LONGRIDGE Cricket Club is justifiably proud of its junior section which has expanded rapidly in the last few seasons, and it now fields teams of U9s, U10s, two U11s, and U13s, 15s and 17s.
Eight-year-old Natalie Kaye is in her first season with the U9s and plays her first match (her VERY first two weeks ago was rained off) on May 24 in the Lancashire League.
She's following the sporting lead of both her grandfather Keith and her dad Roger (who also followed HIS father) and now all three are members of the Longridge club.
Now starting out as the third generation, Natalie - a pupil at the CE primary school in Berry Lane as her father was - became interested in cricket through watching her father play.
The interest was nurtured as she joined in junior practices and, as she says: "I learnt to hit and throw a ball and swing a bat."
Already learning skills and achieving fitness as a gymnast, having been a member of Longridge Gym Club since she was aged just four, she is also a member of the Church Lads and Church Girls' Brigade.
In the Brigade Band - again following her father who played bass drum - she is learning to play the cornet but, unlike her dad who gave up the drum for cricket bat and ball, Natalie says she aims to stay playing for both interests!
But she is definitely looking forward to her first match of the season, probably fielding although she enjoys batting - and she also enjoys knowing she is part of a growing tradition of girls playing for Longridge.
These include club secretary Brian Simpson's daughters Zoe and Emma, club stalwart Tom Haworth's granddaughter Rebecca who is
Carl's daughter, and Ian Hobro's daughter Jessica, who plays for Chorley
women's team.
"That's quite a change from the situation when I followed my father," says Roger.
The former Longridge High School pupil recalls joining Longridge Juniors with its age limit from 13 to 17, and being 'around
cricket' all the time in the summer.
"I played for school and it became a natural sport for me, something at which I felt I was most capable. My interests in it increased through watching county matches with Dad, and I was also inspired by such players as Ian Botham, David Gower and others of that generation."
Studying for his BTech diploma in business and finance at Preston College gave him the opportunity to play for the college team, a highlight being his nomination by head of PE John Morgan to go on a three-week Preston Schools Cricket
Foundation tour of Australia.
"It was a brilliant trip and I was very privileged to go," said Roger. This was followed by the young cricketer - who by then had gained his Higher National Diploma in business and finance at UCLAN - accepting an offer to play for Preston.
He recalls: "Some of the players on the tour were from the Preston club and suggested I might join. I had had a successful year with Longridge, mainly as a bowler, and as it was my ambition to get into the Lancashire U18s team, I decided to make the move."
He joined when former Worcester player Steve O'Shaughnessy was pro for Preston, and has had a successful 18 years there before returning to Longridge.
"I first thought about going to Leyland in the Northern League, but Natalie was starting to show an interest in playing in her own right, so that helped my decision," he added.
Happy to be back in 'an incredibly strong club' he has joined the second team primarily as a bowler, is also coaching juniors with Chris Smith and Peter Harwood, and continues his interest in furthering the maintenance project 'Cricket Force' which raises awareness of cricket among businesses and organisations.
Now working as a sub-contractor at BAE Systems in Samlesbury, Roger and his wife Michelle also enjoy walking, taking their dog Trudy in the rural areas around Longridge - but they are chiefly looking forward to supporting daughter Natalie in her first season playing a sport they all enjoy.
?? CRICKET has been played in Longridge over many years, the earliest recorded match being in 1856. The club celebrated its 150th anniversary three years ago, is involved with the Lancashire League and the Palace Shield, has developed the Newsham Memorial Ground and now has a second ground and pavilion on the opposite side of Chipping Road having been given an interest-free loan by a generous benefactor to buy the ground outright.
Longridge CC is an LCB focus club and is hoping through the 'chance to shine' initiative to strengthen further the existing links with locals.