1959

Season 1959

Obituaries

Mr RHW Bannerman, a Vice President had died during the year, the Chairman, Leo Bent expressed regret for the loss of a member who had consistently supported the club

Club Matters

Toft and Knutsford Cricket Clubs shared winter nets at Old Trafford. Tankards were presented to non-members Fred Hughes and Maurice Acton for all the unpaid work that they had done in decorating and improving the pavilion. installation of 2 Elsan chemical toilets. Arranged to hire the Council roller and to have the square rolled have been made. Equipment purchased to bring the club up to the standard required included 2 bats, 1 vellum covered bat 4 pairs of batting gloves, 1 pair of wicket keeping gloves, 4 match balls and 6 composition balls. Details of the tour of Ireland were made – the cost was going to be £9-2-5 for fares and bed and breakfast for 2 nights. A fertilizer spreader was purchased as well as a Tea Urn for the kitchen. Crockery for social events was borrowed from Cross Town Club. The Club insurance was increased for a new figure of £2000. A new tongue and groove flooring was agreed to be laid. Prizes will be given for topping the batting and bowling averages, with 6 innings and 12 wickets being the qualification.. Club caps have been ordered – the colour will be Olive Green. Mr David Cowburn, President (and landlord) was asked for permission to hold monthly social events.

Comings and Goings

New member – DG Williams – is this Geoff Williams?

Toft 2nd Team

Standing (L-R)

Maurice Thompson (Ump)

Bill Burgess

John Howard

Ian Davies

John Bottomley

Keith Morley

Seated (L-R)

Clem Jackson

Leo Bent

Ted Stephenson (Captain)

Frank Griffiths

Barry Taylor

Toft first tour overseas – 2 nights in Ireland

Players and cabin crew boarding the aircraft steps at Ringway Airport now known as Manchester Airport for Toft’s very first overseas cricket tour of two nights to Ireland.

Touring Party

1   Kendrick Booth

2  Archy Barlow

3  Graham Taylor

4  Andrew McDougall

5  Howard James

6  Evan Prosser

7  Bill Burgess

8  Unknown

9  George Walker

10 Bill Prosser

11 Unknown

12 Captain ???

13 John Knott

14 Karen ???

15 Malcolm Coghlan

16 Derek Battersby

17 Doug Prior

18 Bill Prior (Pilot)

20 Digger Curbishley

21 Dave Prosser

22 Unknown

Social Events

July 24       Social Evening Annual Dinner –afterwards Housey Housey would be played.

Club Bar

£8-5-6 was spent on glasses etc. and drinks purchased on behalf of the club by Bernard Raffo. The Toft bar was opened on Friday 17th April

32nd AGM Report – held on Thursday 10 December 1959 at the Liberal Club

Chairmans Report – Leo Bent

Last year’s forecast of a “New Era” for toft had been more than fulfilled. We had been able to entertain our visitors and their friends in the same manner in which we were entertained after our away games and this had been very much appreciated. Despite this more improvements were intended during the coming winter, including panelling the kitchen and changing rooms, relaying the floor and improving the condition of the square. From the cricket aspect we had not had the results which had been expected but there was no drought that our standard of wicket would improve with competition. The chairman went on to say that the social activity in the Club had much increased and the undoubted high spot of the season had been the Tour of Ireland. This had attracted a great deal of publicity, which had done the Club a great deal of good.

Treasurers Report – Albert Warburton

Mr Albert Warburton went through the accounts item by item and asked for questions and comments. As there were none the accounts were accepted.

Secretaries Report – Howard James

The secretary began by referring to the progress made during the past year and thanked members for their fine efforts. He closed his report by thanking Mr Digger Curbishley and H Curbishley for their fine work on the ground which had ensured that our wickets had been the best that the Club had ever had. He reported on the progress made by the Cheshire Cricket Association and said that we had laid the foundation of a fine organization.

AOB

Mr John Howard raised the matter of a Club tie and after some discussion it was agreed that he should pursue this with the general Committee.

Cricket Highlights

Toft v Chorlton (A Parker 9 wkt for 8) Toft v (Sunday game v Lancashire League side)

They were all out for 14 – A Parker 4 wkts for 4 - G Sharpe 6 wkts for 6 - plus 4 byes

Compiler Jeff Tenner