Ribblesdale League: Storey calls for commitment (23 July 1999)

23 July 1999

Ribblesdale League: Storey calls for commitment

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Edenfield skipper Brett Storey believes his side need to get back to basics if they are to breathe new life into their flagging season.

The Gincroft Lane outfit are currently fourth from bottom in the Jennings Ribblesdale League going into tomorrow's game against league leaders Cherry Tree.

And, after two heavy defeats against Great Harwood and Whalley last weekend, that double whammy has prompted Storey to call for more commitment from his players.

"We let ourselves down in the field last week, especially on Saturday, when we dropped seven catches," said Storey.

"A lack of practice hasn't helped but some of the lads don't seem to want to turn up for training.

"All the young lads tend to come down and practice but you can count the number of first teamers on one hand.

"And it's the same faces every week so we can't get a decent night's practice in."

Edenfield will have to buck their ideas up if they want to get anything out of in-form Cherry Tree.

But they should be boosted by a rare appearance from professional Michael Smethurst who isn't likely to be required by Lancashire this weekend.

Smethurst has only played six games for Edenfield all season due to county commitments and the club are starting to lose patience. "The situation with Michael has been a distraction all season," said Storey.

"I've had phonecalls on Friday afternoons saying he's been named in the Lancashire squad so we've spent Friday night looking for a replacement.

"It's become hard work and, although we are delighted Mike's doing so well, it's no good for the club.

"The way things have turned out, I don't think we would have bothered signing him but at Christmas time we didn't know this was going to happen.

"That's why we're where we are in the league so we've alreday started looking for a pro for next year."

Ironically, Storey himself will be missing from tomorrow's clash because he's attending a cousin's wedding.

Barnoldswick v Great Harwood, Baxenden v Earby, Blackburn N v Read, Clitheroe v Settle, Edenfield v Cherry Tree, Oswaldtwistle Im v Ribblesdale Wanderers, Padiham v Whalley.

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