U21's take on NORTHERN LEAGUE U21's for the OPENING UP CUP

Date: 11th August 2015

Friday 14 August at Blackpool CC 11am start

This Friday, 14 August, sees the inaugural fixture at Under 21 level between the Chorley Building Society Northern Premier Cricket League and the Med Imaging Liverpool and District Cricket Competition.

The game to be played at Blackpool Cricket Club is being played for the ‘Opening Up’ Cup, provided by the organisation Opening Up Cricket formed in 2014, after the tragic passing of Sefton Park’s Alex Miller, to promote mental wellbeing and suicide prevention through cricket. Working with cricket clubs in the North West, Opening Up, are highlighting the importance of sport to mental health and are currently running a campaign “notweaktospeak” encouraging individuals to talk about mental health.

The meeting of the two Leagues at this specific age group acknowledges the need to provide quality cricket opportunities as part of the current attempts to ensure retention of individuals in the sport. The Northern League side is captained by Matt Grindley from St Annes CC whilst Leigh’s Mattie McKiernan skippers the Liverpool Competition with both sides coming into the game following U21 victories against the MCC.

Regular league umpires Canon Stephen Jones from Carnforth and Canon Roger Driver from Bootle are to officiate what is likely to be a keenly fought contest with some of the North West’s finest cricket prospects on show.