Wyre Cricket Club
About
|
 |
Officials
Please click here for up-to-date club officials
History
The Club was formed in 1994 after the break up of the Over Wyre A and B teams. Due to League registration rules it was necessary to retain the club title as Over Wyre B for that season and only four players remain from the original club, Rob Abbott, Roy Armer, Steve Rawcliffe and Pete Snape, who between them have completed 700+ games. The team had its home ground at the ICI sports grounds in Thornton, which was owned by Thornton International Sports Club. Over Wyre B was quite liked by most teams in the Fylde League as it was viewed that a game with them improved most players’ averages, the team had been bottom of the league for a number of years! Although the demise of Over Wyre CC did release an amount of playing gear we had little funds to cover the season and it was a kind loan of £300 given by two of the elder players and a further £650 sponsorship which had been gathered by ex player John Davies which kept the team viable for some 3 years whilst getting re-established.
In 1995 the club was renamed again as Thornton International CC because of a name clash with one of Thornton’s football teams, with the hope we may benefit or obtain some sponsorship. Whilst progress on the Fylde League Division II was slow we fared better in the Cup games, coming Runners Up in the Wareing Trophy Div II final, losing to Boston CC and we won the 6-a-side Bobby Roskell Cup which was open to teams from both divisions. Using the ICI ground had gradually become more difficult, our pavilion (hut) was mysteriously burnt down during the 1995/96 winter and little did we know that the intention for both the football and cricket grounds was to destroy them to build a housing estate!
1996 saw us re-badged again to our current name Wyre CC and take residence at our wonderful new home ground at Myerscough College, but this meant an average 30 mile round trip for players and relatively expensive match fees! We generally maintained a mid table league position but once again made it to the 1996 and 1997 Wareing Trophy Finals, sadly being beaten each time by Staining CC and Fylde CC respectively. After four seasons there the college decided they were no longer to have a cricket pitch for hire so the club was on the move once more. Finding a new ground was crucial as in 1999 we won Division II with an amazing record of 15 wins from 18 matches and were promoted to Division I. Pete Snape made contact with Baines School in Poulton le Fylde and met with the Headmaster and Head of Sports to thrash out the details, it was agreed that we would knock down and remove the old air-raid shelter and the school halved the cost of a new hut and use of the large hut and facilities. Steve Rawcliffe took charge of demolition and arranged for a JCB and trailer to remove the rubble and eventually our new hut arrived to give us some secure stowage for the hard earned 2nd hand lawnmower and gear.
We played at Baines between 2000-2005 and since the School is over 200 years old perhaps we used the oldest ground in the Fylde League! Form has fluctuated since then, in 2000 we were relegated back to Division II and promoted again in 2001 and the two divisions amalgamated in 2003 to form a single Fylde League and since then we have been a mid table team with flashes of brilliance. Several players have won individual awards, most recently in 2003 Chris Gregson and Pete Snape winning the Fylde League batting and bowling prizes respectively. 2004 was a frustrating season with poor league form and a controversial defeat in the Wareing Trophy semi final at Preston, but a relatively good end to the season meant the team looked forward to the 2005 assault on League and Cups with anticipation.
The 2005 season was a big improvement on the previous summer. The team played in a positive manner thorughout the year and got off to a good start to get into contention in the league. However performances against the top teams were not good enough and so we ended the year in 4th place, still hungry for success and the title. The 20:20 team played excellently, winning their first matches in years and winning their mini series. There were some notable individual performances during the year, Rob Abbott getting onto the all time high scores list on day 1 of the season, and Steve Rawcliffe bowling magnificently all summer, getting 2 performances onto the all time list, with his 8 for 19 against Anchorsholme the club's best ever figures. Roll on 2006 and the new home pitch at Cottam Hall!
2006 will be remebered as one of the clubs best seasons in it's short history. Finally the team performed consistently, with great spirit and camaraderie throughout the long hot summer. New signing Mike Alcock led the fight from the front, opening the batting agressively and winning the FCL batting trophy with an average of 50.3 and high scores of 107, 97, 94*. Steve Rawcliffe bowled as fiercely as ever, winning the FCL bowling trophy with 51 wickets. Andy Cartwright shone with the gloves, taking 17 victims and the FCL best wicketkeeper trophy. But best of all, all the team members contributed to a vintage year and were victorious in an exciting battle for the FCL title with Preston III and Baxi and claimed the 2006 FCL Championship.
The 2007 season was one of the wettest on record! Cottam Hall was rarely above water but the season was somehow squeezed in, with many rearrangements and NRs. Wyre managed to reach the Stuart Cup final against newcomers Thornton IV. A two innings of 20 overs match was fiercely contested at Blackpool CC, with great fielding, batting collapses and humourous sledging! Thornton emerged as victors in an enjoyably competitive match. However in the league, one of the most interesting title battles was fought with 4 clubs going into the final month of the season capable of winning the championship. Thornton IV, Wyre, Blackpool IV and St Annes IV all had played well during the season, but Wyre CC just emerged victorious. Unfortunately the season was marred by the FCL committee having to deduct points on numerous occasions from clubs fielding slightly dubious team selections, but a great contest for the league was enjoyed by all.
2008 promised much with the aim being to defend our title again and become only the 3rd FCL team to win a hat trick of titles back to back. However after a rare home defeat early in the season to St Annes IV, Wyre were always on the back foot and playing catch up. St Annes stormed off with their powerful batting line up and formidable bowling attack taking on the challenge of going for their first ever FCL title. Whilst we were playing well, the season didn't have the feel of the last two however we gave chase with great vigour. The main game of the season was the rematch with St Annes in Warton, with the victor likely to have the championship lead going into the final few months. A great bowling display knocked St Annes over for a small total, however St Annes decided to do the same to Wyre and bowled them out for even less! From then on it was a case of winning as many games as possible and hoping for a St Annes slip up. Both teams kept on winning andonce again the title race was very exciting, going to the last day of the season but whilst Wyre won at Fleetwood, St Annes beat baxi to take the title. Another good season and to finish 1st, 1st, 2nd in the last 3 years is a fine achievement for a club of our size.
In the Fylde Twenty20 League, the Wyre Cavaliers once again had a good season and played in a variety of conditions when other teams went off to the pub! Progress was made from last year and qualification for the Finals Day was harder due to the weather and an extra team in the league. Disappointlingly we finished outside the qualification zone, despite playing as much as possible in the wet and going the whole season without being bowled out. But with EVH being unable to get a team together the Cavaliers were back! In an amusing twist, the first game was a rematch of the amazing 2007 Semi Final Rushale v Wyre and once again the game didn't disapoint. Scott Taylor and Bamford demolished the Rushale top order and set a lowish total. However the Cavaliers ever make anything easy and the game seemed to be slipping away with wickets falling in the run chase, however Captain Bamford came in to smash a few 6's and leave Wyre needed only a few runs off the last over. Youngster Rob Gregson played admirably and Lever sacrificed himself to get Steven Taylor back in to face the last ball of the match with Wyre needing 1 run to win. Taylor stroked a fine cover drive to seal the victory and the pitch invasion followed. However never without controversy, the Rushal eplayers complained, only to be placated after being told they had misread the scoreboard. Sadly the final against Jolly Boys was a more one sided match and with the Cavalier schasing 154 it was always tough. Despite some fine batting from Chris Gregson and Bamford (managing to get a beamer in the face then smash the next ball for 6) Wyre never had enough fire power and settled for runners up spot. But another progressive season and promise for the future.
2009 was a disappointing season with Wyre being great one week and miserable the next! Inconsistent to say the least. A 4th place finish as St Annes won the title again but Wyre had more chances in the Cups. The new Stuart Cup format meant that Wyre got to the T20 Finals day but lost in the semi final to eventual winners Baxi. Another run in the Wareing trophy led to a semi final match up with local rivals Fleetwood IV. A drizzly day meant a battling match and both teams were on top at one point or another, but it was Fleetwood who won and again went on to win the trophy.
2010 was another season of what ifs. The early part of the season started well with a good run in the league and reaching the Stuart T20 Finals Day again. At the finals Wyre beat Preston III in the Semi Final but then disappointingly capitulated to Fleetwood IV in the final. This signaled a slump in the league in July culminating with a double header weekend against Fleetwood in the league and Wareing Trophy Semi. After bowling Fleetwood out cheaply, we were then bowled out ourselves for less and the next day a tight Cup game went Fleetwoods way and so the rest of the season was left for pride. August and September went well, leading into the final day where we could finish anywhere from 2nd to 6th in the league. Needing to win to final game at Preston III to secure the Runners Up spot both teams sportingly played in wt conditions, however the wily spin of Ahmed Mansoor did for Wyre, meaning we finished 6th and preston got the 2nd spot. Frustrating but good end of season form led to hope for another challenge in 2011.
So Wyre CC has come a long way in the years since forming from the rubble of Over Wyre B and this is due to the loyal dedication of a number of members who have worked hard for the club during this period to keep it going. Wyre CC is administered through a written constitution with a six member committee. Indoor nets are held each February on Sunday nights for 10 weeks at which anyone wishing to join the club are welcome to make contact. The club plays in the Fylde Cricket League (established in 1928), Wareing Trophy and Stuart Cup at weekends and plays in the Fylde Twenty20 League on weekday evenings.
The Club joined the Palace Shield in 2014.
Trophies
| Trophy Name | Awarded For | Won in |
| Michael Dunn Trophy | Division Five Winner | 2016 |
| Carr Trophy | Division Six Winner | 2015 |
Key to notes
sun - The Sunday Competition has had various formats. 1996-2005 - Divison F, 2006-2007 - Two Sections, 2008 Decided by Playoff, 2009- Two Divisions
jw - Joint Winner
Directions
Wyre Cricket Club
“Cottam Hall”
Cottam Hall Playing Fields
Blackpool Old Road
Poulton Le Fylde
FY6 7RN
Tel. Coming Soon
