2025 Cheshire CCC Report & Accounts

Tue, 14 Apr 2026 15:59:00 +0000

You can view our full 2025 Report & Accounts

Message from President, Pete Babbage ahead of 2026 season

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 18:16:45 +0000

"Having spent many enjoyable years in various committee roles, finishing as Head of Cricket, the time was right to retire.
Therefore, to be asked to become President of Cheshire County Cricket Club was a great honour and I am looking forward to the 2026 season, and I wish all the officials and players great success.

Peter

Cheshire to face Derbyshire in T20

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 15:22:00 +0000

Cheshire will host Derbyshire in a T20 match at Nantwich on Wednesday 20 May (3pm).
The game is part of Derbyshire's warm-up for the 2026 Vitality Blast which begins two days later with a home game against Durham.
The game evokes memories of Cheshire's famous four wicket win over Derbyshire at the same venue in 2024 which was played over 50 overs - (Overview of Cheshire CCC AGM, 24 November 2025)

Sam Perry, Harry Dearden and David Wainwright will again lead Cheshire's 1st XI in 2026 - Perry and Dearden leading the white ball charge across 50 and 20 over formats, Wainwright spearheading the red ball championship challenge.
Gavin Colbourn continues in a coaching role with Nick Brooks managing the 2nd XI with support from Andy Dufty.
David Bailey concluded his excellent three year presidential term with Pete Babbage taking the helm for the next three years.
Jim Law moves into his fourth year as Chair with Andy Newton continuing as vice.
Stuart Anderson (Treasurer)and John Petch (Secretary)continue in their honorary posts with Inge Bevers (Membership/200 Club), Nick Brooks (2nd XI), Julie Rafferty (Governance), and Di Babbage (EDI) making up the management commitee.
Stuart Anderson highlighted a satisfactory financial year with the Club once again 'on the right side of the line'.
Chair, Jim Law reflected on another challenging year but with 'more ups and downs'.
Law highlighted the contributions of the three captains across the seasons and the contribution of Gavin Coleborn as coach.
He paid tribute to Wainwright's continuing 'senior influence' across the Club with an undefeated red ball side that saw several young players progress through the Cheshire pathway with Nick Brooks taking the 2nd XI management helm and progressing 'an exciting squad'.
With voluntary support at a premium there was recognition for the management committee in general including Inge Bevers working with Stuart Anderson on ther 200 Club and membership, John Petch's constant NCCA admin challenge, and the disciplines of ensuring first rate EDI and governance compliance and management from Di Babbage and Julie Rafferty.
Andy Newton, Derrick Hastings, John Pickup and David Sharp continue to add unwavering support and David Bailey's ambassadorial input is second to none.
"We again thank our members and supporters," Law continued, "and we're so grateful for the fact that our club's give us the opportunity to play at some of the best grounds in the country".
Continued excellent support from the Cheshire Cricket Board was also acknowledged.
Law felt the Club had a number of challenges in 2026 on and off the field.
Cheshire County Cricket Club 2026

Officers:

President: Peter Babbage

Chair: Jim Law

Vice Chair: Andy Newton

Hon.
Hon.
Management Committee

Jim Law (Chair/Marketing), John Petch (Administration), Nick Brooks (Cricket), Gareth Coleborn (Cricket), Stuart Anderson (Finance), Mrs Julie Rafferty (Governance & Safeguarding), Inge Bevers (Media & Membership), Di Babbage (EDI), David Bailey.
General Committee

Jim Law (Chair), Andy Newton (Vice Chair), John Petch (Secretary), Peter Babbage (Cricket), Stuart Anderson (Finance), Mrs Julie Rafferty (Governance & Safeguarding), Inge Bevers (Media & Membership), Di Babbage (EDI), Sam Perry (50 Over Captain), Harry Dearden (T20 Captain),David Wainwright (Championship Captain)

Honorary Life Vice Presidents: John Pickup, Tony Percival, David Sharp, Derrick Hastings, Elise Scrimgeor, Andy Newton, Keith McGuffee

With Cheshire, Dorset and Wiltshire all potential Western Division 2 champions ahead of this weekend's final matches, Wiltshire finally took the title and promotion after this tense draw at Chester Boughton Hall.
With no game of their own, Wiltshire could only watch on as Cheshire and Dorset locked horns - Cheshire needing a maximum 24 points to leapfrog both sides.
With Dorset declaring their first innings with eight wickets down on the first day, Cheshire were out of the title running early on but fought back admirably.
The need for maximum points led Cheshire skipper Dave Wainwright to put Dorset into bat on a traditional Chester flat deck that looked like offering something for the bowlers early on.
But they toiled for 86 overs as Joseph Eckland hit an excellent 137 and Greg Willows 95.
Cheshire had to negotiate a tricky session on the first evening, Henry Murray and Luke McCoy steadying the ship after a couple of early wickets.
Murray then came of age, scoring his maiden county ton - 109 from 188 balls (16 x 4s, 1x6).
A 45 run first innings lead meant Dorset needing quick runs to bowl out Cheshire second time around and a generous declaration at 221-7 saw the hosts looking for 267 from a potential 66 overs.
At 19-3, victory looked a long way off and the Cheshire charge was effectively snuffed out.
However, this was no tame draw.
An enthralling three day game again went to the wire with Cheshire unbeaten in their championship campaign and signiifant successes across the four games.
Congratulations to Wiltshire on taking the title.

Cheshire 1st XI squad v Dorset, Sun-Tues 31 Aug - 2 Sep

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 13:54:00 +0000

Cheshire CCC v Dorset CCC, Chester Boughton Hall CC, Sun-Tues 30August - 2 September 2025

Squad

David Wainwright (Captain - Castleford)

Thomas Hafil (Didsbury)

Henry Murray (Toft)

Dan Newton (Lindow)

George Lavelle (WK - Ormskirk)

Luke Mccoy (Widnes)

Henry Dobson (Oxton)

Luke Young (Hyde)

Ryan O'Brien (Hyde)

Andy Dufty (Oulton Park)

Mike Finan (Hoylandswaine)

12th man: Tbc

Scorer: Inge Bevers

Coach: Harry Dearden

Peter Babbage to step down as Cheshire CCC Head of Cricket at the end of the season...

Tue, 26 Aug 2025 12:59:00 +0000

By Jim Law

‘Pete’ Babbage will put away his notebook, rein in his telephone bills and stop trying to avoid late Saturday cry-offs when he steps down at the end of this season as Cheshire CCC Head of Cricket.
And while the title 'Head of Cricket’ suggests a focus on just the playing side of the game, there is, as is so often the case with volunteers, so much more to what Pete’s done for us.
A mainstay on the Cheshire CCC Committee for many years, his warmth, humour, unselfishness and dedication has been outstanding.
Originally helping ‘when he could,’ Pete finally brought the skills that had inspired his beloved Bramhall for so many years, to the County table.
The demands of getting our best XI out on what is now pretty much a weekly basis, have got a lot harder.
Yet Pete has managed this (and sometimes with a smile!
It’s an all year-round role.
For the record, Pete joined the committee in 2005, then Chair Gerry Hardstaff inviting him to take on membership secretary duties.
We’ve all benefitted from Pete’s positivity, his full support and his ability to cajole, amuse and pick up the pieces when things weren’t quite right.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it,” he said.
“Fortunately, more highs than lows.
The constraints of this media restrict stories about late night Drambuie escapades, secretive pipe smoking at various hotels (not a euphonism!
Suffice to say that Pete has earned a rest.
And then buy him a Drambuie.
Jim Law, Chair Cheshire CCC