Clubs in Covid - AINSDALE
Date: 3rd December 2020
Busy time at Liverpool Road.
At Ainsdale, one of the few benefits of the truncated 2020 season and lockdowns has been the opportunity to get the ground and square in good order as the club looks to celebrate 100 years of cricket at Liverpool Road in 2021.
Partly out of a spirit of altruism, partly out of necessity for mental stimulation, a group of former players and supporters have self-titled themselves as The Badgers and not a day goes by without work being done to the square, outfield or surrounds. Loosely organized by veteran seamer, Mal Swift, sightscreens have been painted and repaired, overgrown areas cleared, drainage ditches dug, fences whitewashed and patios laid.
More professional services were employed to vertidrain, weed, feed and seed the outfield and scarify and seed the square. The ground has possibly never looked better – now we just need some cricket !
On the playing front, Stu Naden is galvanizing the junior set up and the club has re-signed Umaid Asif as overseas professional for the season. The 6’ 5” paceman is fresh from starring for Karachi Kings in the recent Pakistan Super League final where his 2 for 18 from 4 overs helped his side retain the Trophy. Martyn Farrell will captain the 1st XI in what is bound to be a highly competitive First Division.
A new two lane netting facility is planned with fund-raising up and running and grants applied for. The intention is for it to be ready for the start of next season but the changes in Sport England priorities due the pandemic may delay that.
With the tiered restrictions in place, followed by the lockdown, there has been no opportunity for club social events but WhatsApp and Zoom have at least allowed us to see who has been hitting the home gym and who has been raiding the pie shop. The main hope at Ainsdale is that normality will be restored quickly in the New Year.
Born out of hope, we are still planning an Evening with Michael Vaughan in March and a Bierkeller night with the Jagermaestros Oompah Band in April.
Above all else though, it’s the cricket and the Saturday nights we miss the most – roll on April.
Finally, all through lockdown Andy Barlow has been providing a pizza take-out and delivery service from the club. To order simply log on to www.ainsdaleclub.comand the menu is attached.
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