IN BRIEF
Tottington St Johns is one of the older clubs in the North West, founded way back in 1887 (we understand that Cyril was 42 at the time). In the early years, the club played in the Bury and District Sunday League and enjoyed plenty of successes; the 1st XI captured 6 league titles and 4 cups between 1912 and 1945, while the seconds captured 7 gongs between 1911 and 1928 (we can only assume all our players missed the two wars to concentrate on their cricket!).
In 1955 the North Manchester Cricket League was set up by 8 founder teams, and in 1958 the Johns joined the fledgling league. Interestingly, TSJ are the longest surviving members of the league, the rest having dropped out along the way (quite right too!).
The Johns play their home games at Crompton Meadows, Tottington, on land leased from the church; the pavilion was built in 1964 at the then huge cost of £1500 ... in recent years many improvements have occurred, and the eternal quest for funding and sponsorship remains high on our list of priorities.
TSJCC is a small, internsely friendly club which has achieved great success in recent years. As we move into the 21st century, we all hope that the club - and the league as a whole - goes from strength to strength.
A RECORD WE'D LIKE TO SEE BEATEN ...
TSJ currently hold the league record for the lowest team score, a staggeringly miniscule 3 all out against Walmsleys in 1966 ... in the same season, Al Vernon was voted most promising young player! Coincidence?
HONOURS
NMCL Division 1 Champions: 1965, 1966, 1967 (joint), 1998, 1999
NMCL Division 1 Runners-Up: 1964, 1971, 1995, 1996, 2006
NMCL Division 2 Champions: 1959, 1991
NMCL Calverley Cup (Div 1) Winners: 1964, 1971, 1972, 1998, 2003
NMCL Calverley Cup (Div 1) Runners-Up: 1989, 1996
NMCL Hodson Challenge Cup (Div 2) Winners: 1970
NMCL Division 3 Champions: 1970, 1987
NMCL John Murray Cup (Div 3) Runners-Up: 1987
NMCL Hunter Cup (Div 3) Runners-Up: 1996, 1999
Steve Grognet Memorial Trios Trophy: 1989, 1993, 1996
The double winning side of 1998
Back Row L-R: S.Morris, M.Parkinson, N.G.Hudson, R.Brooks, C.Barrett, S.Moriarty
Front Row L-R: M.Vernon, P.Meehan, F.Brockway(c), A.Parkinson, C.Brooks(w/k)
INDIVIDUAL HONOURS
A number of Saints players have been awarded league honours down the years, while in recent times Clive Brooks, Ashley Parkinson and Paul Meehan have all represented the combined league side.
NMCL Captain of the Year - Steve Hinchley (2nd XI, 1985)
NMCL Most Promising Young Player - Al Vernon, 1966*
NMCL Players Player of the Year - Paul Meehan, 1995, 1998, 1999; Ashley Parkinson, 2006
A number of players have won divisional awards for batting and bowling (including Steve Moriarty and Ashley Parkinson), while Clive Brooks has taken home 4 trophies (to date) as the league's top wicketkeeper.
* even though he was 41 at the time!