White Coppice secured their first promotion in 15 years – and could add a second in an unforgettable season.

The 1st XI’s 60-run win at Thornton Cleveleys 3rd XI – combined with Leyland 4th XI’s defeat to league leaders Preston Strikers – means Jake Smalley’s team can’t be caught in second place in Division 5.

Meanwhile, White Coppice 2nd XI’s six-wicket win against Wyre 2nd XI means Martin Cuerden’s team are just two points behind second-placed Blackpool with three games left.

Whatever happens, it’s already been a remarkable season for a White Coppice club that has faced the threat of folding more than once in its 151-year history.

From having only seven players for a match in 2017 to being saved by local businessman Tim Knowles in 2025 when they couldn’t afford the £30k cost of replacing a leaking septic tank, White Coppice have earned the title of ‘the cricket club that refused to die’.

It was fitting that the honour of taking the final wicket went to captain fantastic Smalley, who took over the captaincy four years ago with a mission to revive the club’s fortunes.

Coppice 1st XI went into Saturday’s match with a 31-point lead over third-placed Leyland 4ths, who had a game in hand.

The permutations were simple: if Leyland lost to Preston Strikers, a 14th league win of the season would secure Coppice’s first promotion since 2011.

Saturday’s match was played on the artificial wicket at Saint Aidan’s Church of England High School in Fylde.

Smalley lost the toss and Coppice were asked to bat first. Tom Sandells (13) and Chris Maguire (10) put on 23 for the first wicket but both fell with the score unchanged.

When Richard Bush dragged one on to his stumps, the visitors were in trouble at 28-3.

Ryan Adderley (38) and Jordan Halliday (38) turned the innings around with a 66-run partnership for the fourth wicket, with Halliday smashing three sixes with his trademark pull shots.

Ant Dark (11), Anis Haider (12) and Smalley (12 not out) all reached double figures before Coppice were bowled out in the 45th over for a competitive 152.

With leading wicket-taker Matt Tinsley unavailable, Bush and Anto Kuriakose opened the bowling.

Bush made the early breakthrough when he bowled Tom Rolinson for 11, but the hero was Kuriakose, who produced his best figures for the club with 6-32 from 15 magnificent overs.

His first victim, Rowan Mistry, was brilliantly caught one-handed by wicketkeeper Dark, who now has 20 catches this season to go with seven stumpings.

His second, Marc Hanson, looked back in disbelief to see one of the bails dislodged by an absolute beauty.

Four of Kuriakose’s victims were clean bowled and the only real resistance came from Chris Howard, who top-scored with 30.

Haider and Adderley chipped in with a wicket apiece, but when Thornton Cleveleys slipped to 77-9, Smalley fittingly brought himself on in search of his first league wicket.

No. 11 Brett Baney hit a four and a six before being caught by Kuriakose at mid-off to give Smalley his maiden league wicket of the season – and spark wild scenes of celebration.
There was poignant moment when Ibby Akram wore his brother Ussy’s shirt for the team photo, who missed the season through injury.

White Coppice 2nd XI remain in the promotion hunt after completing a six-wicket victory over Wyre 2nd XI.

Given the recent rain, and faced with a green top, it felt like an important toss to win and fortunately Martin Cuerden did so, inserting Wyre to bat.

With availability issues this week, the seconds were missing all four bowlers used in their previous game, so Cuerden and Jeff Smith stepped up to take the new ball, and it proved a blessing in disguise.

Both men took a wicket apiece in their first overs and bowled an impeccable line and length, giving the Wyre batsmen very little to go after.

After 10 overs, Wyre found themselves 9-3, with seven maidens and 57 dot balls.

Smith took his third and Coppice’s fourth with a peach to bowl James Bamford, although Coppice were held up by Jamie Moss (23 off 95 balls), who fought hard to keep Wyre in the game.

He was eventually dismissed by Syed Bukhari to leave Wyre struggling at 39-6.

Thanks to a last-wicket partnership of 18, Wyre made their way to 67 all out.

Bukhari ended with career-best figures of 4-20 and James Speakman, playing his first 2nd XI game of the year, finished with 2-14.

Despite the forced changes – six in total – Coppice’s bowling was as reliable as ever, with an incredible 16 maidens bowled.

It was backed up by some good fielding, with Dave Smith and Matt Phillipson taking two catches apiece, including a very casual one-handed grab from Phillipson behind the stumps.

The usual opening batting partnership was available, though, and Jeff Smith got proceedings rolling with another six for the season, probably his biggest one yet, captured on the club’s new YouTube stream. According to the batsman he ‘creamed it onto the car park’.

That was as good as it got for J. Smith as he nicked off without adding to his score.

Speakman hit a quickfire nine to take Coppice to 21-2 and nearly a third of the way there.

The key partnership was between Dave Smith and James Hurst.

Hurst, who became a first-time father last week and was running on just two hours’ sleep, played like a man ready to get the game done so he could go home and have a kip, hitting 21 off 24 in a partnership of 38 to virtually see Coppice home before being undone by a grubber that took his stumps about a quarter of the way up.

It was left to Tom Bramhall to hit the winning runs and secure a six-wicket victory, with D. Smith 12 not out at the other end, having been there from the start.

The win showed the depth Coppice currently have and puts them two points behind second-placed Blackpool with just three games to go.

White Coppice 3rd XI hosted Southowram CC on Sunday and slipped to a 92-run defeat.

Batting first, Southowram rattled up 188-7 from 40 overs, with fifties from Michael Jakeman and Martin Bishop.

Tom Dulson took his best figures for the club with 3-48, while Tom Lloyd also grabbed a brace. There was even a wicket for Joe Seager.

Special mention also goes to Oliver Mawdesley, who bowled a tidy opening eight-over spell, while Joe Hayden took an excellent catch.

Coppice endured a tough day with the bat, with a few loose shots contributing to their downfall.

Making his first appearance of the season was big Jim Lawrenson, but the fireworks came from Seager, who top-scored with 21 off 33 balls.

Dulson said: “Seeing Seags ping a lovely 6 down the ground was a sight to see!”