Latest news with #Caldy
Leader Live
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Leader Live
Battle of the top-two as Northop Hall tackle Ainsdale
There's a major battle of the top-two in store and it is sure to go a long way to deciding who will eventually take the title. Northop Hall, now up to second in the rankings, are excited for their trip to league leaders Ainsdale. Both sides have mainly been dealing in triumphs this season and of their combined 24 games, 19 of them have resulted in wins. Only three of them have been defeats, so there will be little to choose between the high-flying rivals. 'I would probably say it's a mustn't lose game,' said Northop Hall skipper Ben Slater. 'It will be a good game.' It's a three-way race for the two promotion spots. Ainsdale find themselves 21 points clear of Hall, who are just five points ahead of third-placed Caldy. Caldy suffered a four-wicket loss to Prescot & Odyssey last time out to drop out of the promotion places. 'To be fair to them (Caldy), they have had a good run,' added Slater. 'I think that was their first defeat. You're never going to go a full season without losing a game.' Meanwhile, Hall go into the match on the back of a thumping 113-run win over Norley Hall. Jac Kennedy (61), Slater (55 not out) and Andrew Watkin (42) made valuable contribution's in Hall's 235 for four declared in 49 overs. The bowlers were tasked with finishing off the job and they did so in style to dismiss the visitors for 122. Not for the first time this season, the bulk of the plaudits went the way of Paul Jenkins with his six for 34 return. Slater, who heralded another 'bowling masterclass' from Jenkins, added: 'We batted really well as a team. Andy and Jac added 99 for the first wicket. 'That makes the game miles easier for those coming in afterwards.' Matteo Evans-Ford and Liam Evans-Ford will be added to the Northop Hall side. Northop Hall Seconds will look to make the most of home comforts as they entertain Ainsdale Seconds. Chirk have strengthened their ranks ahead of a free weekend of action in the Shropshire League. They have secured the services of Matty Lawrenson, from North Wales League Marchwiel and Wrexham. Lawrenson is a talented bowling all-rounder and is sure to bring energy, control and valuable experience to the squad. In Division Seven, Chirk Seconds pay a visit to Whittington.
South Wales Argus
08-07-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Head coach Jones delighted with Division 2 final win
Twelve months ago, Cheshire saw a big lead against Oxfordshire evaporate in losing 38-37, but this time held their nerve in another try fest to triumph 50-38 against a Devon side who refused to go quietly. This was despite Cheshire storming into a 31-7 lead after half an hour, through tries by Will Norris, Joe Sanders, Tom Akehurst and Ciaron Connolly, with their opponents fighting their way back to bring back memories of last year. However, another Akehurst try and the boot of Mark Williams proved to be the difference, with the fly-half, who serves in the Royal Air Force, converting all five tries and kicking five penalties for a haul of 25 points. Jones said: 'It was long overdue. We've been in this position quite a few times and we've had a good bunch of boys who have knitted well from quite early on. 'I'm pleased with that today, it's probably the biggest group of lads we've had in a long time – normally we're orientated around one club, like Macclesfield last year and Caldy the years before that, so it's good to have a good mix. 'We've not emphasised a lot what happened last year, but we ran away with it first half last year and lost by a point in the dying minutes. 'A big focus was making sure the bench was strong, so we could bring on experience, and we went from there.' Cheshire's campaign has seen them use the facilities at Chester RFC for their training sessions, where their hard work in bringing a team together from the county's clubs has brought silverware. Jones, who coaches at Championship club Caldy, hopes to compete in Division 1 of the County Championship in the coming years and loves the opportunity it gives players from Level 5 downwards in the rugby pyramid. He said: 'This level is something the RFU really needs to buy into. 'It's massive, it's an opportunity for some of the smaller clubs, and some of the bigger clubs, to showcase what they have available. 'Equally, players that play in this get to go back and share the experience [with their clubmates] and I think it's required for the RFU to invest heavily towards it because it's brilliant.'
The Herald Scotland
08-07-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Head coach Jones delighted with Division 2 final win
This was despite Cheshire storming into a 31-7 lead after half an hour, through tries by Will Norris, Joe Sanders, Tom Akehurst and Ciaron Connolly, with their opponents fighting their way back to bring back memories of last year. However, another Akehurst try and the boot of Mark Williams proved to be the difference, with the fly-half, who serves in the Royal Air Force, converting all five tries and kicking five penalties for a haul of 25 points. Jones said: 'It was long overdue. We've been in this position quite a few times and we've had a good bunch of boys who have knitted well from quite early on. 'I'm pleased with that today, it's probably the biggest group of lads we've had in a long time – normally we're orientated around one club, like Macclesfield last year and Caldy the years before that, so it's good to have a good mix. 'We've not emphasised a lot what happened last year, but we ran away with it first half last year and lost by a point in the dying minutes. 'A big focus was making sure the bench was strong, so we could bring on experience, and we went from there.' Cheshire's campaign has seen them use the facilities at Chester RFC for their training sessions, where their hard work in bringing a team together from the county's clubs has brought silverware. Jones, who coaches at Championship club Caldy, hopes to compete in Division 1 of the County Championship in the coming years and loves the opportunity it gives players from Level 5 downwards in the rugby pyramid. He said: 'This level is something the RFU really needs to buy into. 'It's massive, it's an opportunity for some of the smaller clubs, and some of the bigger clubs, to showcase what they have available. 'Equally, players that play in this get to go back and share the experience [with their clubmates] and I think it's required for the RFU to invest heavily towards it because it's brilliant.'
Daily Mail
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Homes Under the Hammer star Dion Dublin can demolish his £1.2million mansion to build new luxury five-bed
Homes Under the Hammer presenter Dion Dublin has been given the green light to demolish his run-down mansion and build a series of luxury homes. The ex-Celtic and Manchester Utd forward, 56, splashed out £1.24million on a mansion in the upmarket village of Caldy, on the Wirral Peninsula, in Merseyside last year with his wife Cheryl. He had originally planned to renovate the run down property with Wirral Council giving him the go-ahead to take the house back to its former glory. But after some investigations Dublin decided to level it and start from scratch after the Aston Villa striker said the 'poor physical condition' of the 1930s building meant it would be cheaper and easier to build a new property. The new house will include a cinema room, large kitchen diner with pantry, plus games and play rooms for the couple's five-year-old daughter Ruby on the ground floor, and five en-suite bedrooms and a laundry room upstairs. New gate pillars will be installed at the entrance but the existing large hedgerows will be kept 'to retain the natural sense of enclosure which is enjoyed', the application says. There will be off road spaces for at least three cars, including electric vehicle charging and cycle parking, and a 715sqm garden accessed via a tiled terrace and steps. Specialist bat boxes will also be installed on the outside walls after four different species of the protected animal were sighted either emerging from the eaves of the house or foraging in the garden during surveys last summer. Bats are a protected species under UK law and it is illegal to kill, possess or handle them without a licence or to cause them harm or disturb their habitat in any way. Experts visited the property and a special bat licence would be needed if any of the mammals are discovered. The plans also state that the replacement home would not overlook or create any 'loss of privacy issues' to existing neighbouring properties. The application that has now been given the green light and the family claim the new house better reflects the family's 'needs and aspirations.' It has been designed in order to 'create a quality new living environment' while maintaining 'a sympathetic appearance within the street scene,' it says. The plans also state that the replacement home, which has impressive views over the River Dee estuary and north Wales and is just five minutes' walk to the nearest beach, would not overlook or create any 'loss of privacy issues' to existing neighbouring properties. Dublin, who moved into punditry and television work after retiring from football, previously revealed how he was asked to present Homes Under the Hammer when the BBC discovered he had set up a building firm after he finished playing. He said: '(They) said, '"Do you fancy walking around an empty house in Salford and telling us what you think of it?" And that's basically what happened. The new house will include a cinema room, large kitchen diner with pantry, plus games and play rooms for the couple's five-year-old daughter Ruby 'I walked around an empty house in Salford with a cameraman, had a look around and I said what I would do if it was mine. They liked it and there you go, that's how I've got onto Homes Under the Hammer.' Dublin, who married wife, Cheryl, in 2017, is also currently a director at former club Cambridge United. During his playing days he also had spells with Manchester United, Coventry City and Aston Villa before retiring and moving into broadcasting. Wirral Council said: 'The proposed development for the erection a replacement dwelling is not considered detrimental to the character of the wider street scene and is acceptable in terms of scale and design. 'The development is also not considered to have an adverse impact on the amenities which the occupiers of the neighbouring properties can reasonably expect to enjoy and provides sufficient residential accommodation for the enjoyment of future occupiers.'
BBC News
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Wirral home's garden makeover before This City is Ours filming
The designer of a garden which features prominently in the BBC drama series This City Is Ours has spoken of the "pleasant shock" of having his work seen by millions of Walker helped design the spacious grounds, complete with outdoor kitchen, hot tub and sun loungers, outside the home of the Phelans in the show about a fictional Merseyside crime than six million people watched the first episode of the series, which has become a word-of-mouth hit and is due to end on BBC One Walker runs Native Landscape Design, which was commissioned in 2022 by the owners of the property in Caldy, Wirral. Mr Walker said he "had no idea" the garden would become a location in the drama, adding that he only noticed it while watching the series on the BBC iPlayer with his wife."It was bewilderment," he said. "I wasn't expecting it - it was a pleasant shock!"The huge garden first appears in the fourth episode of the series, when the action moves back to Merseyside after a detour to the Phelan family's Mediterranean Walker said he worked with another company, Bespoke Outdoor Spaces, which built the garden over four months."When I first saw the garden, the patio was really narrow and felt quite cramped," he the patio did not get much light due to its north-facing aspect, he suggested extending it "to create a space that actually gets some sun". A huge sofa that has become the focal point of many meetings for the Phelan clan, dubbed the "Scouse Sopranos", was Walker said he felt some pride at seeing several characters - who live the high life of champagne and haute couture - sitting on the garden's "wide porcelain steps".The garden has made an impression on many viewers, with Mr Walker saying his firm had seen a "20% increase in enquiries" recently, not just in Wirral but across north-west England and north a possible second series has not been confirmed, some of the show's actors have said they would be very full series of This City Is Ours is available on BBC iPlayer Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
