Clifton are back in top flight for 2019
CLIFTON are back in the top division of Derbyshire cricket for the first time since the 2007 season.
Alex Woolliscroft’s side clinched the second promotion spot in County League Division One with a winning draw against leaders Dunstall at Chapel Lane on Saturday.
It completes a memorable season in which the club have had their splendid new pavilion opened by former England captain Andrew Strauss and enjoyed their 150th year of existence.
It is also a year in which their revived third team enjoyed a competitive season in the league’s Division 10 South West.
In a nice touch, three of the side who were in the 2003 Premier Division winning side were also playing on Saturday, Matt Gouldstone having returned this season as player-coach, Ant Botha having re-signed for the club for occasional appearances and Simon Moore having continued to be a stalwart Clifton member for every season since that triumph.
It was Botha’s incredible 200 not out that clinched the title a fraction over 15 years ago, with the South African’s career since having taken him to Derbyshire, Warwickshire and into coaching – but he has always maintained his ties with Clifton.
No such heroics were necessary on Saturday, as Clifton put up 204-9, with Woolliscroft making 41, Gouldstone 48 and Botha 44, before Botha’s mean spell of 3-34 from 15 overs ensured Dunstall were happy to settle for a response of 150-6 and the points they needed for the title.
CLIFTON’S promotion to the Derbyshire County League Premier Division is the culmination of a deliberate policy to focus on developing home-grown players.
The team’s winning draw at home to champions Dunstall on Saturday secured the second promotion spot in Division One for the men from Chapel Lane – and eight of the 11 players used had come through the junior ranks at the club.
Captain Alex Woolliscroft and vicecaptain Will Harvey have both been with the club since the age of five.
Woolliscroft has really come into his own this season as an all-rounder, scoring a century for Cambridgeshire in Minor Counties cricket, but that was far from his thoughts as he reflected on winning promotion.
“This is my proudest achievement in cricket,” said Woolliscroft.
“We’re really proud of the work that this group of players has put in over the last two years and it just goes to show that hard work pays off.
“We started from the principle of wanting to build a young team capable of playing an exciting, attacking, brand of cricket and we’ve built our game around that.
“We’re really excited for next year and we believe we have a group of players who are more than capable of competing at the highest level.”
Vice-captain Harvey echoed Woolliscroft’s view: “The part I’m proudest of is that the core group of the team is made up of quality homegrown players who have been at the club nearly their whole careers,” he said.
“Not many clubs have got back to the Premier following that model. This hasn’t been achieved off the back of one or two ‘big’ players but has been a real team effort in which everyone has made enormous contributions at various points through the season.
“We shouldn’t forget, either, the job our previous captain, Matt Wilson, did in holding the team together in the years prior to this when availability and the quality of the team wasn’t up to scratch.
“That was a big part in allowing us to rebuild and achieve what we have now.”
Perhaps proudest of all is club chairman Roger Jones, who has still been turning out with no little success for the club’s third team this season.
“It is a fantastic achievement to return to the Premier Division and I am particularly pleased for Alex and Will, who have led the team throughout the season,” said Jones.
“It’s particularly pleasing that eight of Saturday’s team have come through the junior system at Clifton.
“The magnitude of playing in the Premier Division cannot be underestimated and is the pinnacle of the recreational game – the last stepping stone to the first-class game.
“My last recollection of being at that level is that you are one of the top 275 clubs in England.
“The promotion is the culmination of a fantastic season, with the second team winning the James Harwood Cup, the re-introduction of the third team, the club running more junior teams than ever and the introduction of women’s cricket at the club, which is a credit to all the volunteers who dedicate their time.”
ASHBOURNE finished their Division Seven South season with a good win at home to Packington, leaving captain Liam Duffy wondering what might have been.
Ashbourne rallied from 41-5 to post 200-8 in their 46 overs as Duffy and Andy Hill put on an unbroken 91 for the ninth wicket, Hill hitting 48 not out and Duffy 35 not out.
Ten-man Packington had no answer and were bowled out for 101, with Duffy, Mishra and Joseph Gabriel taking three wickets each.
It meant a fifth-place finish for Ashbourne after the weather and Derby Congs’ points deduction a fortnight ago put paid to their promotion chances.
Duffy pointed to the fierce competition in the top half – Ashbourne’s points total would have won the title in some divisions.
“It’s been an excellent season in terms of results,” he said.
“Removing abandoned games, we scored 80% of possible points at home and 65% in away games.
“Due to the high quality of teams in the division this season, fifth place was the reward for such positive numbers.
“We have been more successful this year because we have had a stable team and we have strengthened.
“Joe Gabriel topping the wickettaking stats has been a real achievement for him and Richard Hill’s 642 runs has been a big plus at the top of the order.
“We will be recruiting new players and we want to prioritise the second team in order to make both sides competitive next season.
“It’s right that Clifton take centre stage as they have done really well to gain promotion – congratulations to them. But having both teams successful and aiming for success is good for the town.”
The club have thanked their sponsors for the season, especially Longcliffe Quarries, who have been behind the first team for the whole campaign.