MACCLESFIELD Cricket Club welcomed back one of its favourite sons for the opening of the new changing rooms.

Peter Moores may hold the country’s top cricket job these days but the England coach hasn’t forgotten where he first began in the sport.

England coach Moores and David Rutley MP were joined as the opening ceremony’s VIPs by Poynton’s Jimmy Williams, the England Physical Disablility team’s captain. The trio cut the ribbon and performed the ceremonial opening of the new changing rooms

Hundreds turned up at Victoria Road for the day’s festivities, including unbeaten professional boxer Liam Hanrahan, and Macc Town manager John Askey, who donned his whites but admitted he was less than comfortable patrolling the outfield.

And Moores, who managed to squeeze an appearance in between his England duties, was delighted to come along and join the fun.

“It’s great to come back here, especially when it’s so full and there are so many kids under-sevens and people buzzing around, it’s what a community’s all about.

“It’s great to be at this club, I was here from the age of about seven myself all the way through so I’m delighted to come back here and open the new pavilion.

“You try to make sure people realise what this club’s all about – sometimes people can think clubs can be a little bit stuffy but this is a great place to bring your kids, there’s a lot of space for them to have a good time, the adults can have a drink and watch the cricket and enjoy sharing some time together. It was tight for me to fit today in, if I hadn’t come my brothers and my mum would have killed me. There’s a lot of family here and it’s always nice to be around friends and family, that’s for sure.”

The day’s entertainment – as well as a host of kids’ activities – saw a Macclesfield President’s XI take on a club Allstars team in a Twenty20 match. And the celebrations carried on into the evening, when a raffle and auction of a bumper stash of prizes took place in the clubhouse.

Although he was absent on the day, another of the club’s renowned former players, Aussie wicketkeeper Darren Berry, now head coach at South Australia, sent his best wishes and shared a few memories from his time as Macc’s overseas player.

Club chairman Simon Griffiths said: “Five years ago the club was due to relocate and sell the land for houses, but thanks to the hard work of members, the club is slowly turning round.

“We are still not out of the financial woods but it was wonderful to see the ground full of families, enjoying cricket, rather than houses.

“Our thanks go to Danny Ackerley and Michelle Platt for organising the day and Chrome Motors for their sponsorship.

“The backdrop to the day was a match between the current first team and an All Stars team, with the first team winning by two runs.”

Danny Towns, from event sponsors Chrome Motors, said: “We’re really pleased to be supporting the event, we approached the club with a view to sprucing up the ground and renovating the backboards.

“We’re delighted to be involved with the club, not least because of the energy and community spirit that’s so evident today.”