BOBBY Cross believes that Heywood Cricket Club’s policy of bringing their home-grown youngsters through to first team level can reap more rewards at the Crimble.
Heywood negotiated a difficult 2009 season, playing for more than a month without a settled professional and twice without one at all, to finish third in the Central Lancashire League and win the John Willie Lees Twenty20 Cup.
To most clubs, that would be a cause for celebration. But Heywood’s supporters have become accustomed to their side almost sweeping the board, following two title triumphs in three years and four Wood Cup wins from an astonishing six successive final appearances.
Now Cross already has his sights on next season, saying: "There is no reason to think why we can’t do well in the league, the Wood Cup and the Twenty20 Cup. And the lads are keen to have a good run in the Lancashire Cup, too.
"The professional situation, which resulted in Ruvin Peiris not being able to come over for a second season with us, had an unsettling effect. But it’s hard to say whether that cost us the title or not.
"What is true is that, when we eventually got a full time replacement in Brendan Taylor, we lost only one out of 23 league games even though he didn’t show us how talented a player he really is on enough occasions.
"That’s why we have acted quickly to sign what we believe to be a top Indian player, Rajat Bhatia, for next season. And if he is as good as we think he is he will make a big difference.
"But the future of the club is its youngsters, and we have a great set of lads just now. Tom Blundell and Dale Latham broke into the first team at the end of the season, Simon and Andy Dawson came in on several occasions, and Adam Fawcett and Joey O’Neill also played their parts.
"That’s how it has to be at the Crimble. And the fact that we are a proper team, and all the players are proud to play for the club, augurs well for the future."
Cross also paid tribute to club chairman David Fare and Fund Raising chairman Martin Shaw for their efforts, particularly during the opening weeks of the season when it was unsure whether Peiris would be granted a work permit to leave his native Sri Lanka.
"I don’t think that David has ever had such a difficult season as chairman," said the skipper. "At a time when he should have been concentrating on his business, he was putting in so much time and effort into the club.
"The same goes for Martin, who, despite being snowed under at work, still managed to eventually recruit Brendan Taylor and even made him feel at home by putting him up at his house!
"The pair of them were just brilliant."
Cross has now completed six years as skipper, despite being only 26-years-old, and added: "My initial thoughts at the end of the season were that I should step down and let someone else have a go.
"But I’ve loved doing it and would never turn my back on the captaincy if the club wanted me to carry on."
