Ton Up For Ainsdale

Date: 24th January 2011

An extended version of an article which originally appeared in the Southport Visiter

Ainsdale's members will be applauding a fine century this summer - regardless of how well their batsmen perform.

The Liverpool Road club is celebrating its centenary in 2011 and a number of events have been planned to mark the occasion. One of these is the publication of a hardback book charting Ainsdale's first hundred years and researching the early history of the club has meant hours of work trawling through old issues of the Southport Visiter for co-author Chris Bolton. "I didn't realise how much information is available," said club chairman Bolton, who is writing the book with current first team captain - and part-time living legend - Dave Newcombe.

"I've discovered that two members of the first team in 1914 died in the Great War, one at Gallipoli and the other on the way to India," he added. "There were also some curious links with the current first team in that the 1914 side had an opening batsman called Tom Wainwright and a bowler by the name of Swift."

Former Blackpool and England goalkeeper Tony Waiters, who was born in Southport and played for Ainsdale, has agreed to write a foreword for the book and will try to visit the town next summer to join in the celebrations. Waiters currently lives in Canada, but Bolton has been in contact with him and a number of other former members. "We're going to have an Old Players' Day and I'd be very interested if anyone's got any Ainsdale memorabilia from the past hundred years," said Bolton. However, while Ainsdale's cricketers and supporters will be enjoying themselves with their customary gusto, everyone at Liverpool Road is aware that promotion to the First Division of The Bridging Finance Solutions Liverpool Competition would be the best way to honour the centenary.

"We're very positive about the new season," said Bolton. "We've already signed Dhiraj Goswami as our overseas player and we're hopeful about a couple of other potential recruits. Our winter nets will begin at KGV on Sunday February 6th and will be held from 4-5 p.m every Sunday until the start of the season. "However, we do need a second team umpire, so I'd appreciate it if anyone who can help us out with that vacancy - or anybody who has any centenary memorabilia - would get in contact with me."

Chris Bolton's email address is chrisbol6@aol.com