cricket

Nelson were crowned Lancashire League Division Two champions after their final day victory over Crompton at Seedhill on Sunday.

A superb 44 run victory over promotion rivals Crompton means Nelson will play ECB Premier League cricket next season.

With a good sized crowd turning out to support the boys, Nelson knew victory would secure the title after moving to the top of the table the previous week. The win completed a remarkable second half of the season, with Nelson finishing on a six-match winning run and securing a return to the Lancashire League Premier Division alongside Accrington.

Crompton won the toss and elected to field, and Nelson were soon in serious trouble at 24-4. Hassan Fazal, Sam Holt, Matt Pettinger and skipper and professional Tyler McGladdery all fell cheaply.

However, Gul Sabir once again produced when it mattered most. He rebuilt the innings alongside Neil Thompson, with the pair adding 56 for the fifth wicket. Thompson made a valuable 24 before departing, while Sabir continued to take control despite further wickets falling at the other end.

Eventually, Sabir finished unbeaten on a superb 73 from 82 balls, including five fours and three sixes. Lewis Bradley joined him and the pair added an unbeaten 65 for the seventh wicket, lifting Nelson to 153-6 from their 47 overs.

Crucially, Nelson’s seventh wicket partnership meant the home side were not bowled out. With promotion potentially hanging on the bonus points both sides needed, and Crompton needing all 12 available bowling bonus points to lift the trophy instead of Nelson, denying them the two points for taking the final four wickets proved vital to Nelson’s cause.

Crompton’s chase began steadily, but Nelson’s bowlers soon took control. Hassan Fazal produced a remarkable over, taking all three of his wickets in the same over to leave the visitors 29-3.

After a brief attempt to rebuild, Tyler McGladdery introduced himself into the attack. The skipper and professional produced a magnificent spell, finishing with 4-17 from 12.2 overs, including six maidens. Kuz Nazir also contributed with 2-25.

The sixth wicket taken by McGladdery meant the home side knew they would be playing in the Premier Division next season, as Crompton could no longer overtake Nelson in the battle for promotion.

Although it was the final wicket that brought the title celebrations.

With Crompton reduced to their last wicket, the number 11 struck a ball towards long on, where Tom Bradshaw held the catch from Tyler’s bowling to seal the Division Two championship and spark celebrations all round the ground.

Crompton were dismissed for 109 in 38.2 overs, giving Nelson a deserved 44 run victory and, more importantly, the league title.

Nelson finished 10 points clear at the top of the table, with Accrington securing the other promotion place. Crompton’s defeat saw them miss out on promotion.

For Nelson, the achievement is particularly significant. Before the 2026 season, the last time Nelson 1st XI won a senior league title was in 1999.

After a long and hard fought promotion campaign, which started with some new and some returning faces, along with a lot of hard work that began back in the indoor nets in January.

The team continued their hard work throughout the Summer and they can finally celebrate being crowned Lancashire League Division Two champions and securing their return to the Premier Division.

Thankyou to everyone who has supported us along the way

Nelson CC are delighted to confirm that Tyler McGladdery has signed a new two-year deal. Tyler’s return to his home club has already produced 1,176 runs @ 65.33 in all competitions, including 4 centuries, alongside 37 wickets at 18.56.
A message from our Chairman, Andrew Pettinger:
“As Chairman, I’m delighted that Tyler McGladdery has signed a new two year deal. This means that he’s contracted as our Professional and 1st XI Captain until at least the end of the 2028 cricket season, with the hope and expectation on both sides of a cricketing relationship lasting much longer than that. Since his playing return to his home club this season, Tyler’s runs, wickets, coaching, captaincy and energy have been transformational in making our 1st XI competitive once again. Our 1st XI is currently top of its division with two games to play – not something I have personally said before.. Thank you Tyler, well done, and long may our progression as a club continue.
More announcements will soon follow outlining some club commercial successes that match our performances on-field!”

When cricketers talk about “double headers” it means playing back to back games over the weekend. With the somewhat unscripted cup run, Nelson’s experienced 2nd team went into last weekend on the back of having already played 6 Saturdays against Littleborough’s 4 with them having a bye in the 1st round. The lads faced the biggest weekend of recent times, with the first junior cup final since 2013 on Saturday and then the prospect of a tough game against last year’s Cup winners Burnley 2nds on the Sunday.

DN Law Ltd were the official match sponsors, kindly providing baggy caps to the players to mark the occasion, however the unofficial sponsor was Deep Heat.

A tough team selection on Tuesday meant that spots in the final XI were coveted and with 14-15 lads in the mix, Nelson picked a strong and experienced side to challenge Littleborough.

Littleborough also picked a strong XI, which featured 50 1st XI appearances this season.

Nelson won the toss and elected to bowl, having done so successfully for most of the season.

Littleborough set off at a great rate, with a four off the 1st ball and 9 off the 1st over. The Littleborough openers put on 51 before Manaf fired and removed the top 3 to leave them 53-3. A fourth wicket on 73 left Manaf with figures of 4-43 before he handed the baton over to Andy Hakin at the “Cop Shop” end. Hakin bowled his best spell of the season, finishing with 3-11 off 8 with nagging accuracy. Pressure was being created at the pavilion end with Elliot Bradley bowling 10 overs for 29 and Chris Brooker-Carey removing the no5 and only conceding 15 off 5. Nick Burton followed on with 7 overs for just 9 to keep the pressure on Littleborough whilst Sardar Asghar took 2-11 to close Littleborough’s innings on 131 in the 45th over.

Fine catching and fielding throughout backed the bowlers up, with tough catches by Ali, Chris Gildea and Joe Whitlam.

132 to win…..

Ali and Chris Gildea made a steady start to the chase and put on a partnership of 64 before the former was caught on 32.

Chris Gildea continued to anchor the innings with Elliot Bradley before Gildea was finally out for 57 off 118 balls with just 2 needed for victory.

Caleb Lister came to the crease and hit his 2nd ball for 4 to finish the game, with Bradley unbeaten on 21.

Chris Gildea won the MOM award for his staunch 57.

Skipper Chris Brooker-Carey lifted the cup in front of a great crowd who had supported both sides throughout the match and were rewarded with some good cricket and even better weather!

Nelson add their name to the junior cup for a 5th time, having won previously in 1994, 2008, 2009 and 2013.

Recent years have seen some tough times at Seedhill, but the work and commitment by many on and off the field were rewarded with the junior cup to add to the 2nd Div 2 title won by the 2nds in 2024.

The team’s focus now turns to the league and a win by 2 wickets on the Sunday was hard fought against a spirited Burnley side, with Gildea again outstanding with a knock of 77, supported by Elliot Bradley (55), Armaan Moghal (33) and Andy Hakin (31) in chasing down 248 in the 42nd over.

The Road to Seedhill….

On Saturday 1st August 2026, Seedhill will play host to the Lancashire League junior cup final between Nelson 2nd XI and Littleborough 2nd XI.

The journey home started on the 2nd of May against Rishton 2nd XI with a 6 wicket victory chasing a competitive total of 222, with Ali Syed Asghar, Armaan Moghal and Chris Gildea all passing 50.

Next up was Darwen 2nds, a competitive total of 212 was lead by 60 from Caleb Lister, Gul Sabir (35) and Andy Hakin (28). Darwen were bowled out for 132 with 3 wickets each for Sardar Asghar and Ali Syed Asghar.

A quarter final tie away at Enfield was next, with the home side posting a good score of 193/8, 3 good partnerships of 40+ kept the innings going and Enfield added 30 in the last 5 overs to go in at tea with the momentum. At 43/3, Nelson needed to dig in and a 64 run partnership between Ali Syed Asghar (43) and Caleb Lister (73*) put Nelson back on track. A flurry of wickets meant Nelson went from 104/3 to 125/8 within 8 overs to put Enfield in the driving seat.

Josef Whitlam (33*) came in at No10 and added a 71 unbeaten partnership with Lister to finish the game with 1 ball to spare. To say it was a tense last 45 mins was an understatement, with superstitions about moving seats during a partnership and questions about a tie being the main topic on the balcony…..

A false start to the semi final vs Clitheroe meant we came back a week later to see who could progress to the final and also host.

An experienced Clitheroe side would be a challenge, they won the toss and chose to bat, hoping to repeat their innings from the previous week.

A fantastic opening bowling partnership of Manaf and Bradley bowled their 20 overs through on a hot day and were rewarded with figures of 10-4-14-3 and 10-3-21-2 respectively, leaving Clitheroe 36-6 off 20. 7 and 8 put a partnership on as the fielders continued to put a shift in under the unusually blazing sun, with Clitheroe eventually bowled out for 118 in the 41st over.

Nelson passed Clitheroe’s total in the 40th over with 6 wickets down, Matt Pettinger anchoring the steady reply with 44 off 94, supported by Ali Syed Asghar (26) and Caleb Lister (17)

Elation and relief followed as the cup final place and home turf advantage was secured.

We hope that the weather stays fine for a great day of cricket on Saturday as we host Littleborough 2nds with a 1230 start.