Connor Lord believes last weekend’s first ever Under 13s girls hardball game against Wythenshaw could be a pivotal moment in the development of Tonge Cricket Club.

Last Saturday morning – June 8 – Tonge beat Wythenshawe in the opening game of the Lancashire Cricket Foundation’s Sapphire League – the second tier of that particular age-group.

On the face of it, a small step. But delve deeper and it was much more significant for a club who, less than 10 years ago, were on their knees and had just a dozen registered juniors.

Now, the Castle Hill club are back up and running with exciting future plans across their junior and senior set-ups, including potential starting up a senior women’s team if things go well. 

Lord is the first-team men’s captain at Tonge but also one of two coaches who lead the junior set-up alongside Craig Naylor.

“That was huge for the club,” said Lord. 

“Women’s cricket is a massive thing now with it being professionalised and with the Hundred and such. The girls coming through, whatever club they’re at, have got role-models to look up to – and they know they can make a career out of it.

“It’s something we see as very important at Tonge.

“We want more girls pushing through to the third team, seconds and firsts. 

“But, if we can keep this group of girls together, we’ll potentially be looking at a senior women’s team like Ramsbottom. I think they’re the leading lights in women’s cricket in this area. The sky’s the limit for us, it really is, if we can keep them engaged.”

That Under 13s game had two players in it – Ruby Walsh and Poppy Rate – who are in and around the Lancashire set-up. 

Ruby’s sister, Lucy, is also in the county system and last year, aged 13, played her first second-team game for Tonge. 

“We want the first and second-team results to be positive, of course. But you’re only going to get your future players from the juniors,” continued Lord, indicating the importance they place on all cricket at the club.

“On a Friday at junior training, we have upwards of 70 children. Five or six years ago, we had a handful – 10 or 12, maybe. We also now have a junior committee in place to run it all.

“Off the back of the success of the girls, we now have a couple of female coaches, who are parents (Gemma Thompson and Charly Regan) and have been asked to run the Under 14s girls InterLeague team, in which we’ve got four players.

“In terms of the numbers, we’re doing well. But we’ve got some girls and boys of very high standard.”

Rewinding to when Lord joined Tonge in 2016, he said: “We weren’t in a great place then. It was even suggested to the club that we fold our league matches and just play them as friendlies.

“My first season we didn’t win a game until the last one of that summer, 2016. That was the first win in 50 first-team games for Tonge.

“After I signed, we got a few more in the year later, and we rebuilt from there. 

“It was 2018 when Paul Schofield, the chairman at the time, asked me if I’d take charge of the juniors. 

“I work in a local primary school to Tonge – St John’s at Bromley Cross. A lot of our youngsters came from, and still come from, my school. It’s only 5-10 minutes up the road.

“Those ones, who first came as primary school kids, are now 12, 13 and 14 are pushing into the thirds and seconds. Maybe one or two could be pushing for the firsts in a couple of years as well.

“It’s been a bit of a tough pull to get players at Tonge, but we’re definitely on the up now with juniors playing or pushing their way into the seniors, no question.

“Our new chairman Gareth Oliver deserves a lot of credit. He took over from Paul in 2021 and has helped drive the club forward on and off the pitch.”

The Under 13s girls are in a four-team league with Wythenshawe, Rainhill and Monton and play each other home and away, with Lord planning to add some friendly fixtures to boost their summer schedule.

New ball seamer Lord was speaking shortly after his first team had been beaten at Farnworth in Saturday’s Premiership clash. It was their fourth defeat in seven matches, added to three wins, and leaves them mid-table.

Farnworth posted 204-3 from their 41 overs, with dropped catches hurting Tonge, who were then bowled out for 80 in reply.

“Realistically, I think we can finish mid-table,” he said. “Before Saturday, we were fifth. There’s a bit of a gap forming between the top four and everyone else.

“If we can be a lot more consistent, we can finish mid-table – fifth or sixth. But, if we carry on the way we are, we’ll be looking over our shoulders.”

Saturday June 22 – first-team fixtures. Premiership: Blackrod v Farnworth Social Circle, Eagley v Kearsley, Lostock v Tonge, Padiham v Little Lever,  Ribblesdale Wanderers v Farnworth, Salesbury v Astley Bridge. Championship: Atherton v Whalley, Barnoldswick v Earby, Baxenden v Cherry Tree, Read v Feniscowles, Walkden v Brinscall.