2014 - We played our first season in the Palace Shield, entering in the bottom division and learning the new style of play in the league meant we contended well but finished 3rd in the division. We had some fine individual performances with Steve Rawcliffe the leading divison wicket taker with 66 wickets, breaking the division record and tied leading wicket taker for the entire Palace Shield. Steven Taylor also won the best wicket keeper award. However the year will be best remembered for the Stuart T20 Cup. Sadly the FCL had taken the decision to fold at the end of the 2014 season, so we were invited back to play in the T20 cup that summer and celebrate this wonderful local league. What a celebration it was as we went unbeaten through the league phase, including a dramatic last ball tie with Longridge, then went to Finals Day and beat St Annes in the semis before a tense and rain affected final v Bispham. With Bispham going off like a rocket, everyone was concerned for our chances, however David Lever and Chris Minshull bowled superbly to get us back in the game, Greggy took an amazing one handed catch and Ackers was throwing himself around stopping balls like a demon. Wyre were set a daunting 166 to win in damp conditions an with our openers getting out early, it looked like the same old story of Wyre cup woe. But with Steven Taylor and Kenny Crabtree contributing 25 not outs with the bat and the Bamford brothers continuing in the middle order, we had a chance before the rain fell meaning a delay of an hour. A thoughtful team chat meant we had our plan to push for victory when the game resumed. James Bamford was caught out on the boundary going for his 25 not out, but Andrew Bamford reached it meaning the lower order had their orders for the last 5 overs, hit out or get out and get our three batsmen in the hutch back in. With two overs to go we needed 21 to win and it looked ominous, but with Kenny and Steven returning to the crease and hitting out, we had a chance. 7 off the last over became scores tied with 1 ball remaining but having lost more wickets we need to win outright. A slash by Steven Taylor over the slips, a scampered single and glorious celebrations started as we had finally done it and won a cup in our last ever match in the FCL. It had been an amazing day, every player contributed in the two matches. It was a fitting end to a league we all loved and the celebrations in the Thatched went on late in to the night, with our singing being heard for miles around Poulton!