Whilst the three pitches are voluntarily maintained and marked out over the weeks by father and son team John & Jim Buckley ably supervised and assisted by the club’s Director of Facilities Anthony Chapman, the pre-match finishing touches together with the general maintenance of the clubhouse are applied by a dedicated team of unpaid volunteers fondly known as the “Friday Gang”.

“The Gang”, comprising John Buckley, John Bell, Gordon Hendry, Ian Stalker and Bill Bradshaw, are all retired gentlemen who having the interests of the Club at heart devote each Friday morning to ensuring that our facilities are suitable to receive guests and visiting teams over the weekend.

With over five acres of grounds to maintain John Buckley, Gordon and Bill concentrate on outside duties including grass cutting, strimming, tree pruning, litter picking and leaf clearing, whilst John Bell and Ian look after the clubhouse, changing rooms and patio area, painting tidying and carrying out structural repairs.

Jim Buckley whose ambition is to live long enough to become a full member of the "Gang" is currently working hard to enhance his qualifications and spends many summer hours during the week and at weekends practicing his grass cutting skills. Did you know it takes at least 4 hours a week to cut all the grass, that's before you spend time spiking, rolling, spraying and fertilising to keep the pitches pristine.

The whole operation is supervised and assisted by executive member Anthony Chapman who looks after all things mechanical as well as bringing a professional approach to the ground maintenance.

The team whose average age is over 70 has now been operating for over twelve years and a spokesman said “we intend to continue until none are left standing”!

The gathering is not without its social side and the “Gang” can be located every Friday lunchtime enjoying a geriatric chat over a pint in the “One Eyed Rat”!

It is estimated that on average the Friday Gang volunteers (excluding Jim Buckley & Tony Chapman) contribute a total of fifteen man hours per week on a voluntary, unpaid basis and the Club is extremely grateful for their efforts. It is therefore essential that they are provided with adequate machinery to carry out their tasks so we will shortly be launching a fund raising appeal for a new tractor / grass cutter for the club to ensure the grounds are kept immaculate all year round.

Profiles
JOHN BUCKLEY, Past player – Honorary Life Member – Member for over 50 years
JOHN BELL, Past player – Honorary Life Member – Member for over 50 years
GORDON HENDRY, Patron - Member for over 30 years
IAN STALKER, Patron - Member for 25 years
BILL BRADSHAW, Member for 15 years
ANTHONY CHAPMAN, Past/Present Player/Referee - Member for over 40 years
JIM BUCKLEY, Past player - Member for over 30 years