IT WAS just two short years ago the outlook was bleak for Longshaw Unity Working Men’s Club.

The declining economy had taken its toll and, following a number of financial setbacks at the club, the old building’s owners were ready to walk away and let the bulldozers do their work.

One man though had different ideas. Sean Hammett decided he couldn’t sit by and watch the death of his local club without doing something to try and save the place.

He approached the landlord and struck a deal that would guarantee rent payments and set about restoring the club to it's former glories.

After careful consideration it was decided to change the name to Longshaw Sports and Social Club Ltd. and thereby establish a new beginning.

A small committee was formed to carry out the day to day running of the club and Hammett is keen to sing their praises.

“Every member of the committee gives so much of their spare time, we just wouldn’t be able to function without them,” said Hammett.

After cutting his club teeth at Burnley Miners in days gone by, Hammett was well aware of the importance of sports teams to clubs these days and started his improvement plan with the snooker room, which now houses two re-covered full size tables in a newly improved and decorated room.

The club currently has two teams vying for honours in the Three Towns Snooker League as well as competing regularly in the local Conservative Clubs League and former CIU League.

Not content with that, the club has now decided to launch an assault on the Blackburn With Darwen Small Tables League this winter.

In a bold move, he and his team have decided to replace the under used pool table with a 9ft snooker table housed in a soon to be refurbished bar behind the main games room.

With an upstairs cabaret room providing lots of interest in the regular tribute band nights as well as disco nights for the younger customers things are finally looking up for the club.

Hammett has reason to feel rightfully proud of what he has achieved but instead emphasises the fact that it is a team effort with the regulars chipping in where they can, be it painting, plastering or plumbing. In a bid to win back former members who may have become disillusioned with past goings on at the club, membership has been pegged at just £5 this year and will be scrapped altogether next year when current licensing rules expire. A team effort it certainly is but without the vision and commitment of Sean Hammett the outcome for Longshaw Sports And Social Club could have been very different indeed.