GLAZEBURY Cricket Club is celebrating two victories before the new season has even started.

They have won a £5,000 lottery grant from Awards to All towards the cost of a new all-weather practice facility as well as winning a place in the Shammah Nicholls Cheshire Cricket Alliance.

The move follows lengthy negotiations with the league authorities, made more complicated by the fact that prior to 1974 Glazebury's Hurst Lane ground was in Lancashire.

In fact, however, the club will be making a return to Cheshire as for nearly 20 years they played in the former Cheshire Cricket Association before joining the NW Counties League and then the Manchester Cricket Association.

Chairman Paul Warhurst says: "We are delighted to be joining the Cheshire Alliance as we will be playing against many sides we used to know well from our Cheshire Association days.

"We hope to give a good account of ourselves and the new facility should help us do so."

Glazebury is already practising hard for the new season with indoor nets each Friday evening. They would welcome new players of all standards who should contact first team skipper Malcolm Chapman on 01942-271049 or Paul Warhurst on 01925-762755.