WHILE Rainhill’s senior players prepare for the visit of Business Assistance Liverpool Competition First Division leaders Wigan tomorrow, the club’s junior cricketers are enjoying a season to remember.

Both the under-13s and under-15s sides won the Merseyside Youth Cup in their age group and both teams have now reached their respective finals in the Lancashire Cup competition.

On Sunday, the U13s, managed by Paul Phillips, aim to become county champions when they travel to the Fylde to take on Thornton and Cleveleys.

The U15s final will be played on Rainhill’s own Recreation Ground, but the opponents and date have yet to be specified. Both games will be 20-over affairs.

“Rainhill is a good place to be at the moment,” said Ray Ford, who organises the junior cricket operation in addition to coaching and managing the U15s team. “It’s been a fantastic year and we’re on a roll.”

Statistics would seem to justify Ford’s infectious optimism.

About four years ago the former Merseyside and Southport Cricket Alliance club had barely a handful of junior members. Today there are more than 80 and Rainhill is able to field seven junior sides although Ford conceded that some of the more talented youngsters turn out for more than one team.

“A lot of hard work has gone into it,” said Ford.

“We net at Rainhill throughout the winter and we recently got a £58,000 grant from the Landfill Commission Fund which enabled us to build four brand new nets.

“We’ve also had huge support from club members and parents.”

Rainhill’s success is remarkable but it would be depressing if Ford’s burgeoning operation was the only one of its type. It isn’t.

Go to very many Liverpool Competition clubs during the summer and you will find large numbers of enthusiastic young cricketers being well coached by qualified volunteers.