Croft in the News - Sport and Leisure

Saturday 10th September 1892
​Warrington Examiner

THE SPORTS AND GALA – The first annual athletic sports and gala were held in a field kindly lent by Mrs. Weir, of Cockshot Farm. The committee for carrying out the arrangements consisted of Messrs. E. Barnham and G. and T. Houghton, Mr. W. F. Pennington being the secretary. The entries for various events numbered upwards of 70. The handicapping was done by the committee, Mr. C. Allen was the starter and Mr. E. Barnham was the judge. Despite the unfavourable weather, there was a fair attendance, and considering the wet state of the ground some good racing took place.
CHILDREN’S TREAT – This popular annual treat, took place on Saturday, under very unfavourable circumstances with regard to the weather. The committee this year consisted of Messrs. H. Hankinson, J. Hatton, R. Sanderson, W. Sanderson, and H. Shaw, Mr. S. Stretch being the hon. Treasurer, and Mr. S. Taylor the hon. Secretary, whose arrangements gave every satisfaction.

Generally all the children in the parish from three to 15 years of age receive tickets free, all above that age paying 6d. each for their tea. The children assembled at the board school at one o’clock in the afternoon, and at two they formed a procession, and, headed by a banner and the Leigh Volunteer Band, they paraded the village under the superintendence of the committee and officers, and Mr. Cawthorne (the schoolmaster), Mrs. Savage (infants mistress), and Miss Stretch (assistant teacher), the route taken being from the school up Heath Lane as far as the Plough Inn, and back again past the school to the Smithy-brow, and thence to the school again. Upwards of 200 children and young people were in the procession and their neat and clean appearance was much commented upon by a large number of persons on the route.
At four o’clock they sat down to an excellent tea in the schoolroom. After tea, an adjournment was made to a field, kindly lent by Mr. E. W. Sankey, of Heath Farm, one of the members of the school ​board, where one or two races and various games took place, and the band played an excellent selection of music for dancing until nearly dusk, under the conductorship of Mr. Charles Wood.

Friday 21st October 1887
Leigh Chronicle & Weekly District Advertiser

FOOTBALL MATCH AT CROFT
It having been proposed to form a football club at the above place, the members of the Earlestown Wanderers (Association) Football Club, visited the village on Saturday afternoon last, and played what may be termed an exhibition game, in a field kindly lent for the occasion by Mr. E. W. Sankey, but owing to a strong cold north wind very few spectators were present. The teams, which were arranged out of the first and second teams of the club, were styled Mr. G. Clough’s team, v. Mr. T. Goulding’s team.
​
The game lasted about an hour and a half, and at the close Goulding’s team had scored four goals to Clough’s team two. The game was not very exciting, though some good playing was shown during the game. Messrs. F. Waterman and A. Limmon were the umpires, and J. Waterman the referee. At the close the players adjourned to the General Elliot Hotel, where a dinner was provided, after which they enjoyed themselves with singing and dancing until about ten o’clock, when they returned home, after having thanked Mr. Sankey for the use of the filed, and Mr. and Mrs. Owen, the host and hostess, for the excellent manner in which they had provided the dinner.

Saturday 1st November 1906
Warrington Examiner

CROFT ATHLETIC SPORTS
​The annual athletic sports in connection with the Croft Horticultural Society were held on Saturday. There was a large crowd of spectators, and the racing generally was of a high order. The arrangements were admirably carried out by the following: - Judges Messrs. H. Shaw, R. Hodkinson and T. Abbey; starter Mr. Joe Briscoe; handicappers, the Sports Committee; stewards Messrs. C Allen, J. Lodge, R. Ingham, J. Maines, Isaac Maines and J. Singleton; hon. Secretary Mr. S. Taylor; general secretary Mr. James Cawthorne.

The following were the results: - 

110 Yards Boys Race –
1 - H. Robinson, Leigh 2 – A. Logan, Beswick 3 – J. Waterworth, Warrington
110 Yards Flat Race –
1 - J. Barber, Beswick 2 – J. Oakes, Warrington 3 – J. Bramhall, Cadishead
Mile Bicycle Race –
1 - S. Spybey, Helsby 2 – H. Scott, Tarporley 3 – J. Ashley, Moulton
Half-mile Bicycle Race –
1 – R.E. Parkes, Liverpool 2 – S. Spybey, Helsby 3 – J. Ashley, Moulton
220 Yards Flat Race –
1 – G. Forber, Bold 2 – W. Peel, Twiss Green 3 – J. Oakes, Warrington
One Mile Flat Race –
1 – J. Robin, Lymm 2 – S. Green, Warrington 3 – A. Davies, Cadishead