Welcome

ESTABLISHED 1874

FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE GREATER MANCHESTER CRICKET LEAGUE

Future Fixtures

Mon 27 July: Under 15’s vs Prestwich CC (Home)
Mon 27 July: Under 11’s A vs Bury CC (Away)
Wed 29 July: Under 13’s vs Unsworth CC (Away)
Wed 29 July: Under 18’s vs Prestwich CC (Home)
Sat 1 August: 1st XI vs Edgworth CC (Home)
Sat 1 August: 2nd XI vs East Lancs Paper Mill CC 1st XI (Away)

Future Events

Tue 28 July Afternoon   Summer camp
Wed 29 July Afternoon   Summer camp
Thu 30 July Afternoon   Summer camp

Opening Times

Today 12:00 to 22:30
Mon 18:00 to 21:30
Tue 18:30 to 23:00
Wed 18:30 to 23:00
Thu 18:30 to 23:00
Fri 15:00 to 00:00
Sat 12:00 to 00:00

Match Report: Wed 22nd July: Heaton u18s vs Clifton u18s

I understand that match reports are usually reserved for senior games, with the exception of Junior Cup Finals, but I want to make another exception for the u18s game at Heaton on Wednesday night. 

I could not be prouder of the performance of a really young side that put together an outstanding team performance to beat a strong Heaton outfit, and were captained superbly by Dan Jones who is thriving in the leadership role of these lads. 

To put into context the achievement, the 11 lads taking to the field were from the following age groups:

3 x u18s
1 x u17
4 x u14s
3 x u11s 

With holidays and other commitments making availability difficult, and the u13s playing on the same night, it was 3 of the u11s in Stanley Pryce, Harry Bridge and Oscar McManus that stepped forward to play and allow us to get a game on. They didn’t just make up the numbers, they threw themselves into it head first with an outstanding attitude and an energy that was infectious. Their chests puffed out further with every stop in the field, with roars of encouragement and appreciation from the captain and the older players. 

This is what junior cricket is all about. They were a pleasure to have in the side, and I would have them back in without a second thought the next time we need to call lads in from the younger age groups. 

For the game itself, Heaton won the toss and put Clifton into bat, which probably tells you they haven’t paid attention to our results this season where our opening pair have dominated sides and been exceptional. 

Wednesday night was no different, as with the first ball of the match Dan Jones pulled out a cover drive to send the ball flying to the boundary. He ended his superb innings as it started, with a hat-trick of boundaries to retire on 51 with only half of the new “Hundred” format innings complete.

Owen Hogben didn’t get much of the strike early doors, but was ticking along nicely at a run a ball up the other end when he was joined by Lewis Keogh. Despite a scratchy start, the attacking intent soon paid off with Lewis hitting an important quick fire 22 off 15. 

A solid and innings binding 39 from Owen along with small contributions from AJ (3), Oscar (4*) and Luke (1*) posted a competitive total of 133. 

The bowling unit then performed superbly and were used cleverly by Dan to ensure he used the 6 bowlers required, but had overs in the bank for himself and Lewis at the death. 

Oscar made the breakthrough, taking the off stump of the opener, before Luke’s return showed his rust with 3 of the worst balls he’s ever bowled, before picking up the wicket of the dangerous Bhuta, caught by his brother at cow.

Luke then returned the favour off his brother’s bowling to dismiss the big hitting Hamilton. 

There was another wicket for Luke, along with one for Harrison from his superb over, before the last over the game not only included a team hat-trick with a runout, but a personal hat-trick for Lewis Keogh as his outstanding last set sealed the game with 5 balls to spare when it was getting pretty tight. 

Thanks again to Stanley, Harry and Oscar and I hope they enjoyed the game as much as I did, and I look forward to having them back in the side again. 

Rob

Match Report Sun 19 July: 3rd XI vs Whalley Range CC (Away)

The third team winning machine rolled into leafy Whalley Range on Sunday, for another charge towards the GMCL Sunday Premier League title.

Elliot strolled out to the middle for the toss at a much earlier start time due to World Cup final and yet again, lost. The opposition skippers decision to stick Clifton in on a warm day raised a few eyebrows around the ground. Especially considering Clifton has posted 220+ runs consistently for the past few weeks, with three different players scoring a century in each of the last three games.

However, after the first couple of balls, the reason became clear. The wicket that had been prepared proceeded to shoot low, offer excessive bounce and variable pace. Both Ethan Kite and Dan Jones fell victim to the surface, before Dunny was struck on the pad and received what looked to be a harsh LBW decision.

At 53-3, the rebuild began. Owen Hogben did what he does best, dug in and played a patient innings. Whilst at the other end, Tom Worthington batted with maturity to reach a very well deserved 35. Tom has proven at times this year that when given an opportunity with the bat he is more than capable of putting on runs to help his team.

With Worthington dismissed after successfully anchoring the rebuild, the lads cracked on with demonstrating why our batting line up is so effective. A quick fire 85 run partnership between Owen and Sam Winstanley (36) saw Clifton well on the way to posting another competitive score, with Sam hitting the ball to the fence and Owen turning every run into a sprinted two, finishing Clifton’s innings on 224/6 with Owen posting another 75*.

After the tea interval, Elliot Hogben and Oscar Thorpe took the new ball and set to work removing the openers. A wicket from Oscar in his first over, and then two later on from Elliot saw Whalley Range at 64-3. It was from this point Clifton turned the screw. An 8 over spell from Oliver Dunn saw him rip through the middle order to post figures of (4-24), ably supported by Ethan Kite at the other end. At 103-7, Sam Winstanley (2-4) and youngster Harrison Keogh joined the fray and dismissed Whalley Range for 149 to give Clifton a convincing 75 run victory.

With a gap of 16 points to second place, surely it is just a matter of time before this crop of Clifton youngsters helps to deliver the first GMCL Sunday Premier League title to Manchester Road.

Match Report Sat 18 July: 2nd XI vs Woodbank CC (Away)

Clifton arrived at The Kenyons to find the pitch still being prepared just 45 minutes before the scheduled start after someone had soaked the square on Friday night, creating a far from ideal buildup to the game.

After winning the toss, Clifton elected to bowl first, and the decision paid immediate dividends. Woodbank were reduced to 10-2 inside the opening three overs thanks to some disciplined new-ball bowling. However, the 2’s were unable to build on the excellent start. The next few overs saw too many short deliveries bowled towards a very small boundary which allowed the home side to score freely. Dropped catches and some sloppy fielding then further helped Woodbank recover from their early collapse.

The standout performer with the ball was Liam Dorsey, who bowled an uninterrupted 14-over spell, claiming 4 wickets at just over three an over and providing some much needed control.  Woodbank continued to latch on to anything loose and posted a competitive total of 222.

In reply, Clifton made a positive start to the chase, with Ethan Kite (26), Lewis Keogh (37) and Chris Thorpe (45) all making valuable contributions to keep the innings on track.

Sam Winstanley continued his recent form with a superb 78, sharing a long and promising partnership with Thorpe that put Clifton in a commanding position. However, with just 20 runs required for victory, both set batters were dismissed in quick succession.

The incoming batsmen were forced to adapt to the pace of the game immediately but were unable to build the final partnership we needed, leaving Clifton agonisingly nine runs short at the close.

The defining factor of the day was undoubtedly the extras. Clifton conceded 56 in total, including an astonishing 38 wides, compared to not a single one for the hosts, and those free runs and additional deliveries ultimately proved the difference between the two sides in an otherwise closely contested match.

Match Report Sat 18 July: 1st XI vs Woodbank CC (Home)

There were plenty of positives on show during Saturday's excellent match against Woodbank, with the only disappointment being the result.

Batting first on a parched wicket that played well, but for a smattering of deliveries that bounced inconsistently, Steve Mac perished early followed by Caleb with only 27 on the board. Sam played fluently and it was something of a shock when he went at 94-3 having scored 45 in a partnership of 67 with Gareth Cross. When Praharsh went a run later, up stepped Ben Hamilton to retrieve the situation with an assured half century. His partnership of 77 with Gareth, who had moved smoothly on to 75, put the 200+ in focus and provided Zach with the platform to play one of his cameos. His 22 in 14 balls pushed the score to 232-7 at the close, a score that the watching hordes thought was slightly above par for the conditions.

It was not to be however, as the lively track that we saw before tea suddenly became very benign. It didn't help when Ollie pulled up with a muscle problem and, despite Crossy plugging manfully away at the other end, the visitors were able to put together partnerships that edged them towards their target.

Owen Hogben was called into the fray to bowl his maiden 1st XI spell and with his 28th delivery, he captured his first wicket. He went onto finish with a creditable 2-56, but unfortunately, former CCC import Matt Wilkes was closing in on only his 4th ever half century and despite losing eight wickets in the chase, the visitors completed an annoying league double with a comfortable fourteen balls to spare.

It was a tough pill to swallow as, without Finn to call upon and Ollie's injury, lady luck abandoned Sam's attack and left him having to settle for just one point on the day.

 

GMCL U11 Champions of Champions Final

Clifton CC U11s v Royton CC U11s

Thursday 16th July 2026

Champions! 🏆

Clifton CC U11s were crowned GMCL Champions of Champions after producing a superb all-round team performance to overcome an excellent Royton CC side in a final that showcased everything that is great about junior cricket.

Played in fantastic spirit throughout, the match was a wonderful advert for the game, with both teams displaying outstanding skill, determination and sportsmanship from the first ball to the last. The standard on show was exceptional, and every player should be immensely proud of the part they played.

Royton began positively, with L. Jeffery leading the scoring with an impressive 24 and O. Hulme adding a lively 15, while H. Zeshan chipped in with 10 as they looked to build momentum. Clifton's bowlers, however, never allowed the innings to get away from them, applying pressure throughout with disciplined bowling and sharp fielding.

The wickets were shared around, highlighting the strength of Clifton's attack. Jensen Kettle was outstanding, claiming two wickets,while Stanley Pryce, Alby Robinson and Arabella Cross all picked up one apiece. Every bowler contributed, with Pryce particularly economical, conceding just seven runs from his two overs, while Oscar McManus and Jacob Vickers also kept the scoring under control.

Behind the bowling was an outstanding fielding display.Clifton's energy, athleticism and awareness in the field restricted Royton at every opportunity, creating three run-outs and limiting boundaries through excellent teamwork and communication.

Chasing the target, Clifton batted with confidence and intent. The innings was built on valuable contributions throughout the order,ensuring the scoreboard continued to tick over while keeping pressure on the Royton fielders.

Stanley Pryce top-scored with an excellent 18,playing with maturity beyond his years, while Oscar McManus struck a fluent unbeaten 16. Hunter McManus entertained spectators with an exciting 13 that included two towering sixes, and useful contributions from Jacob Vickers (8), Arabella Cross (7), Jensen Kettle (5) and Harry Bridge (1) ensured Clifton finished strongly to post a winning total of 277 against Royton's 260.

While every player played their part in a magnificent team performance, the Player of the Match award deservedly went to Arabella Cross. Arabella made an impact in every facet of the game, contributing with the ball, adding valuable runs and producing an outstanding display in the field. Her composure, energy and all-round cricketing ability epitomised Clifton's performance and made her a worthy recipient of the award.

This victory is the culmination of months of hard work from our coaches and a hugely talented group of young cricketers who continue to represent Clifton Cricket Club with distinction. Their commitment to improving,willingness to work for one another and love of the game shone through in a final of the highest quality.

Congratulations also go to Royton CC, who were excellent hosts and played a full part in a terrific final and demonstrated why they had reached the Champions of Champions showpiece.

A huge congratulations to our U11s – GMCL Champions of Champions 2026! An achievement to be incredibly proud of and one that will live long in the memories of everyone connected with Clifton Cricket Club. 🏆💙🧡

Further pictures from the evening available in our gallery here:

http://www.cliftoncc.org.uk/Page/Gallery/View/16

Clifton Junior Camp Night

Last Friday saw the long awaited return of the 'Clifton Camp Out', where, our Junior Members got their wish of 'staying later'... infact, they stayed all night!

26 of our Juniors set up camp on the outfield and enjoyed an evening of pizzas, twilight cricket, toasted marshmallows by the camp fire and, after a night of rest, bacon and sausage butties alongside a dawn net session!

This was a fantastic social event for our Juniors, and our thanks go to all who made this happen, Jane, Mary & Tom, and our VERY understanding groundsman, Drew!

Girls Cricket Festival - Clifton u11 Dynamos

On a glorious, sun drenched afternoon at Egerton CC, 8 clubs took part in a superbly organised u11s Girls Cricket Festival; with Clifton CC taking part in an event like this for the very first time in our history. 


In the Spring of 2026, our first Dynamos programme (coaching for girls ages 8 to 11) had only 5 girls signed up for the start of our girls cricket journey. Within a couple of months that had grown to 12 signed up Dynamos, and we’re still getting new girls coming to our 7pm - 8pm Friday night sessions every week, with each new girl instantly made to feel part of the group which is wonderful to see. 


10 of those young Dynamos represented Clifton CC at the Egerton CC Festival on Sunday, doing themselves, their watching parents and grandparents and Clifton CC proud. 


In our first game, the girls put on a brilliant performance to push a really strong Edgworth team all the way, coming up just short, before taking on the hosts, Egerton. 


The game against Egerton ended in a tie after a thrilling finish to the game that went down to the last ball, but our girls saved the best to last when taking on Horwich in our third and final match of the afternoon. 


A fantastic bowling performance restricted Horwich to 53/2 from their 12 overs, that set Clifton a target of 44 (5 runs are added to the start of the batting team’s total for every wicket they take when bowling) to win our first ever match. 


It was neck and neck throughout the chase, but when we lost a wicket with 4 balls to go leaving us needing 9 runs off the last 3 balls, it looked an impossible task. 


A quick single then a frantically run two meant it was 6 needed off the last ball to win the game. So up stepped Evie to smash the ball into all the wildly celebrating parents and grandparents for 6. An incredible finish to a fantastic day. 


I’m sure on Friday night that we’ll be getting asked over and over again when the next Festival is, so I better get us signed up to do it all again in a few weeks time…..


The smiles on the girl's faces throughout the whole afternoon told in an instant just how much they enjoyed it, so a thank you from us to all of their parents and grandparents for bringing them along to Clifton to start their cricketing life with our wonderful club.


Girls cricket at Clifton is looking very promising indeed!


Paul & Megan

Club Rules Update

We’ve recently completed a full review and update of the Club Rules.

The updates focus on improving clarity, removing outdated provisions, and ensuring the Rules properly reflect how the Club operates today. We have also strengthened certain areas of governance to make roles and responsibilities clearer and to support the Club’s long-term stability.

There are no changes to the spirit or values of the Club; this is about making sure our foundations are clear, consistent and fit for the future.

The updated Rules are now available to view here:
CLUB RULES

Thank you for your continued support of our club.

Refurbishment

🔨 Rear Lounge Refurbishment COMPLETE !!

We are pleased to let members know that refurbishment of our rear lounge is complete, an exciting step forward in improving our club facilities for everyone.

The improvements include:
• A new feature wall
• A new trophy cabinet to properly showcase our history and achievements
• New seating to create a more comfortable, welcoming space

This is part of an ongoing project to continually enhance our club for members, players, families and visitors. As a volunteer-led club with strong community roots, every improvement is about creating a space we can all be proud of.

If you’re not yet part of our club, new members are always welcome. Please come and be part of something progressive, inclusive and growing.

Match Ball Sponsorship 2026

🏏 MATCH BALL SPONSORSHIP– NOW LIVE AT CLIFTON CRICKET CLUB 🏏

The season is nearly here… now we need your support 💛

Our Match Ball Sponsorship for the 2026 season is officially up and running, and it’s a brilliant way to personally back the club or promote your business (or simply supporting your team!).

 

💥 Senior Matches – £30    

     Great value

     Deals available when you sponsor multiple games

     And yes… there could be cake involved 🍰😉

 

🌟 Junior Matches – Just£20 

    An absolute bargain and a fantastic way to support the future of Clifton Cricket Club.

 

When you sponsor a match ball you are helping us:

• Support all senior & junior cricket

• Maintain our facilities

• Invest in the next generation

• Keep cricket thriving in our community

 

It is simple, affordable, and makes a real difference. If you have been thinking about getting involved, now’s the time.

Whether it’s one game or a few fixtures across the season, we would love to hear from you.

 

📩 Drop us a message - cliftonccmembership@gmail.com

📞 Speak to a committee member

 

Let's fill the fixture list and make it a season to remember.

Support your club. Back your team. Sponsor a match ball. 💛

Google Review

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