Club on the brink

A club at the heart of a Saddleworth village for more than 150 years is facing closure.


A letter sent to residents has asked for support to secure the future of the Delph Club. The letter from the club’s committee asks for help and ideas to keep the distinguished Gartside Street club alive.

But after little response, officials say the club is likely to close in the New Year, unless new uses and an income for the building can be found quickly.

“It would be a great pity to see the club, which is such a good venue for community activities, sports and events, close down,” says the letter.

“The committee and trustees have tried many ideas over the last few years but have struggled to find a formula which would produce a sustainable performance at or above financial break-even point.

“We hope the club can be saved for the sake of the community.”

The club was built as a Reform Club in about 1860 with a community hall, snooker and reading room and was alcohol free.

The old ownership was abandoned as the only source of repairs funding at the time were breweries.

A sports-based committee and trustees took over and changed the old covenants so it could be licensed and renamed The Delph Club.

Currently, there are about 70 members who have elected trustees and a working committee. Subs for the club are £5 a year and the substantial building is used by dance groups, badminton, pool players and for weddings, funerals and charity events.

Alan Shackleton, committee member, said: “The letter brought many expressions of sympathy and regret, but no offers to take on the committee’s responsibilities or enough ideas to make a significant difference in the near future. We shall probably have to close sometime in January.”

Anyone who would like more information or has suggestions should contact Alan Shackleton at alanshackleton@btinternet.com.