Social calendar filling up at Trafalgar Road
THE signs of Spring are unmistakable at Trafalgar Road. The small fence around the cricket square has been removed, plans to paint and polish parts of the ground have been made, one or two provisional dates for nets have even been agreed – and George Ball has put his shorts on.
Every item except the sartorial is dependent on government announcements, of course.
But careful optimism continues to inform decision-making in the Love Lane Liverpool Competition and its constituent clubs.
It is in that spirit that Southport and Birkdale officials have even agreed a social calendar for the forthcoming season, starting with an alfresco Launch Evening on April 30.
Four weeks later a Par 3 Golf Day has been arranged at Formby Hall but many subsequent events will take place on Saturdays when the first team is playing ECB Premier League cricket at home.
For example, the Former Players attending their event on June 5 will have the chance to watch the match against Leigh and the sponsors being fed and watered on July 3 can see how Chris Cunningham’s team get on against New Brighton.
The bacchanalian revelry that frequently characterises Ladies’ Day will play out against the background of the home game against Rainhill on August 7 and there might be a fair argument as to which will be the more watchable event.
Perhaps the social highlight of the season, however, is the Cricket Festival, which is currently planned for the Bank Holiday weekend starting on Friday, August 27 and continuing for the next four days.
On the Saturday the first team is at home to Bootle and for the first time in over a year it seems appropriate to hope that the Club’s lounges will be crowded.
So much, so tentative. Other events should also be finalised, including a Golf Day at Formby Hall and the
Annual Dinner and Awards Evening and, of course, the entire schedule may yet be disrupted.
But even the making of plans is an achievement when one considers what was happening only a year ago. We must take our comforts safely and wherever they can be found.