A CRICKET club, which has been home to sporting legends, is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

Rishton Cricket Club in Blackburn Road has marked the occasion by having new ornate iron gates installed, which feature the clubs’ logo, at its main entrance.

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The club was formed in 1865, and became a founder member of the Lancashire League in 1892.

Since its inception, the club has been Lancashire League champions eight times, Holland Cup winners, Worsley Cup winners and Inter League winners multiple times.

Some of the greatest cricketers to walk the planet have learned their trade at the Blackburn Road club over the years, including Viv Richards, regarded as one of the best batsmen of his era who played for the club from 1987, for a year.

Other high-profile professionals include South African Allan Donald who joined in 1996, Michael Holding who played for a year in 1981 and current professional Kelly Smuts.

Darren Lambert fundraising secretary at the club said: “Following discussions at the club on ways to celebrate the 150th anniversary, it was suggested that new gates at the entrance to the car park would be a good idea.

“Last year we had the other two gates to the club replaced and so we thought it would be fitting to have the main gate replaced to match it.

“Fundraising was started to raise the considerable £2,500 it would cost to have the gates installed. However, fundraising was not required as, after a chance conversation, Billy Braysford of Rishton Waste Paper Company kindly agreed to foot the bill.

“A few days after we spoke to them we were presented with the cheque. We are all over the moon and cannot thank them enough. If it wasn’t for their support we believe it would have taken us until the end of the year or possibly even longer to raise the funds.

“We are keen to keep making improvements to the club. The way we see it is that we are custodians of the club and that while are in this position, we should be not just using the club, but improving it for future generations.

“We have kept going for the past 150 years and I honestly believe that it will be going strong in another 150 years to come.”