1 week Ago
A historic cricket club near Chorley has been given a lifeline in its fight for survival. White Coppice Cricket Club, founded in 1875, launched a campaign to raise £150,000 for its 150th anniversary. Earlier this year, the club was quoted £29,000 to repair a leaking septic tank, leaving it in a race against time to be ready for the new season in April.
However, businessman Tim Knowles, managing director of FI Real Estate Management (FIREM), has stepped in to install a replacement septic tank at no cost to the club. Tim Knowles and White Coppice Cricket Club 1st XI captain Jake Smalley, at the septic tank at White Coppice Cricket Club (Image: FIREEM) The entrepreneur even refused the club's offer of £6,000 towards the cost of the repair, insisting the money should go towards their fundraising campaign. Mr Knowles said: "FI Real Estate Management is headquartered in Chorley, and I couldn’t stand by and do nothing to save White Coppice Cricket Club.
"As a kid, I once pitched a tent on the outfield and have had an attachment to the club ever since. "One of our employees plays for the club, and when I saw all the media coverage, I knew I had to help." The company removed the leaking septic tank, replaced it with a new one, and carried out landscaping work.
The project, which took four days to complete, would have cost around £20,000. Mr Knowles said he was touched by the club's offer to contribute £6,000 towards the work but couldn't accept it. He said: "It was a lovely gesture by White Coppice, but £6,000 is a lot of money for the cricket club, and I want all the money to go to the club's fundraising campaign.
" Jake Smalley, the club’s first XI captain, said: "When Tim offered to replace the septic tank, it felt like all our prayers had been answered. "Fixing the septic tank was the priority because we couldn’t reopen the clubhouse for the new season until the work had been done. "All the money we raise now will go towards paying for training facilities and ground improvements.
" Read more: Tributes paid to 'one-off' former BBC Radio Lancashire DJ who has died Family-run Blackburn sandwich shop famed for trifles finalist in competition Rare Queen Elizabeth II banknote sells for £150,000 at auction Club chairman Paul Dobson said: "When we were quoted £29,000 to fix the septic tank, we only had around £10,000 in our bank account, so we can’t begin to thank Tim and FI Real Estate Management enough. "The new season doesn’t start for another month, but it feels like we’ve already won our biggest match." A GoFundMe campaign by the club currently stands at £5,029, while United Utilities have donated another £5,000.
The club, which has two Saturday teams in the Palace Shield League, wants to introduce a junior division..
