LAMBLEY Village Cricket Club is set to open one of their biggest seasons ever this weekend after a bumper year on and off the pitch.
The Lambs take on Attenborough in their first game of the season this Saturday (April 29), with their new Sunday side kicking off against Farnsfield (April 30red:.
After surging to the South Nottinghamshire Cricket League Division J title in 2022, the club – based at the Octavian Oval on Lambley Lane – set about continuing its recent resurgence with a series of significant off-field moves.
Following a grant from Gedling Borough Council and additional support from sponsors, the Lambs were able to refurbish their ageing clubhouse and changing rooms ahead of the 2023 campaign, which will see the club play at their highest level since 2014.
Club chairman Alex Cox says that there is a real sense of momentum at the club at the moment – something which is driving them forward on and off the pitch.
“Last year’s success was huge for the club and performances throughout the season were out of this world at times. As we took stock over the winter, we wanted to have a really strong focus on growing the club sustainably, and the clubhouse is a big part of that.
“We’ve had great support from the local councillors and sponsorship from the likes of Kingdom Architectural Glass and Wickes – who donated £400 of materials – but also from our club members themselves in terms of getting the work done to ensure the facility is ready for the new season.”
They are also supplementing their growing squad by entering a team in the Newark Alliance Sunday League – returning after nearly ten years – and made some significant off-season moves to strengthen its playing staff.
Fast bowling duo Tom Snee and Robson Kightley have joined the Lambs from Gedling Colliery and Papplewick & Lindby respectively, while Glenn Morley – who has made more than 150 appearances for the club – will play for the Sunday side while remaining registered elsewhere in the Saturday league.
Snee said: “As soon as I spoke to the guys at the club, it was clear that there is a real ambition to not just rise up the leagues, but also improve off the pitch as well.
“It’s an exciting time to be involved, and I’m looking forward to contributing in whatever way I can.”
The pair join a side that put in some dominant performances in 2022, with opening batsman Elliot Burnett scoring nearly 600 runs and left arm quick Lee Wilson bagging 57 wickets – the most of any bowler across the league’s 13 divisions – as Lambley pipped Midlands CC to the title on the final day of the season.
The Lambs open their Division H season with a home game against Attenborough on Saturday, 29 April (1pm), with their inaugural Sunday league campaign kicking off the following afternoon away at Farnsfield (also 1pm).
Further information can be accessed via https://lambleyvillage.play-cricket.com/home or via the club facebook page https://www.facebook.com/LambleyVillageCC
A full list of fixtures is available by visiting: LVCC Fixtures 2023.
