A season to remember for Norley Hall Cricket Club

The 2026 cricket season was a memorable one for Norley Hall Cricket Club.

The club saw two of its teams finish the season as league champions, while there was clear progress made with its junior section as well including the development of a girls team.

After a winter of hard work, the first team entered the season in confident mood.

This initial confidence was not misplaced as they won their opening three league games to move to the top of the league.

After this, while there were some downs as well as ups, they were always in contention near the top of the league in a division which saw an unusual number of teams in contention right down to the final day – many experts failing to recall a season that ebbed and flowed quite like it.

Four wins in a row in August saw the team stay in the top two, and a comprehensive win at home on the penultimate Saturday of the season saw the team go into their final game with a healthy lead at the top of the table.

The weather did its best to spoil the party as heavy rain saw their game away at Whitefield called off while other games started.

After a nervous wait, Norley Hall first team were eventually crowned as champions – news which sparked ecstatic celebrations back at the club.

The team will now play in Division One of the Liverpool and District Cricket Competition in the 2027 season – the second tier of what is considered by many to be the highest standard of club cricket in the North West region.

The team also had a much improved T20 campaign during 2026 including making the Wigan Big Bash T20 Finals Day for the first time.

Norley Hall Director of Senior Cricket Gary Hayes commented: “This is just reward for the hard work of the team all through the winter and into the season itself.

“We had a vision which was created in the winter and we planned how we would achieve it.

“Under the guidance of captain Callam Hughes and his leadership team, the players bought into what we wanted to do and they deserve the success they have achieved.

“We are looking forward to next season but are under no illusions about the task at hand.”

The season was not quite as successful for Norley Hall’s second team.

However, there were impressive performances from a number of young players which bodes well for the next season and beyond.

Meanwhile, Norley Hall’s women’s team ‘The Nighthawks’ - only created 15 months ago - entered a league structure for the first time.

A comprehensive win away at Rainford in their last game, set up a nailbiting wait whilst league officials calculated the tiebreaking net run rate figure of themselves as well as joint top Ainsdale.

The Nighthawks eventually being declared league champions in their debut season in the league!

The team now enters Division Two of the Liverpool Competition Women’s Softball Structure in 2027 as well as also entering the newly formed Wigan League.

It is also hoped that some of the team will begin to make the transition to hardball cricket starting with the clubs newly created third team in the 2027 season.

During the 2026 season, the club also saw major advancements on the junior side of its cricket operation.

The club ran teams at Under-9, Under-11 and Under-13 age groups.

They are looking to add an Under 15’s team to their portfolio for 2027 and the intended addition of a third team will provide a pathway into senior cricket for those juniors ready to make the crossover.

Furthering its increasing junior programme, there was also a well attended All Stars Course for children aged 5-8.

A successful Girls Dynamos Cricket partnership with Saint Cuthbert’s Catholic Primary School saw the development of a girls softball team who played their first games in a tournament at City Road.

As a club, the Green and Golds are also rightly proud of the high standard of their facilities on and off the field.

The quality of the pitches provided by their excellent, volunteer grounds team was recognised by finishing seventh out of 36 clubs for the quality of their playing surfaces as graded by the leagues umpires – the highest mark yet again for any club in the immediate local area.

Off field, the club has significantly developed its clubhouse with a complete redecoration and the installation of fixed seating.

The intended aim is to make the clubhouse a welcoming environment for all and feedback has been very positive from across the clubs membership as well as visitors new and old.

In November 2025, a new Management Committee was elected.

This committed, passionate and knowledgeable group has a clear plan for the clubs short, medium and long term development – with progress so far being very impressive.

The great strides that the club is making was recognised by their nomination for 5 awards at the recent BeWell Wigan Believe Sporting Awards – with Hayes awarded a deserved runner up in the prestigious Unsung Hero award in recognition of his efforts over many years in local cricket circles as well as his advocacy of school sport.

So 2026 has proven to be a very good year for the club and everyone is already working towards a successful 2027 too.

“We talk about the club being ‘The Small Club With a Big Heart’ and this sums us up perfectly,” added Hayes.

“We want to continue to be a force for good in our community for people of all ages and circumstances.

“The club is in a very good place currently and there is a lot of goodwill and momentum within the membership.

“We have exciting plans for the future and all are welcome to join us on our exciting journey.”