Fylde coast cricket preview: Fleetwood eye a fast start to promotion bid
The league season starts in the Northern Premier Cricket League tomorrow with Fleetwood looking to hit the ground running in division two.
An immediate return to the top flight is the target, having finished bottom last time out after winning the title in 2024.
As with last year, Fleetwood’s league campaign follows a promising start to their 40 Over Cup campaign with two wins from two group stage matches.
However, the hope is they don’t have to wait until game nine for a first league win as was the case a year ago.
Club captain Declan Clerkin said: “We won our first four pink-ball games last year.
“Then we lost the first league game (to Fulwood and Broughton), which was a close one, but then our progress halted.
“We couldn’t find a victory and if you don’t get an early win, there are people who aren’t making runs or taking wickets despite their best efforts.
“We want to make a fast start and put what happened last year behind us.”
The league’s expansion to 12 clubs in division two means four extra matches for second tier clubs this year, with Fleetwood, Thornton Cleveleys, Lytham and Great Eccleston also playing on Bank Holiday Monday.
SATURDAY
NPCL division one (12:30pm): Leyland v Blackpool, St Annes v Kendal.
NPCL division two (12.30pm): Fleetwood v Morecambe, Lytham v Euxton, Penwortham v Great Eccleston, Thornton Cleveleys v Carnforth.
Palace Shield Championship (1pm): Westgate v Fylde.
Palace Shield division one (1pm): Blackpool 2 v Kirkham and Wesham, Shireshead and Forton v Fleetwood 2.
MONDAY
NPCL division two (12.30pm): Euxton v Great Eccleston, Lytham v Penwortham, Thornton Cleveleys v Fleetwood.