White Coppice Cricket Club put tough times behind them with first promotion for 15 years
Thrilling revival of ‘the club that would not die’ with top-two finish secured
White Coppice Cricket Club are celebrating promotion for the first time in 15 years.
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Last weekend's 60-run win away to Thornton Cleveleys 2 – combined with defeat for third-placed Leyland 4 against leaders Preston Strikers – means White Coppice are sure to finish in the top two of Palace Shield division five.
The club from the scenic Chorley hamlet made headlines last year, when local businessman Tim Knowles came to the rescue after a leaking septic tank threatened the club’s future.
They finished fifth in the table last year, and a club which had seen many tough times in its 151-year history was definitely on the up – they had gone close to two years between wins from 2016-18.
The victory over Thornton Cleveleys was their 14th in 16 completed matches this season.
White Coppice sit 10 points behind the Strikers, who have a game in hand, going into Saturday's penultimate fixture at Wyre.
They posted 152 at Thornton Cleveleys, where Ryan Adderley and Jordan Halliday shared the top score of 38.
The hosts were then dismissed for 92 as Anto Kuriakose took 6-32 from 15 overs, his best figures for White Coppice.
However, it was fitting that the final wicket was taken by captain Jake Smalley – his first of the season.
Now ending his fourth season at the helm, Smalley reflected on the club's change of fortunes.
"It's been an absolute rollercoaster," he said. "There have been times when the future of the cricket club was by no means guaranteed and Saturday’s promotion was the culmination of a lot of hard work on and off the pitch.
“White Coppice became known as ‘the club that wouldn’t die’ and now the future looks bright."
There could yet be a double promotion celebration as White Coppice 2 are just two points outside the promotion places in division eight after a six-wicket win over Wyre 2. They have three to play, starting with a trip to BAC/EE Preston 2 this Saturday.
The first team end their unforgettable campaign at home to Norcross 2 on September 12.