Cricket Club Issue 39 | Page 33

Boldon Boldon CRICKET CLUB BOLDON CRICKET AND SQUASH CLUB (boldon.play-cricket.com) Article provided by Peter Crane, Cricket Secretary/Treasurer A village club at the heart of the Community….. My involvement All of my senior cricket was played at South Shields Cricket Club, but living in East Boldon and playing squash for Boldon CC Squash Club I was tempted back into cricket administration and became Cricket Secretary and Treasurer some six years ago. I have even been attracted back onto the field with the midweek 3rd team but as I approach 65 have decided that the warmth of the squash court will satisfy my athletic needs in the future! we strive not only to exist but to develop our facilities. The Club The Boldon Squash Club was formed some 42 years ago (1973) in a truly The Role The increasing administration involved in the NEPL has seen a change in roles within the club. While I undertake responsibilities for league correspondence and meetings, club chairman Tom Potter has taken on the new role of Club and Ground Secretary to co- ordinate match day and match preparation issues. The Treasurer role also sees me involved in sponsorship and grant applications; two essential income streams for the club as momentous year in that Sunderland won the FA Cup and Durham County CC defeated Yorkshire in the Gillette Cup – the first minor county to beat a first class county. The section boasts three courts, all recently refurbished, providing some of the best squash facilities in the area. Long established in the Durham Senior League, (having been a member since 1906) the demise of the league saw Boldon CC enter the newly formed second tier of the North East Premier League in 2013. While the cricket club did perhaps under achieve in the Durham Senior League in that the league title was only won twice (1959 and 2010) it is nevertheless proud of its traditions in that its teams have in the main always been locally produced. The club is proud that it has never been drawn into the ‘auction for players’ mentality that now sadly persists in the local cricket scene. The club have though established themselves in the new league and are always capable of beating any side with their brand of entertaining cricket that is very much part of the club philosophy. We have even produced our own Test player! Left arm quick bowler Simon Brown who represented England at Lords against Pakistan in 1996 was a Boldon junior before departing for Boldon Club Info - www.boldon.play-cricket.com - Twitter : @BoldonCC www.sportip.biz 33