CRICKET
I will normally go to
Littleborough first, which is the other side of Rochdale, for 6.00am and spend four hours there. From there, I head back down the A58 to
”
Farnworth, and then the rest of the time I spend here at Westhoughton
about the work that I did elsewhere, so they took me on. This place is brilliant, and ideal for me as it’s just five minutes from my house. It is a premiership club really, and they have the money to back up what they want to achieve.” Rob’s qualifications include an NVQ Level 2 in Sports Turf, plus he has completed most courses and qualifications in cricket. He would also like to do NVQ Level 3, but it is a cost he cannot commit to at this moment in time. So, how does he manage to split his time between all three clubs when the season gets started? “It’s difficult,” he confesses. “I will normally go to Littleborough first, which is the other side of Rochdale, for 6.00am and spend four hours there. From there, I head back down the A58 to Farnworth, and then the rest of the time I spend here at Westhoughton. I feel managing three clubs is enough. I don’t want things to suffer. I could do more and take the money, but then one of the clubs would suffer, and I don’t agree with that. If you’re doing a job, you do it right, don’t you? I work seven days a week
Littleborough Cricket Club
in summer, and I don’t take any time off from March to October, I take my holidays after the season has finished.” Rob appreciates any help he can get along the way and is grateful to the volunteers who help him out. “At Littleborough, Mark Whitley helps me out with the rolling and will even meet me at 7.00am on a matchday to move the covers. At Farnworth, Simon Booth is great when it comes to the organisational side, like getting machines. Here at Westhoughton, I have a few people who help on a day to day basis; Steven Barton, Keith Horton and Neil Plimley. They cut all the surrounds, gardens and do all the strimming. This enables me to concentrate on the outfield and square, especially with it being such a big site.” Each club has their own set of challenges, with various constructions, budgets and machines available. “It is all monetary. Here, the square is relatively new, having been constructed eleven years ago. Lancashire CCC were going to use this as their second ground, but they seem to have gone cold on the idea, which is unfortunate. Farnworth
and Littleborough are not constructed squares as such and are probably 100 years old, and a lot of different loams have been put on the squares over the years.” “We have roll-on-covers, general covers and Bowcom Bowdrys at each ground, so we have everything we need at each club to help get the matches on.” “At Westhoughton, we have a fully automatic irrigation system with eight Hunter pop-ups around the wicket, which is fed by a tank through the mains. It is great if I want to put the water on; I can do it while sitting at home in the evening. I can either put one of the pre-programmed cycles on, or I’m able to pop up each individual head if I have the covers on part of the wicket.” Rob talks me through the maintenance he undertakes at all three sites. “During the season, I have to prepare a new wicket nearly every week. I try and use the same method to prepare the wickets at all three sites. On a Monday-Tuesday, I will put the verti-cut through it, making sure not to break into the profile, otherwise the wicket would explode! For half an hour a day it will be
Westhoughton’s electronic scoreboard 98 PC August/September 2020
New nets at Westhoughton
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