Dinting CC chairman looks ahead to bright future

Dinting Cricket Club chairman Martyn Knight is excited about the prospect of defending the division one title – but he is under no illusion that, if the season does commence, it will be a stroll in the park.

Martyn, who became chairman in August 2019, feels the squad has the quality to deliver silverware for a second successive season, but believes they will be challenged in their pursuit of the title by local rivals Broadbottom.

And experienced player Martyn, who has featured for a host of clubs including Hollingworth, Hyde, Glossop and Tintwistle, now feels he is finally ‘home’ after spending seven years with the Simmondley Lane outfit.

Speaking to Chronicle Sport, Martyn said he has always been interested in the running of clubs and believes Dinting are in a strong position to kick on in the foreseeable future – even with the coronavirus outbreak affecting revenue streams.  “Around five years ago I was asked to join the committee at Dinting and have worked on securing a number of grants, most notably for new wicket covers and upgrading the practice nets” said Martyn.

“I have been the Chairman since August 2019 and have seen a really positive response from all members of the management committee. We are really blessed to have a number of keen volunteers who are happy to give up their time to help with anything that is needed from running repairs, cleaning and helping with the ground.

“The club was quite fortunate that we have been very well financially marshalled by our former treasurer Mark Townsend and now treasurer Dan Carter helping to maximise our finances which are backed by our fantastic members at all of our social events.

“We have been fortunate to have been awarded two grants during the current crisis, one from Sport England and one from HPBC. This will enable us to get through this lockdown without the worry of the club’s finances adding to the already stressful situation”

After last season’s success, Dinting have cemented their name in the history books as the best team in the Derbyshire and Cheshire Cricket League. Despite the heavy expectations placed on the club to retain their position as the league’s best, Martyn feels the foundations are in place to kick-on and retain the crown. He said: “As a member of the first team last season, winning the league was one of my personal career highlights. 

“After being given ‘no hope’ by quite a few we manage to forge a really strong unit with a great deal of experience and were brilliantly led by Gareth Gerrard and Greg Harwick to win the league by defeating Woodley on the final day of the season. We played the game in the right spirit, backed our skills and tried to play with smiles on our faces and it paid off. 

“If and when the season gets going we are hoping to challenge for honours again, but Broadbottom will be a very strong outfit this year and a number of other teams will prove tough opposition, especially on their respective home grounds where conditions suit them.”

The D&CCL, according to Martyn, offers a reasonable standard of village cricket without miles of travelling.

Whilst Mottram and Hawk Green, who were longstanding members of the D&CCL, have decided to pursue a new challenge in the Greater Manchester Cricket League and Cheshire League respectively, Martyn respects their decision but feels the D&CCL offers them enough competition for the club as a whole. ”Our view, as a club, is that this must fit the whole club and moving leagues cannot be a decision made for the few and has to be made with the whole of the club in mind. This includes players, supporters, members and juniors who this decision will all effect. 

“Dinting Cricket club is committed to the D&C league and whilst it’s not perfect, there is more good than bad points about the league and the grass isn’t always greener on the other side of the fence.”

In the future, Dinting are planning to run both ECB junior ‘Allstars’ and ‘Dynamos’ alongside their thriving junior section, which is excellently ran by junior coordinator Matt Parker who has recently partnered with St Philip Howard school and will be providing there cricket team with the use of the club’s facilities.

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