Lancashire League: Weather-hit Bacup saved by World Cup (18 Jul 1998)

18 July 1998

Weather-hit Bacup saved by World Cup

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Bacup Cricket Club have had to turn to football to help them make ends meet in a rain-ravaged season.

When Bacup entertain Lancashire League title-chasers East Lancashire on Sunday it will be only their second home game since May 31.

As a result income from gate receipts, catering and bar takings has taken a hammering to put a strain on the purse strings at Lanehead.

"Financially, of course it's very disappointing," admitted captain David Thompson. "We should have had a home game against Church which was rained off and then last weekend when we were at home we were off again.

"You have got to raise funds from somewhere. We should have a few home games to come but you need revenue all the time to keep things ticking over."

Clubs have been hit extra hard this season with no washed out games being replayed.

But Bacup's plight has been softened by the World Cup, as Thompson explained.

"We have had quite a few coming in for the World Cup. We bought a big screen last year and charging UKP 1 a pint we have have been filling the club up which is a good do. I don't know about rescuing us but it has helped," he said. The club is also running a UKP 250 cash draw to boost the coffers, while keeping their fingers crossed that the weather holds to resume their cricketing programme with tomorrow's attractive tie - the first of two meetings in seven days between the two clubs who clash in the semi-final of the Lees Challenge Trophy at Alexandra Meadows next Saturday.

For Bacup the weather interruptions have been doubly frustrating as they have run into form in the league and climbed up to sixth place - spearheaded by professional Brad White who has scored over 600 runs at an average of 55.

"A couple of weeks ago we were near the bottom of the league but we have given the young lads a go over the last three games and we are up to the top six.

"We also got to the quarter-finals of the Worsley Cup and we are in the semi-finals of the inter-league cup so it hasn't been a bad season." East Lancs are chasing a treble but Thompson is looking forward to the test tomorrow and in the cup semi-final with honours currently even between the two sides this summer, Bacup winning the league encounter but losing out in the Worsley Cup.

David Warren again deputises for the unavailable James Cunliffe in the Bacup line-up.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Bacup v East Lancs, Church v Burnley, Colne v Rawtenstall, Enfield v Ramsbottom, Haslingden v Todmorden, Lowerhouse v Accrington, Rishton v Nelson.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)