Atherton will face former champions Read in Sunday’s Hamer Cup final at Little Lever, starting at 1pm.
It’s not far off a decade-and-a-half since Atherton, before captain Welch’s time, completed the Cross Cup and Bolton Association double during a glorious summer for the club.
This summer could yet go a long way to matching that given the Higham Park club are also chasing promotion from the Championship division of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League.
Atherton can take inspiration from their final opponents in terms of Hamer Cup success for a side plying their trade in the second tier because that’s what Read were when they surprised hosts Little Lever back in 2024.
“Anyone can beat anyone,” said Welch.
“There’s not much which splits the teams across both divisions, I’d say. It’s about who turns up on the day.
“I think it’s the first time I’ve ever been to a final, and it’s a day we’re really looking forward to as a whole club. It should be an amazing day.”
After a planned pre-season friendly between these two sides was called off, Read captain Will Wrathall actually mentioned before the start of the season to Atherton’s team manager Jonathan Fearick that he hoped these two teams would get to the final.
“That was something which actually crossed our minds and got mentioned after we won our semi-final against Farnworth,” chuckled Welch.
Atherton started in the first round of the Hamer Cup and have won matches against Oswaldtwistle Immanuel, Ribblesdale Wanderers, Little Lever and, in the semi-final at home at the start of this month, Farnworth.
Indian professional Raghavendra Pratap, in his first season with the club, starred with a brilliant 101 off 67 balls against Farnworth and then four wickets with seam.
Atherton posted 193 all out in 40 overs before Farnworth responded with 175 all out.
“In terms of the cup run, it’s been really good,” reflected Welch. “The route we’ve had to the final has been tough. They’ve been tough games but good ones, close. We’ve really enjoyed it.
“The Farnworth game was always in the balance, and it was a good game to be a part of.
“Most games we’ve been in good positions. But a key moment for us was in the semi-final before we used the powerplay. Pratap took it, and it was some of the best striking I’ve seen on Atherton.
“He changed the game completely.
“He’s shown glimpses of the talent we know he has. It probably took him a bit of time to get used to English conditions.
“Hopefully he’s just finding his top form at the right time.”
The Hamer Cup, the same with the Birtwistle T20 Cup, brings a different dimension for captains than league cricket in terms of managing bowlers with allotted overs.
In the Hamer Cup, bowlers can only bowl a maximum of eight overs.
It is a challenge Welch enjoys, adding: “I do like that side of things.
“It really tests you as captain. But, having said that, we have seven bowlers who are all genuine options for us. And that makes things easier for me.”
If you want some lottery numbers, Read captain Will Wrathall might just be your man.
“We actually get on really well with Atherton,” he said. “We were going to have a friendly with them in April. But the way the fixtures worked at the start of the season, it just didn’t happen.
“I actually messaged Jonathan Fearick, their team manager, and said, ‘Hopefully we’ll meet you in the Hamer Cup final’.”
This coming Sunday, at Little Lever – 1pm start, Read will indeed meet Atherton in the Hamer Cup final.
Wrathall went on: “After the semi-finals, Jonathan actually replied over the top of the text I’d sent and said, ‘You psychic!’”
Read head into Sunday aiming to win their second Hamer Cup title in three years having beaten Little Lever on their home ground back in 2024.
Back then, they were playing in the Championship division of the Anthony Axford North West Cricket League. This year, they’re in the Premiership, with Atherton the ones having qualified through to the final as a second-tier side.
While Atherton beat Premiership Farnworth in the semi-finals at the start of the month, Read beat Eagley of the Championship.
“That was actually my team talk ahead of the semi-final,” said Wrathall.
“You know, ‘When we won this competition in 2024, we were a Championship club’.
“I remember us really thriving on the fact that we could test ourselves against top-flight opposition. When we played against the likes of Padiham, Little Lever and Farnworth, we loved having a crack.
“And I said to the lads, ‘Don’t expect Eagley to be a walk-over because they will be up for it’.
“It’s going to be exactly the same with Atherton in the final.
“I’m really pleased for Atherton that they’ve got to this stage. But once we cross that boundary rope, it’ll be fair game.”
A bye in the first round because of Lancashire Knockout Cup involvement was followed by wins over Baxenden, Kearsley and Eagley.
In the semi-final at Eagley, Read won by 12 runs having posted 214 all out in 40 overs. They then limited their hosts to 202-9.
Opener Oliver Dinning hit 41, South African overseas amateur Zadian Muller 81 and two wickets and Joe Halstead 34 and four wickets. Halstead is unavailable for the final.
“It’s not been as tough a run as it could have been on paper, but we certainly haven’t had it easy,” reflected Wrathall. “Eagley away, you’re thinking, ‘Championship side, you should beat them’. But, fair play to them, they really made us work for it.”
Starting that weekend of the semi-final, opener Dinning scored a superb 103 off 84 balls in an impressive league win over Little Lever.
“He started off in the twos and was scoring runs for fun. Anybody would have been stupid not to pick him,” said Wrathall.
“He’s looked good since coming in and has pretty much got 20 or 30 every week. He’s just been waiting for it to click, which it did that weekend.
“He scored his century, but the 40-odd he scored at Eagley was very good as well.”
Read have so far had somewhat of a nearly season. Fourth in the Premiership, they were beaten semi-finalists in the Birtwistle T20 Cup. They also reached the last 16 of the National Village Cup.
“I feel like the Hamer Cup final says whether or not we’ve had a good season,” said Wrathall.
“Getting to T20 Finals Day and being there and thereabouts in the league is good, but winning silverware is what defines a Read season.
“We did quite well in the Village Cup, and we had some good days out.
“It’s been an enjoyable year, but it all comes down to Sunday for us.”
And looking back to 2024, when Read beat Little Lever by nine wickets chasing 101 at the venue they will return to this weekend, Wrathall added: “What made it was that we were a Championship side.
“We were playing the best team in the league by a country mile on their home ground.
“The achievement was right up there with the best feelings I’ve had on a cricket field.”
