts (re the ground fund), confirmed the ground was now free from any debt. At last, Penwortham Cricket Club officially owned Middleforth Green. Documentation relating to this historic moment in the Club’s history is kept to this day.

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On 11th June 1938 John Hall took 10 wickets for 36 runs for our 1st XI at Fulwood & Broughton CC. This is still the best bowling achievement in the history of the Club. No other player has ever taken all ten wickets in an innings for our 1st XI. 

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The Palace Shield Competition again closed down during the 1939-1945 War, but friendly matches were arranged until 1946 when the Competition was back in full swing. Again, we sadly lost more Club members during WW2. Edwin Gore 23yrs, Leslie Fry 24yrs, Fred Sumner 24yrs, and Alan Collier 23yrs all lost their lives serving our country. Edwin was the seventh player to score a century for the Club 1st XI and his name is proudly on the Club’s batting Honour’s Board.

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Soon after WW2, the Club took the highly imaginative step of organising junior training evenings every Friday from mid-May to early August. These training sessions resulted in the Club gaining so many new members that it became imperative to run a 3rd Xl on Saturdays. This was duly formed, and in 1954 the Club had its very first 3rd XI.

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Unfortunately, in 1952 the Club was not able to afford the land where current housing is now situated on Middleforth Green. Quite frankly, there was no money available. To cover the expenditure of buying this land the Committee considered taking out a mortgage on the ground the Club owned. However, this was deemed too risky and inadvisable. Then, the Committee were of the firm belief that no construction would ever take place in that area. The result of which was that we were first bordered by a home for derelict cars and later by a home for caravans. Alas, the land was later sold to a builder and houses are near our boundary edge at Middleforth Green!

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In 1972 the Cricket Club were founder members of the Palace Shield Junior League. The Club were successful in reaching the Under 17’s Rose Trophy Final that same year. A certain Mark Lawrenson (who later became a famous football player for PNE and later Liverpool) hit 110 not out versus Blackpool, only to end up on the losing side. Our Junior Section has flourished since the early 70’s and is hugely successful today. 

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In 1977 we were able to replace our sagging old ‘boathouse’ pavilion (in the end it didn’t need much more than a good push to knock it down!) and the Club were fortunate to obtain a new one. This building had formerly served as a scout hut for the Kingsfold Methodist Church.

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The dismantling, transportation and re-erection was a huge effort undertaken by several enthusiastic Club members. It was a tricky job as it went up in very icy weather in a bleak mid-winter. Furthermore, we were able to use the Job Creation Scheme, via the local council, to extend the building to include a large equipment store, showers, and toilets plus a swish verandah.

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Also, in 1977 the Club entered into partnership with St Leonards Institute & Bowling Club, whose facilities adjoin our own, to form the venture now known as the Penwortham Sports Club. This enabled us to have an improved social club with, for the first time, a licensed bar. The partnership lasted 18 years when the aspirations of the two parties drifted apart and a formal split from Penwortham Sports Club was agreed.

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1980 saw us celebrate our centenary year. To mark this historic occasion the Club arranged a friendly game against a Lancashire CCC Xl, lead by LCCC legend spin bowler Jack Simmons as part of his benefit season. Jack brought with him some major players such as David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd, David Hughes and Preston born Frank Hayes amongst others. Test umpire Bill Alley also came along to officiate. Hughes and Hayes put on a century opening partnership in just 14 overs! A game that attracted lots of local interest.

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In 1992 the Club celebrated 100 years of playing at our Middleforth Green ground against a World Xl which consisted of major international Test cricketers such as Brian Lara, Richie Richardson, Alvin Kallicharran, Gordon Greenidge, Roger Harper, and Dipak Patel, amongst others. Again, this event was hugely publicized far and wide and drew in many spectators. Richie Richardson will remember the occasion for all the wrong reasons – he was stung by a bee and had to be taken to hospital!

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As the Millennium loomed, we undertook our most ambitious project in 1995. We had the opportunity of replacing our old and tired ‘scout hut’ pavilion with a modern brick sports pavilion. After a massive Club fund raising effort and a National Lottery grant the plan was given the green light. Thankfully the development was concluded just in time before a mysterious fire completely gutted the wooden scout hut pavilion which had served us well since 1977. In June 1996 the new brick purpose-built cricket pavilion was officially opened and still stands today.

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Our playing history successes are plentiful. As at the end of the 2025 season we have won the Palace Shield League Competition on 15 occasions and finished Palace Shield runners up on 26 occasions. We have won the Meyler Cup 7 times and have finished Meyler Cup runners up on 9 occasions.

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Our 2nd XI, our 3rd XI, our 4th XI have all won trophies over the years and our Club Honour’s Boards show all the league and cup achievements in our long proud history.

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The Club currently have three Honour’s Boards on display. The main board shows all the League and Cup achievements while there is an Honour’s Board for all 1stXI League centurions and an Honour’s Board for all bowlers who have taken 7 wickets or more in an innings in the League while playing for the 1st XI. Also on display around the Club are team photographs past and present.

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In 2021 the Club introduced its very first ladies’ team who initially began playing a series of friendly matches. The following season they commenced playing competitive league cricket and since then the ladies have notably improved and developed beyond all recognition.

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In 2024 the Club’s 1st XI finished in 6th place in the Palace Shield Premier Division. Due to a restructuring of the league pyramid the Club were promoted to Division 2 of the Northern Pyramid League and in their very first season a very respectable 4th place finish was achieved. During the successful campaign, the highest individual league score in the history of the Club was recorded for our 1st XI by Jonny Hothersall when he smashed 202 not out in a thumping away win at St Annes CC.

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Over the long history of Penwortham Cricket Club there have been numerous people who have made a huge contribution to making the Club so popular and successful as it is today. 

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It is very difficult to single out people but, here are some notable family links to the club… 

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Charlie Walsh was the longest serving Club Chairman (1973-1999) and he was hugely influential in taking the Club forward. He was also a long serving player and served during WW2. The Walsh family (Charlie, Sylvia, Phil, Phillipa, Robert and James) have been heavily involved with the Club for several decades.

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The Sandersons in the early years (beginning with Daniel already mentioned). A J Sanderson was Treasurer and F Sanderson ran the refreshment bar. It was a D Sanderson who would print the fixture cards for 1912 in the same format as 1911. The latter was a different Daniel Sanderson, but all related to the same family. President Frank Sanderson was long established servant of the Club and his son Duncan Sanderson also later played some 1st XI cricket too.

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The Barnes family. E Barnes, was our loyal groundsman for so very many years. His ashes are scattered over the ground at his last request. Those who recall the steepness and height of the old boathouse roof will appreciate the beauty of the minute: “Mr E Barnes was reported as being willing to paint all the pavilion but thought that tarring the roof might be too much for him, at the age of 80!”. Joyce Barnes formed our ladies committee in the early 1970's, which functioned for over 20 years. A group of ladies working and organising fundraising events for the benefit of the club. Her son Ian went on to play for our senior sides and was our Club Treasurer, Monthly Draw Treasurer and now Auditor. 

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Fred Pye and Charles Crabtree who did so much to keep the Club ticking, before, during and after the Second World War. 

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The Athertons. Four brothers were in the 1st Xl at one stage. Albert, the eldest, being 1st XI captain, Chairman and Trustee could be said to be the personification of a large part of our Club’s history. Jack S Atherton is still the 1st XI all-time leading league wicket taker with 1,078 wickets and his achievements are visible on the Club’s bowling Honour’s Board. His brother Albert’s century is displayed on the batting Honour’s Board. Other brothers were Tommy and James.

Tom Kendall who was Club Secretary for over 20 years in three different spells between 1948 and 1986. 

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The Boardman family. Current Club President, Dave Boardman has also been Club Chairman (2000-2008), Club Treasurer (1973-1998) and as an excellent bowler back in his playing days who took nearly 500 1st XI league wickets. His sons Stephen and Pete have both played plenty of 1st XI cricket (Pete being on both batting and bowling Honour’s Boards). Joan has helped out in various ways at PCC over the years too.

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The Walmsley family. David, Ian (Snr), Ian (Jnr) and Nathan are all on the PCC Honour’s Boards, the family name being on the Boards more than any other. John, Mathew and Paul have also played 1st XI cricket, the latter being Club Chairman (2009-2012). Judy played for the PCC Ladies in 2021 when the ladies team played their first season. She was also Club Secretary (2006-2009 and in 2025). The late Betty Walmsley was also Assistant Club Secretary (2000-2005). 

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The Dagger family. John was a regular 1st XI run scorer in the 70’s and 80’s and his late wife Kath regularly helped with cricket teas. Gordon Dagger scored a century in 1934 and Ian Dagger was a very useful 1st XI allrounder. Gordon, John and Ian all feature on the Club Honour’s Boards. Brenda Talbot (nee Dagger) was one of the longest serving ladies committee members, more importantly the first woman to become club secretary elected in the 1990's. Brenda was also the first woman to be elected onto the club's management committee. 

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The Heaton family. Alan was a great servant to the Club, helping enormously with junior cricket and being Captain of the 3rd XI. His eldest son Andrew took 366 1stXI league wickets and is the Club’s 10th all-time leading league wicket taker in the Club’s history.

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The Sidgreaves family. Eddie was Club Treasurer for over 10 years. He was Chairman (2013-2025). His son Andrew is the Club’s 2nd leading league wicket taker for our 1st XI, taking an incredible 813 wickets. His name regularly features on our bowling Honour’s Board. He is currently the Grounds Committee Chair at Middleforth Green.

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The late George Jackson was heavily involved with Penwortham Cricket Club for over 40 years. He was a committee member for many years and he helped enormously with the general maintenance of Middleforth Green for a considerable period. His son David remains the Club’s all time leading league run scorer for our 1st XI with 11,728 runs. David also successfully captained the 1st XI side for several seasons.​

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Paul Walmsley

Club Historian 

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