Little Lever Cricket Club is a thriving sports club located in Bolton that aims to provide excellent sports and recreation facilities for its members and the local community. The club is proud to be one of the founder members of the North West Cricket League. Aerial images of the club can be viewed on social media, courtesy of Alan Nield.
During the cricket season from April to September, the club is open on Fridays from 6pm to 11pm, Saturdays from 12pm to 11pm, and Sundays from 3pm to 9pm (1pm to 9pm on match days). Weekday opening hours depend on junior cricket matches. In winter from October to March, the club is closed on Fridays (except for one day a month, please refer to the Facebook page for specific dates), open on Saturdays from 2pm to 11pm, and open on Sundays from 3pm to 9pm.
Little Lever Cricket Club was founded in 1861 and has a rich history. Over the years, the club has seen many notable cricketers wear its colours and has produced talented players who went on to represent their countries. Some notable alumni include Sir Garfield Sobers, who holds the club's batting record in cup matches, Sonny Ramadhin, Geoff Marsh, Chris Matthews, Henderson Bryon, Franklin Rose, Venkat Raman, and Steven O'Shaughnessy.
The club's success and growth are owed to the dedicated volunteers and members who have worked tirelessly to build it up. Like most clubs, Little Lever Cricket Club relies on bar takings and the support of local businesses to sustain its operations.
The club fields three adult and four junior cricket teams in the Bolton Cricket League, catering to age groups from 9 to 15 years old. Additionally, they participate in the ECB All Stars programme for children aged 5 to 8 years old. In addition to cricket, the club also has a junior girls rounders team, three table tennis teams in the Bolton and Bury Leagues, and two darts teams in the local league.
Little Lever Cricket Club is governed by an active committee consisting of 8 to 10 members who make day-to-day decisions on behalf of the members. The club's ground is made available to both junior and senior schools in the village, with the high school using the pitch for some of their home games. The club employs a Club Steward, a Professional Cricketer, a Groundsman, and several part-time bar personnel.
The club's social facilities include a lounge bar on the first floor, equipped with TV screens for broadcasting live sports. They also have a modern function room on the ground floor that can accommodate up to 120 guests. The function room is available for various events, such as weddings, birthdays, christenings, and wakes. The club offers a full exclusive dressing service to match the colours and theme of the event.
To make a booking or discuss specific needs, interested individuals can contact Little Lever Cricket Club at 07446 186942. The availability of the function room can be viewed in the calendar provided on the club's website.
Little Lever Cricket Club takes pride in its commitment to encouraging excellence in sports and providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.