Who works at a club like Orrell? Let’s take a look! First up is our Club Chairman, Spencer Anglesea.
How long have you been Chairman of Orrell CC?
This is my 6th year.
What duties do you undertake as part of your role?
I’m a bit of a control freak and in the early days got involved in just about everything to do with the day to day running of the club which in the end just became too much. I got involved with safeguarding, player recruitment, fundraising, club refurbishment and the bar. It took me 3 or 4 years to realise this wasn’t the way forward so we created some smaller sub committees to share the load and look after different parts of the club and this works really well, but I would like to say that I’ve been very lucky to be surrounded by like-minded people who love the club just like I do and share the same vision. These days I tend to liaise with John Lawrence the treasurer and Gary Hayes Cricket Committee Chairman on an almost daily basis.
What is your day job?
I have owned a Web Design & Digital Marketing Business since 2009. Prior to this I was with Yell.com for a number of years.
What sparked your interest in cricket?
My Dad who is now 87 and still a big cricket fan. It’s always lovely to see him at the ground on a Saturday afternoon.
Describe your favourite thing about Orrell CC?
That’s an easy one, it’s the people. May sound corny but whenever you go to the club on a weekend afternoon or a junior weeknight there is always a warm welcome and a friendly face to share a beer with and chat to. It’s a very special place!
If there was one thing you could change about the club what would it be?
A wealthy benefactor would be nice!! More of a pipedream, but we had plans drawn a few years ago for a 2-storey pavilion with balcony and player’s lounge. If we could ever complete those plans, we would have a cricket club to rival any village club in the country. I would really like to encourage more people to get involved in supporting the club however they can. The club has really thrived over the past few years and that to be fair is with many of the same people doing all of the work and I sometimes worry what will happen if those people step aside. We need a pipeline of volunteers to keep the club moving in all departments and we will always welcome new faces to either the main management committee or the smaller sub committees.
Do you have a favourite cricketing line/phrase? If so, what is it?
“There’s always next week”. A phrase coined by Vice Chairman Steve Pegg and also the title of his not so best-selling first book.
If you have been a player, or are still playing – bowler or batter?
I was a regular Sunday player in a very successful 3rd team where I kept wicket and was a reasonable No 6 slogger. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it also gave me the chance to play with both of my sons which not many can say.
Who is your all-time favourite professional cricketer?
Ian Botham. His heroics in 1981 will be etched long in my memory.
What is your favourite cricket ground?
Tricky one, but I’d say Kirby Stephen very much like a ground from Midsomer Murders complete with stream and stone bridge and an idyllic place to play cricket.
What is your favourite football team?
Manchester City
What is your favourite food?
I love Italian food and cake!
Who is your favourite band/singer?
I have loads really and I probably have the “cheesiest” playlist ever, but I think if I was really pushed, the person I can listen to at almost any time and whatever mood would be Luther Vandross.
What is your favourite film?
Being a hopeless romantic and having a thing for Julia Roberts, that would be Notting Hill.
What one tip or piece of advice would you pass on to the club players?
Always take advice from senior players, respect your opponents, look after the club and it will look after you, but above all else enjoy yourselves.
What is your most memorable, or funniest moment at the club?
There have been many very funny moments down there over the years, from some very dodgy sledging to senior players dropping catches because they were picking blackberries on the boundary. To committee members falling asleep during meetings. Again, there have been many memorable moments, but the standout one for me would be our first ever game in the Premier League and beating the almighty Ormskirk. That was an incredible day, and the Ormskirk players were completely shell shocked.
What is your proudest moment at the club?
I’ve had many a proud moment at Orrell Cricket Club. Firstly, being asked to become chairman and still being here 6 years later. Also, coming up with the Proms idea which not only has helped the club financially, but has also turned into an event that the whole of Orrell now looks forward to every year. Whenever I talk Proms I also need to mention Paul Mottram and Martin James who have been with me from the start in creating such a proud and memorable day.
Being made a life member in 2014 was special as was scoring my first century against Prestatyn although my so-called friends down there ignore it because it was a Sunday game – I never will!
I introduced our charity partner idea a few years ago, whereby we could raise valuable funds via our club standing in the community. We’ve helped raise valuable funds for: Make a Wish, Cancer Research, and Diabetes UK.
And finally, receiving an email a couple of years ago from the chairman of a club we had played against a couple of days before telling me he was glad his club was over an hour away otherwise he would worry about his players all wanting to play for Orrell, that meant a lot and highlighted we were doing something right.