2020

Archive - News 2020

Scroll down for the latest club news across all sections...

The President's Christmas Message
18th December 20

Hello everyone and season's greetings to you all. 

Well at least you won't have to put up with listening to me on Boxing Day!! This message will have to do instead. Seriously though, we are going to miss so much this year; our Annual Brothers v Veterans game, for the Beckett/Hillan Shield, followed by our legendary social afternoon and evening. The game has been played on forty consecutive Boxing Days since its inception in 1980. It is hoped, if at all possible, to rearrange the game/day to be held maybe in the spring/Easter time; we shall have to wait and see?!

We were able to play a half season of cricket but have not been able to play any inter club rugby matches since mid March. It is planned to resume matches, albeit under some very 'interesting' law adaptations, from mid January onwards. Let's hope so! 

On Boxing Day, as always, we remember past members, and indeed all family friends and relatives, who are no longer with us who always treasured this day and our great club. Sadly, this year we have lost Andrew Hillan, Cliff Crozier and Norman Morris. Like myself I am sure many of you will have fond memories of them.

Stating the obvious, it has been such a difficult and challenging year in so many ways but the club is in safe hands thanks to the dedicated efforts of all our volunteers. Ken Cooke, Steve Murphy and Chris Hall have worked tirelessly to keep everywhere COVID safe at all times. The ground team, Dave Westwater, Steve Kearney, Steve Williams, Steve Stansfield and others have maintained the pitches and surrounds up to our normal high standards. They all deserve a massive vote of thanks. I would also like to thank fellow directors and all rugby and cricket committee members for their sterling efforts throughout this unprecedented year!

I feel sure that we all hope that sometime in 2021 we can return to playing rugby and cricket and socialising as was previously the case. Please keep safe over the Christmas period and into the New Year and enjoy what you can despite the restrictions. I look forward to seeing you all very soon. 

With every best wish.

Richie Beckett 
President
Old Parkonians Association Ltd (OPAL)

The President's Cricketing Update
16th December 20

Hi everyone, I thought I would like to reflect again upon our fabulous half season of cricket just gone and look forward to an exciting, more normal (hopefully) 2021 season. 

Our season got going in mid July, running through to the end of September with games on almost every Saturday and Sunday. We were able to welcome so many new and returning players. They are, and in no particular order, Matthew Goldsmith, Tauseef Ahmad, Jonny Beaver, Will Flannagan, Harry Spencer, Andy Thomas, Ben Thomas, Sam Thomas, Tim Ray, Grant Nile, Sam Cotgrave, Shaid Hannan and Ethan Hitchell. Hoping I haven't missed anyone out?! Sure I have!! It was fantastic to have you all joining and enjoying the club, with each and every one of you playing your part in so many memorable games. Without you we wouldn't have been able to field two Saturday teams nor a Sunday team either! There was a really good atmosphere around our cricket club, please stay with us and let's make it happen again!!

The 1st XI came 3rd in their division and the 2nd XI 6th in their’s. Really creditable and I believe both teams can challenge very strongly indeed next season. Great credit must go to our ground staff; Dave Westwater, Steve Kearney, Stephen Williams, Steve Stansfield and Ted Keaney as well as the unstinting efforts in so many ways of our club and 1st XI captain, Chris Beckett. Quite simply without you guys the season wouldn't have happened. Thank you! I don't want to go into individual performances too much but at least two people must be mentioned. Dan Berkson for a brilliant mini season with both bat and ball culminating with his fabulous 109 for the 1st XI winning at Irby in the lovely September sunshine; and to Alexandra Harrison for her fantastically consistent bowling in the 2nd XI. Well done both! 

Congratulations too to Samantha Fletcher for captaining her side to victory in the Steve Fletcher Memorial 6's on a beautiful August Bank Holiday Sunday. A very fitting tribute to her Dad.

So we look forward in these extraordinarily difficult and challenging times to the enjoyment, warmth and sunshine of our next cricket season. If permissible, indoor nets will commence on Monday 8th February (7.30pm) at Birkenhead Park CC; I am sure Chris will be in touch with all players. We will field two league Saturday teams as well as a friendly Sunday XI. 

We are keen to resume junior cricket again targeting Under 9's and younger. Further details to follow from Adam Westwater. 

We very much want to hold, if allowed, a pre season presentation/awards event but cannot set a definite date at the present time, obviously, but rest assured you will be informed. 

I sincerely hope you can have the best Christmas possible given the circumstances and let's look forward to a happier, prosperous and cricketing 2021. 
Stay safe and take care. With every best wish.

Richard Beckett
President
Old Parkonians CC

AWARD WINNERS 2020
1st XI Batting: Dan Berkson
1st XI Bowling: Dan Berkson
1st XI Captain's Prize: Tim Berkson 
2nd XI Batting: Mark Rayner
2nd XI Bowling: Alexa Harrison
2nd XI Captain's Prize: Sam Fletcher
Sunday XI Batting: Mark Rayner
Sunday XI Bowling: Sam Thomas
Sunday XI Captain's Prize: Matthew Goldsmith
Young Player(Stan Hitchell Award): Sam Thomas
Chairman's Prize(Bob Bell Award): Chris Beckett

Rugby Season 2020/21
30th October 20

Hello everyone, I hope you are all well.

Whilst not unexpected, it is sad to report that even if full contact rugby is to return, The RFU have now cancelled the 2020/21 season. This means no real competitive games will be possible this season. This makes keeping together by training and communicating with your mates more important than ever. This news is hot off the press so further communications are to follow when we have had a chance to consider what this all means for us.

The previously planned players get together to coincide with 6 nations super Saturday tomorrow has of course been another victim of the Covid restrictions, so for confirmation and to avoid any doubts the clubhouse will not be open tomorrow afternoon. Keep safe and well and look after yourselves and your families.

Yours In Rugby,

Juggy 
Chairman of Rugby

Norman Morris (22/8/1933 - 26/10/2020)
28th October 20

I must sadly report the death of a dear friend and much loved Club Member, Norman Morris, who passed away peacefully aged 87, following a short illness, in the early hours of Monday 26th October.

After graduating with an Honours Degree from Liverpool University in 1954, Norman entered into a long and distinguished teaching career at local schools, including Park High School.

Many Club Members were taught by Norman and always speak of him with great affection and respect. A lifelong Club Member, Norman was an avid rugby fan and in his youth was a regular selection at hooker in the Club’s 1st XV. He served the Club as Rugby Chairman, Selection Chairman and Council Member.

Norman leaves behind his beloved wife Joan, children Neil and Sally, sister Barbara, brother David and grandchildren Sam and Andrew.

He will be sorely missed.

Norman’s service will take place at Landican Cemetery on Thursday 12th November at 10:30am. The service is to be attended by close family and friends, but anyone wishing to pay their respects may do so outside.

Eric Potter

Rugby Update and Rugbyforce
28th August 20

After a very lengthy enforced layoff, due to the ongoing, but improving Coronavirus pandemic, it seems an appropriate time to try to return to a degree of normality, where regulations allow.

Consequently the rugby section has returned to training on a Tuesday and Wednesday evenings over the last month and is looking to prepare for whatever season we are able to enjoy. The club bar is open for socialising and offers an opportunity to meet friends and colleagues for a drink and a catch up.

In order to facilitate this and encourage maximum attendance all players and spectators/supporters are invited to attend an event, to be held at the Rugby Club from 2pm on Saturday 5th September. This is to coincide with the Natwest Rugby Force weekend and will enable us to present the awards for outstanding performance over last season to those players who have been selected. An event which sadly we were unable to carry out due to the cancellation of the annual rugby awards evening and dinner.

The plan is for a meet at 2pm and a game of seven a side internal touch rugby match arranged with a view to getting as many players as possible having a run out during a 40-60 minute session followed by the presentation of awards. Dress code is of course informal and there will be no food served.

In order for us to be able to maintain links to players and non-playing members going forward and in the absence of a formal restart to rugby it is our intention to hold these get togethers on at least a monthly basis so the next two sessions will be on Saturday 3rd October and then Saturday 31 October to coincide with the outstanding fixtures in the 6 nations tournament that were missed last season.

Please support your club and maintain links with players and other non-playing members during these trying times. It is easy to drift and as a club we need to maintain our ties with each other.

Steve 'Juggy' Barnett

Chairman of Rugby

Rugby Announcement
2nd August 20

Dear fellow Parkonians, whilst it seems at the moment that the ongoing Coronavirus restrictions and its effects on our sport are never ending we must believe that there will be light at the end of the tunnel and that we will at some stage be able to return to the sport we love.

With that in mind it is important that we have a clear idea of player commitment to enable us to plan for the season ahead. To that end I am asking that all players, or potential players, let the current captains Mike and Martyn and/or the new coaching team of Peter Hillan, Steve Lowndes and Mark Hillan know what their plans are going to be for the coming season.

As most of you will know there have been Covid-safe fitness training sessions being held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings as well as occasional sessions on Saturday mornings. These are being organised and led by Andy Thomas and Jonathan Sheridan and your support to them is key to maintaining fitness through this lay off.

As a means of keeping in touch with players and getting personnel together it is the intention to hold a players meeting and event at the club on Saturday 5th September from about 3pm at which we will present the awards won by players for last season, which unfortunately we could not do in April after the annual players dinner had to be cancelled.

I hope that you and your families have all kept well and safe and look forward to welcoming you all back to Parkonians for the 2020/2021 season.

Regards
Steve Barnett, 
Chairman of Rugby

Cricket is back!
12th July 20

Welcome everyone to the 2020 season, we finally made it!
 
I'm pleased to announce that we are able to start playing cricket again. It's certainly been a very frustrating year so far for everyone and I’m sure there was concern amongst you all that we were going to miss out this summer. Ever since lockdown has been relaxed, it's been great to see many of you practising and taking advantage of the fantastic facilities we have at our club. This has enabled us to prepare well for the new look season we have ahead of us. I'd like to thank our grounds team, Dave, The 'Three Steves' and Ted for all their hard work and effort put into preparing and maintaining our grounds.

The League season will begin on Saturday 18th July with the 1st XI travelling to Saughall and the 2nd XI hosting Caldy. I will upload the remaining fixtures once they have been announced. The UKFast CCL have merged several divisions this year to accomodate regionalisation so we now have a few games much closer to home. 

We have recruited several new players for the 2020 season. I'm sure you will all join me in welcoming Taz, Jonny, Will, Harry and Grant to the club. We hope you all have a great first season and enjoy playing with us. Welcome back, also, to Ben, Andy and Sam Thomas who will also be playing with us this season.
 
We have had enquiries from some clubs if we want to play any Sunday friendlies this season. This is an opportunity I intend to explore should we get enough interest. We are also hoping, should guidance allow us to, to run the 'Sixes Day', playing for the Steve Fletcher Trophy on Sunday 30th August (Bank Holiday Weekend). We have pencilled in Friday 2nd October for Presentation Evening. Again, this is something we will only be able to do should restrictions imposed on the club be relaxed.

Finally and possibly most importantly, to enable us to play our games safely and within the current guidelines, ALL players are required to read and understand this guidance from the ECB. There are also some FAQs following the release of this guidance. Players should also read the change in League rules and guidance for this season.

I wish you all a successful season, enjoy your cricket, have fun and don't forget to socialise together after the game. That's what holds us together as a club.

Chris Beckett
Club Captain

Club Re-Opening
27th June 20

Dear Club Members, I hope you are all safe and well.

In anticipation of the re-opening of our club on the 4th of July, we wish to inform you of the following procedures for opening back up to Members. Details are lined out in the document which is available to view by clicking the image. These procedures are in accordance with current Government regulations.

Whilst we appreciate the procedures are restrictive, they are in place to protect all member and staff and through these ongoing difficult times, I would appreciate you following procedures so we can eventually return to some form of normality.

The club will be open initially to ‘paid up’ active MEMBERS ONLY (no guests)  due to social distancing. We will review this as time goes on. The opening hours will be from 2pm to 10pm with 30 minutes drinking up time.

If you had suspended your membership during lock down, then now is the time for you to re-instate your membership by renewing your direct debit should you wish to continue to support the club and use the facilities.
If you have lost your membership card the please email Steve directly at stephenmurphy1973@hotmail.com with your full name, postcode and membership number should you know it. You can find your membership number on your webcollect account.

Please click this link to access webcollect https://webcollect.org.uk/opa. A replacement membership card will be left at the bar for you on your return to the club.

Please take some time to read the attached procedures.

Thank you in advance. We look forward to welcoming you back.

Ken Cooke
Chairman, Old Parkonians Association

Important Club Update - June
20th June 20

To all OPAL members,

As you will be aware, the Government are now considering starting to open up pubs and clubs in early July. Whilst we await the guidelines and in anticipation of this, there will be a more informed notification going out in the next few days covering social distancing rules. However, as a precursory, I would like to advise of the following.

The club will be open initially to 'paid up' MEMBERS ONLY (no guests) due to social distancing. We will review this as time goes on.

You are only permitted into the clubhouse if you are a valid ‘paid up’ member. Any persons who are not a ‘paid up’ active member will not be permitted into the club.

In addition, to gain your members discount at the bar, you will need to provide YOUR membership card. You will not be able to use anyone else’s membership card and there will be no cards behind the bar should you forget your own card.

If you had previously suspended your membership during lock down, then now is the time for you to re-instate your membership by renewing your direct debit, should you wish to continue to support the club and use the facilities.

If you have lost your membership card the please email me directly at stephenmurphy1973@hotmail.com with your full name, postcode and membership number should you know it. You can find your membership number on your webcollect account.

Please click this link to access webcollect https://webcollect.org.uk/opa

A replacement membership card will be left at the bar for you on your return to the club.

Thank you in advance. We look forward to seeing you all.

Stephen Murphy
Membership Secretary & Participation Manager

Club Update - May
28th May  20

Hello everyone, I hope you are all well, healthy and enjoying the sun. I thought I would post an update on the position of the Club after what is now a prolonged period of time since we had to shut down.

This being the third such update I was hoping to give some positive information on when we could open but, at the time of writing this we have had no easing of the lock down to allow us to reopen. I have previously reported the excellent work a dedicated team of members have continued to carry out essential maintenance work to the grounds and this coupled with works within the Club House being completed by Hall Services is ensuring our facilities will be ready for our return once we get the go a head from Boris. 

I intend in the coming weeks to meet with the Bar / House Committees along with other Officers of the Club to discuss our way forward when we are eventually released from lock down. We will no doubt have to have in place sufficient procedures to enable us to reopen the Club whilst still providing a safe environment for both Members and Staff. This may well involve adhering to social distancing and possibly an effect on the total number of people we can safely allow into the Club House at any point in time. All I can ask of you all is that whatever the procedures that are deemed to be put in place that you all observe them. We will of course post further details as and when we have a date to reopen.

The Cricket Section has obviously been affected with no games at all being played but it is hoped at least some may take place later in the year. Training is I believe to commence at the Club in the near future. It is also disappointing that all the good work done last year in starting the All Stars initiative for children has also been effected.

It is still uncertain how the Rugby Senior and Junior Rugby sections will fare as we are still no closer to receiving any information on a possible start date for this season. I would just ask you all to keep a look out for any information posted by the relevant sections.

I would like to thank all members who have continued to pay their membership by monthly direct debit. We collect subscriptions as, as I have said previously, this is our only guaranteed income at present. I can quite understand those of you who have due to personal circumstances had to cancel their payments but once we reopen please reinstate your payments to ensure you do not lose your memberships benefits.

We have applied for and received grant aid from both WBC and the RFU and are continuing to pursue other avenues of funding to help us through however, I can report that the Club is solvent and we at the present time have no major monetary issues. Not withstanding that, we need to get the Club open and to resume trading and all meet up again.

I hope to bring you all notice of reopening in the near future but in the mean time I hope you and yours stay well and safe.

Ken Cooke
Chairman, Old Parkonians Association

Cricket Update
27th May  20

Welcome to the 2020 'season' or what little we currently have of it. Firstly I must apologise for my delayed communication, however I have had little to update you on for now as we all find ourselves riding out the Covid-19 pandemic.

Under instruction from the ECB, all games of cricket are currently suspended and at present we don't know when, or if, the season will start. As soon as anything is announced, I will make sure to inform you all. 

The grounds team after several weeks of shielding have returned to complete work on the ground that will enable us to get playing again if restrictions are eased. I am sure you will all join me in praising Dave Westwater, Steve Williams, Steve Kearney and Steve Stansfield for their continued efforts in this difficult set of circumstances.

We have recently received some good news from the ECB which will allow us to start practicing outdoors, so long as we strictly follow the guidelines which have been put in place for the safety of us all. Please refer to the image on the right.

We are going to start by running Saturday sessions on the square at the club.
(Click image to enlarge)
You should make a booking/enquire about availability through me (please either text or email me). Each session will last 50 minutes to allow 10 minutes between bookings. Please leave the net promptly when your session ends and don’t arrive more than 5 minutes early for your booked time.

By wishing to go ahead and use the net facilities you MUST ensure that:

- You are currently in membership
- You have made a valid booking
- You have checked for symptoms of COVID-19
- You have avoided public transport if at all possible
- You undertake to comply with the ECB Guidance set out above

Initial times available on a Saturday are hourly from 10am until 2pm. There can be no unauthorised use of the nets at any other time. If there is enough interest, we will look to extend the times and possibly run some evening sessions during the week where it can be accommodated.

In the meantime, I trust you are all staying safe and I look forward to seeing everyone again, hopefully sooner rather than later.

Chris Beckett
Club Captain 

Email from Carl Jones
26th May  20

We have received an update from the other side of the world...

I hope this email finds you all well. I was interested to read 'Juggies' piece on future fixtures, especially as I believe that the League system run by the RFU has lead to the slow demise of grass roots rugby. Ho hum..... 

My rehabilitation is still ongoing and I have remembered how to walk now, although the ground is still swinging which means I'm still doddery and swaying (normal Saturday night gait).

I am presently fully retired and living in the Philippines and have just purchased a beach house, well chicken shed more like. With private beach. I send an open invitation to my daily beach bbq,  we eat what we catch!! starting in March next year to anybody I played either golf or rugby with. I will collect you at the airport (Mactan-Cebu International Airport) to make it easier. Anybody interested can email me: cj19601935@gmail.com. You may have to share with my two dogs, Rudyard and Kipling and their friend Rio the cat. The dogs are cool but the cat sings badly. 

Regards,
Carl Jones 

League Status Update - Rugby Season 20/21
3rd May  20

Fellow Members of Oxton-Parkonians RUFC, please note the following changes regarding the playing of adult rugby for the season 2020/21, expected to be starting in September 2020.

After several years of less than satisfactory League rugby at our level organised by the RFU the proposals that were being made by them regarding the upcoming season left us with no option but to consider alternatives for where we played our rugby next season.

The structure proposed for level 9 resulted in a League of only 6 teams, including ourselves, which is untenable. Indeed, even at level 8 there were only about 8 teams and a mashup of the two Leagues was considered unworkable. There have subsequently been further withdrawals from that level 8 League which resulted in Cheshire advising all of the clubs below level 7 to consider making alternative arrangements that met our needs for regular sustainable rugby for the coming season(s).
1st XV League Setup 2020/21
Earlier in this season whilst discussing League structures going forward and in an effort to encourage other local clubs 1st teams to return to the RFU leagues an Oxton-Parkonians proposal was tabled to create a largely Wirral based league in a RFU Cheshire/South Lancashire League, This League would have no relegation and no compulsory promotion but rather a play off between the top team from this League and the bottom team from the higher League, if promotion was sought. In this way the normal bounce back could be avoided. Whilst this seemed to receive good initial response from clubs at a Cheshire meeting the subsequent follow up on our behalf by Cheshire Exec Member Colin Free in face to face meetings with the representatives of the clubs resulted in a wholesale rejection in favour of staying with the NWIL’s. You can imagine our disappointment but we were not surprised as the feedback we had been getting from those clubs was that the current arrangements suited them.

Consequently, we have asked players views and have had discussions with other clubs and with representatives of the NWIL and noted belatedly the potential for possibly joining the ADM Lancashire league set up. The fact that 22 of the 2nd and 3rd teams from the NWIL are now going to join a 2nd/3rd team ADM League set up in Lancashire will mean changes to the NWIL structures will be inevitable.

The options open to us therefore were to join the NWIL at an appropriate level to give us regular and competitive rugby or consider the ADM Leagues. However, on the basis that the level of the ADM leagues that would be open to us would be their version of the NWIL, i.e. their 2nd/3rd team leagues, but with more extensive travel, we have discounted approaching them.

In summary after several years of resisting the temptation to leave the RFU leagues and move into the NWIL’s we have been left with little option. The majority of the players who responded to my request for views were in favour of regular rugby without extensive travel and opted for the NWIL proposal therefore we have applied to join the NWIL with effect from the 2020/21 season and after discussion with their administrators have been placed into their structure at Division 3 West.

This move will hopefully enable us all to know with a greater degree of certainty what the whole season looks like from the start to enable players to plan their year ahead. We have requested that the league administrators do their best to give us alternating home and away fixtures for both 1st and 2nd team so there is a greater likelihood of rugby at Holm Lane on most Saturdays through the season. This will though only work if we have regular availability of sufficient fit players to meet the playing commitments for the two teams.

I am sure that individuals are doing their best to maintain fitness and that those who had been injured take advantage of the enforced break to recover and mend but once the lockdown has been lifted, we need to get back to training and getting fit for the next season.

Yours in Rugby,
Steve (Juggy) Barnett
Chairman of Rugby

Further Club Update
23rd Apr 20

Hello All and a belated welcome to our new website.

I would like to thank Chris Beckett for all his hard work in putting the site together which has taken up a lot of his time over the last few months. As well as the already many things he is involved with at the Club, he can now add another title to his name that being Web Master. Well done Chris and thank you.

It would be remiss of me not to also mention and thank the work Alan Morris Jnr had done in setting up the original site. Alan, who is an ex-director of the Club and a past active member of the OPAL management team worked tirelessly for a number of years, not just designing and setting up the web site but also implementing management initiatives such as Webcollect. Whilst no longer officially involved in the running of the Club, he still offers his considerable expertise for all things IT related and his continued support is very much appreciated.

Essential maintenance work to the grounds is continuing generally thanks to the mammoth efforts being put in by Steve Kearney who continues to attend the Club weekly. His work is invaluable in keeping on top of grass cutting, spiking and general ground works.I am sure he would welcome any help if any of you feel they could give up some time to assist him. We are very lucky to have a group of people who dedicate their time and efforts into keeping the grounds looking so well. Usually led by Dave Westwater who is having to self isolate and Steve Stansfield who unfortunately has been unwell lately, they are the unsung heroes of our Club and I am sure would welcome others into their Tuesday "clique." 

During the closure of the Club premises we have also taken the opportunity to complete essential work within the Club house being undertaken by Hall Services. This includes a deep clean of the Kitchen area and appliances as well the Toilet areas. The function room floor has been cleaned and treated and the decor through out has been freshened up. I am sure we will, all notice the difference when we can access the Club House once again.

In finishing, I hope you all are well and I am sure, like me, you are looking forward to the time when we can all return to Holm Lane. We are all suffering the consequence of the forced shut down with little or no physical contact with our family and friends. It is only now you realise how much a part the Club is in your life. Not the just the grounds and fabric but the social interaction with friends young and old and relationships built up over many years. A family of Parkonians!

We WILL get through this and be able to meet up again but until then please stay safe and healthy.

Ken Cooke
Chairman, Old Parkonians Association

Drew Hillan
15th Apr 20

It is with deepest regret that I have to announce the death of Drew Hillan who passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning.

Drew and his wife Doreen were great supporters of the Club and our thoughts are with the family at this sad and difficult time.

He will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him.

Ken Cooke
Chairman, Old Parkonians Association

Club Update - April
2nd Apr 20

Hello All,

First of all, I hope you're all well in these difficult and trying times.

I thought I'd give you all a brief update on what's happening at the Club. As you're all aware, following the Government's instructions we had to close down and cease all trading.

All Committee meetings have been cancelled, but I can assure you the Directors and OPAL Committee members are keeping in touch to ensure the business of running the Club continues.

It is blatantly obvious that all income from social events, hiring and bar takings have ceased and whilst certain outgoings have also stopped we still have outgoings to pay, such as energy costs, insurance, security etc...

I'm indebted to all those members who have continued to pay their WebCollect subscriptions which is now our only form of income. However, I'm also aware that many of you may well be forced into a position where you cannot continue to pay and need to suspend your payments.

We cannot predict when we can all return to normal and once again be able to attend our great Club.

Thank you all for your continued support and in finishing, I hope you all stay safe and well and look forward to the day we can all return to Holm Lane.

Ken Cooke
Chairman, Old Parkonians Association

Club Closure
21st Mar 20

To all our Members, Staff, Players and Friends of Old Parkonians, it is with great sadness following Government action surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been advised that all clubs, pubs, cafe’s and restaurants are to now close.

With this in mind, from midnight yesterday (20/03/2020) our Great Club has closed its doors until further notice.

This means that ALL functions, internally and externally are cancelled until further notice. We will not be taking any future bookings until we know when we will re-open. In the meantime we would like to thank all of the committee, players, staff, members and friends of the Club for your support and understanding during these tough times.

We would also like to take the opportunity to remind you all to stay safe and follow the Government guidelines surrounding COVID-19. Remember to wash your hands thoroughly and follow the Government's advice.

We stand together through these tough times. Stay Safe and see you all soon!!

Ken Cooke
Chairman, Old Parkonians Association

Cliff Crozier ~ 1915-2020
14th Mar 20

All good things come to an end - Cliff has passed on at a remarkable 104.5 years of age.

What an interesting life he led. Born before the battle of the Somme, he went to Bidston Avenue Primary on its opening in 1921 and then to Park High School.

He became a teacher, following in his father’s footsteps who was Headmaster of St James School in Laird Street, though his teaching career was interrupted by Army service in England and Europe during WW2.

He taught in West Kirby before moving to Greasby Junior School as Headmaster for 25 years and last September was still attending his former pupils annual reunion.

Following that, his most productive time: 41 years of retirement!

He did have one mark against him - he never played for our Club as he joined Port Sunlight with one of his friends.

He was a lovely, interesting man, always willing to help those less fortunate than himself, a mine of information on Birkenhead places and people. Cliff proved that older people are worth listening to for their life stories and experiences.

He leaves a daughter Carolyn, grandsons Richard and Chris and their families.

Funeral arrangements to follow.

Dave Westwater
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