Whalley apply to become 15th club

Whalley Range Cricket and Lawn Tennis Club

CRICKET:

THE Saddleworth and District Cricket League could be up to 15 clubs next season following Whalley Range’s application to join.

Currently in the Manchester Association, the Kingsbrook Road outfit is seeking a change and is believed also to have sounded out several other leagues.

The league’s executive committee has met Whalley officials and is due to report at tonight’s monthly meeting of club delegates (Uppermill CC, 8pm).

Boasting Clubmark — only Austerlands, Droylsden, Glodwick, Greenfield, Stayley and Uppermill have such accreditation in the league — Whalley have all junior teams covered from under-nines to under-18s, as well as a second XI, with strong facilities.

The application would be hard to turn down — but it could be a case of Saddleworth officials having to persuade Whalley Range to sign with them rather than another league.

If this happened, Whalley would be the first new club in the league since Glodwick in 2007. Micklehurst rejoined in 2012.



MARK Ingham missed Shaw’s home clash against Heyside last Saturday after being handed a one-game ban for comments made on social media.

The Holebottom Clough skipper was found to have posted “foul and abusive remarks towards an opponent” on Twitter after his side’s defeat at Saddleworth on May 11.

A league spokesperson said: “Players are aware of our stance with regard to social networking and internet sites.”