White Coppice CC had just seven players for a match in 2017 – but on Saturday the 151-year-old club will make history.
The Lancashire town of Chorley will play host to its first-ever open-top bus parade on Saturday in honour of double promotion-winning White Coppice Cricket Club.
The club, which plays in the Palace Shield Cricket Competition, nearly folded in 2017 when it had only seven players for one match and once went 658 days without a win.
However, after the 1st XI secured the club’s first promotion in 15 years in August by finishing runners-up in Division Five, the 2nd XI went one better in September by winning Division Eight on a dramatic final day of the season.
The Mayor of Chorley, Councillor Debra Platt, and Chorley MP and Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle have led the tributes to the cricket club.
The Mayor, who will host an official reception at Chorley Town Hall ahead of Saturday’s parade, said: “Congratulations to everyone at White Coppice Cricket Club on a memorable season.
“The fact that the club has reached its 151st year is testament to the tenacity and commitment of a small group of players and volunteers who kept going when it would have been easier to fold.”
Chorley MP Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “I’ve always had a love of cricket from the moment my father named me after one of his favourite cricketers, Australian Lindsay Hassett.
“White Coppice Cricket Club is 151 years old and plays at one of the UK’s most picturesque grounds.
“I’ve followed the club’s fortunes closely and shared everyone’s concerns for its future when it had only seven players for a match in 2017.
“Last year I was able to help secure a much-needed grant for the club from United Utilities and I’ve been delighted to see the club’s fortunes transformed on and off the pitch.
“The White Coppice story is about so much more than just results. It’s about a club that defied the odds and refused to die.”
The club’s ambitious attempts to secure an open-top bus appeared to be in ruins until a local businessman stepped in to save the day.
1st XI captain Jake Smalley said: “It wouldn’t be White Coppice if there wasn’t a little bit of drama!
“When we only had seven players in 2017 we were dubbed ‘the club that wouldn’t die’.
“We had no money and hardly any players and were teetering on the brink – but not anymore.
“We now have two Saturday teams and a Sunday team and the twin promotions are the icing on cake.
“There’s never been an open-top bus parade in Chorley and we harboured a distant dream that one day we’d be the first to do it.
“We thought we’d found a vintage bus but it fell through at the 11th hour.
“Stanton’s of Stoke kindly offered us the use of the open-top bus that Northampton Saints used after they were crowned Gallagher Premiership champions in June but we were £950 short of what we needed because we’re also raising money for some new nets. We were praying for a miracle.”
Stephen Turner, founder and chairman of Chorley-based Group55, heard of their plight and stepped in to help fund the hire of the open-top bus.
He said: “I’m a big supporter of club cricket and who wouldn’t want to see White Coppice CC enjoy their day in the sun after a double promotion?
“Group55 was founded in 1999 and is proud to call Chorley our home – although we’ve got a long way to go to catch 151-year-old White Coppice CC!”
The open-top bus parade will leave Chorley Town Hall at 11am and is scheduled to finish at the Lock & Quay at 1pm.
Smalley said: “If you see us please beep your horn or give us a wave. White Coppice truly is the club that refused to die and we believe that’s something which is worth celebrating. Up the Coppice!!”