Sponsorship evening for cricket club

Photo: Laura Wild

Jim Dobbin MP, Elaine Roydes Club Secretary, the Mayor Councillor Keith Swift, Mayoress Ms Sue Etchells and Sponsorship Chairman Roger Whitworth

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Keen supporters and lifelong sponsors of Middleton Cricket Club joined together this evening (Friday 19 February 2010) to raise funds for the eight teams that play for the club.

The sponsorship evening is an annual event and encourages everybody involved to get together and sponsor particular parts of the game, ranging from a ball to a match.

Following a welcome speech from the members of the sponsorship committee, guests left their seats keen to put their name down to sponsor a game.

Sponsorship chairman, Roger Whitworth was delighted at the turn out, he said: “Looking around the room I can see a lot of old friends who have sponsored in the past years. There are also a few more fresh faces here tonight.

“Without sponsorship our eight cricket teams would not be able to play here at Towncroft.”

The club was pleased to have two new sponsors this season; Ash Timber Supplies have provided the club with over £300 worth of timber so they can refurbish their scoreboard and Taymak who have sponsored a heavy duty battery for the club's tractor.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Rochdale, Councillor Keith Swift and Ms Sue Etchells, were amongst the guests supporting the event, Mayor Swift said: “It is wonderful to see so many people supporting Middleton Cricket Club through sponsorship. The club gives so much to the young people of Middleton and they really do a wonderful job to keep eight teams going.”

Jim Dobbin, MP for Middleton and Heywood, is a long time supporter of the club, he said: “I have been coming to these events for about 13 years, basically because the cricket club is very important for Middleton, it puts a lot back into the community and does a terrific amount for young people.”

Middleton Cricket Club has been in existence since the 19th century and is a member of the Central Lancashire League.

The club has had many successes over the years and some of the people who played for the club went on to be international players, including: Basil D’Oliveria, Frank Typhoon Tyson and Hedley Verity.