AROUND 250 spectators descended on Longlands Park at the weekend to watch Crooklands Casuals in action and to celebrate the start of the club’s 45th anniversary.

Among those present were founder members of the club who have watched Cassies grow from a Sunday League side in 1970 to play in the West Lancs Premier Division.

Although the result did not go their way on the opening day of the season – a 5-1 defeat against defending champions Charnock Richard in a delayed kick-off because the visitors’ coach broke down – that hardly mattered as former players renewed acquaintances around the ground.

Roy Twiname, one of the club originals, also had a day to remember when he was honoured with the position of vice president.

Secretary Barbara Mansergh, whose son Dave plays for the team, was delighted with the attendance – almost 10 times the average – and said it was hoped to make the occasion an annual event.

“It was absolutely amazing, what a day,” she said. “There must have been getting on for 250 people up at the club. It was just fantastic.

“Charnock broke down en route to the game and so it didn’t get kicked off until 4.10pm, but it ended up being a good thing because everybody was just having a craic together and it really didn’t matter.

“To watch everybody all chatting and sharing their stories. I think if it hadn’t been late getting there it would have gone straight into the game and they wouldn’t have had time to settle into the mood of the day.

“Some people hadn’t seen each other for years, some didn’t recognise each other, others are in regular contact. It was just wonderful to see it couldn’t have been better. Everybody loved it.”

Talks are expected to take place at the club’s next committee meeting to make it an annual event.

“We certainly hope it is not as long before we see people again,” Mansergh said, adding: “We invited Roy to be our vice president in recognition of all the work he has done along the way.

“It was a difficult one really because you could have asked any number of people.

“But everybody was coming up with Roy’s name as being the main man from the start all the way through, and so we invited him to be vice president and happily we are delighted that he accepted.”

The event carried on through into the night with Mansergh adding: “The takings actually smashed all records, it was a good night.

“It was an emotional day and night for a lot of people.”