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Cheshire County Cricket League

APRIL, 2016 NEWSLETTER

Captains & umpires meet to

talk about 2016 changes

AN innovative meeting between League Club captains and Panel umpires took place at Timperley on Tuesday, March 29 to consider changes to playing regulations and to gain a common understanding of other issues likely to arise during the 2016 season starting on April 23.

Virtually all 36 clubs and 30 umpires were welcomed by League secretary Geoff Wellsteed, supported by Umpires chairman Ian Greensmith. A minute’s silence was observed in the memory of former umpire Rick Davis, who died on March 19.

The following were among the items discussed:

O The importance was stressed of the ‘meeting and greeting’ of umpires on their arrival at the ground, especially where new members were involved. The post match discussion had also proved useful feedback on both sides.

O The use of the new BS standard helmet was now mandatory in 1st class and international cricket and its use was strongly recommended by ECB for cricket at league level.

O Following legal cases elsewhere, umpires were now recommended to inspect ground conditions independently before consulting together as to the fitness for play. If either umpire considered conditions unfit, play should not commence. If at any tine during the game, umpires felt conditions were unfit, play should be suspended.

If there was any standing water, play should not take place.

O Discipline in the League was considered reasonable, but there was no room for complacency. Sledging and over vociferous appealing were the worst problems. Umpires were being instructed to issue cautions for Level 1 offences which did not imply an automatic ban, but could contribute to the totting up process.

O Criteria for Fairplay markings were strictly defined by ECB ACO; there was no room for manoeuvre by umpires. With generally good marks within the league, and many 4s recorded it did not take many lower marks (2s) to drop a team down the rankings.

£5,000 fines money can be better spent

O More than £5,000 in fines had been collected for late and unrecorded match results in 2015, money which should be better used within clubs. The new match reporting system was outlined which did away with paper sheets for 1st XI cricket. Communicating results, Fairplay marks etc. would be handled on-line. Ist XI scores and results must now be posted on play- by 10 p.m. on match days and the full scoreboard by 12 noon the following day.

O Pitch markings criteria now allowed for limited seam movement and spin. Marks of 14 plus (out of 20) were considered acceptable; 17 plus as very good. In 2015 only one mark below 14 was recorded across the divisions.

O Captains were asked to consider individual criteria when assessing umpires. This was important for umpires aspiring to promotion.

O Regulation changes: individual bowling restrictions of 17 overs in 110 over games; 15 overs in 100 overs games; 12 overs in 90 overs games and 10 overs in games of 80 overs.

Thirty yard fielding circles would apply in all 1st XI League matches where two panel umpires were officiating.

O A group of six captains under Toby Drummond (Toft) would coordinate future rule changes and publicise them to clubs. Captains should ensure their players were made aware that the route for changes was via clubs not individuals

APRIL NEWSLETTER: p2

USE OF PINK BALLS

ALL 34 clubs competing in the Joseph Holt T20 competition will be supplied with extra pink balls to give them a minimum stock of 18. This is designed to avoid potential shortage and a reversion to red balls mid-innings if they get lost.

This season’s cricket ball order to Readers’ including junior balls and scorebooks is valued at more than £56,000. Each full member club will receive free of charge 12 red balls and a set of fielding circles plus six pink balls as above.

These balls, together with Handbooks, Team Cards and Result sheets will be available for collection at the preseason Management meeting at Warrington on Wednesday, April .13 (8 p.m.).

UMPIRES PANEL: The League umpires panel is expected to be roughly 50-strong in 2016, up to half a dozen down on 2015. A recruitment drive has been launched.

One likely outcome is that few if any appointments will be made to cover League 2nd XI Premier Division games in 2016. Any spare County League umpires will be urged to stand in UK Fast League 1st XI games if requested.

Bob Abel has succeeded Ken Spilsbury as the League Umpires marks co-ordinator.

Geoff Young replaces Jon Hacking as League umpires appointments secretary.

Special registrations flood in

LEAGUE Assistant secretary Tony Morris reports the following players had been specially registered up to and including Tuesday, March 29.

Overseas players: 14

BOLLINGTON: Faiz Kippie, aged 31, South African all-rounder.

BROOKLANDS: Daniel Duke, 24, New Zealand all rounder

CHEADLE HULME: Talor Williams, 21, New Zealand all-rounder.

CONGLETON: Ben Scowen, Australian. No further details.

DAVENHAM: Givon Christian, 23, South African all rounder.

GRAPPENHALL: Ryan Ninan, 30, South African all-rounder

HYDE: William Walker, 23, Australian all-rounder.

LINDOW: Jake Martin, Australian. CV awaited.

MACCLESFIELD: Nick Bertus, Australian wicket-keeper/batsman. Second season.

MARPLE: James Menzies, 23, Australian all-rounder

STOCKPORT: Shea Gribben, 21, Australian all-rounder

TATTENHALL: Brett Siebert. 20, Australian batsman.

URMSTON: Adam McMaster, 19, Australian all-rounder.

WARRINGTON: Huw Stone, 21, Australian all-rounder.

* Some of the players referred to above and others yet to be registered are mentioned in Club News pages 7-8.

Ordinarily resident (two years): five

MACCLESFIELD: Adnan Khan; Ciaran Sanders (both at King’s School, Macclesfield)

NESTON: Charles Fernando; Simon Mugava; Billy Ouzoudis.

Ordinarily resident (180 days): five

BOLLINGTON: Scott McGovern

BROOKLANDS: Jaydutt Kamath, 32, Indian.

MACCLESFIELD: Harlan Greig, 18, South African. Eligible from May 8.

URMSTON: Bevis Burke, 21, St. Kitts &Nevis.

WIDNES: Rajiv Singh, 32, Indian.

County contracted players: one

URMSTON: Matthew Parkinson, 19. Lancashire leg-spinner

APRIL NEWSLETTER: p3

33 clubs vie for 2nd XI Joseph Holt T20 Trophy

ALL member clubs except Northwich and Oulton Park, who conceded games last season and are rendered ineligible, and non-entrants Christleton will be competing for the 2nd XI Joseph Holt Trophy in 2016.

Holders Chester Boughton Hall enjoy a home tie against Weaverham in round one, while new members Lindow go to Macclesfield and Ashton on Mersey host Hyde.

The draw has been devised regionally up to and excluding the semi-finals. Round 1 has to be completed by May 30; round 2 by June 20; quarter-finals by July 28. Finals Day will be at Warrington on an August date yet to be decided.

Group 1 preliminary round:

Marple v Cheadle

Round 1:

Marple or Cheadle v Bollington

Cheadle Hulme v Alderley Edge

Bramhall v Congleton

Stockport v Bredbury St. Mark’s

Group 2 round 1:

Sale v Urmston;

Brooklands v Didsbury

Ashton on Mersey v Hyde

Macclesfield v Lindow

Group 3 round 1:

Warrington v Nantwich;

Grappenhall v Davenham

Middlewich v Timperley

Bowdon v Toft

Group 4 round 1:

Upton v Tattenhall;

Neston v Widnes

Chester Boughton Hall v Weaverham

Alvanley v Oxton

1st XI Finals Day is at Toft

AS previously reported, the 1st XI Joseph Holt T20 Finals Day will be staged at Toft on Sunday, July 10.

Group games for the 34 entrants begin on Thursday, May 12.

The T20 Competition secretary is now Geoff Wellsteed, to whom all requests for date changes, disputes, etc. should be addressed. He will collate weekly group results from the League website under new arrangements for prompt reporting.

CHESTER TO STAGE 3rd XI FINALS

FINALS Day in the 3rd XI Jack Gardner Trophy competition is to be staged at Chester Boughton Hall provisionally on Sunday, August 21.

Knutsford have withdrawn from the competition and also from Sunday 3rd XI Central Division, leaving eight teams playing 14 games.

League exit Under 21s tournament

THE League have withdrawn their Under 21s team from a proposed a four-cornered mid-week competition also involving the Liverpool Competition, Northern League and North Staffs & South Cheshire League.

APRIL NEWSLETTER: p4

UMPIRES’ 2016 MEETING DATES

PRE-season meeting of the League Umpires & Scorers Association is at Timperley on Monday, April 18 (8 p.m.).

Other 2016 meetings are: Mid-season at Toft on Wednesday, July 6; end of season at Sale on Wednesday, September 21; AGM at Toft at Toft on Wednesday, November 9 (all 8 p.m. )

O Alistair Davies has been named as MCC umpire on an official MCC tour to Holland in August.

Cheshire launch Academy

CHESHIRE’S Development XI is to be re-named the Cheshire Academy in 2016 with emphasis on the under 19 age group. Fixtures:

Tuesday, June 14: Shropshire Academy at Whitchurch: 11.30 a.m. (provisional)

Tuesday, July 12: MCC at Marple: 11 a.m.

Thursday, July 14: Warwickshire Academy at Kenilworth Wardens: 12 noon.

Tuesday & Wednesday, August 9 & 10: Cumberland at Sale (11 a.m.)

Revised Cheshire Cup dates

REVISED dates for the 2016 Cheshire Cup are as follows:

Round 1: Sunday, May 22; round 2: Sunday, June 26; Quarter-finals: Sunday, July 24; Semi-finals: Sunday, August 21; Final: Sunday, September 4.

Dates of games in the Cheshire Shield are as originally announced: Round 1: Sunday June 5; Round 2: Sunday, June 19; quarter-finals: Sunday, July 10; Semi-finals Sunday, July 24; Final on Sunday, August 24.

23 clubs enter NatWest Under 19s T20

ORGANISED in Cheshire for the Cricket Board by Development Officer Mike Woollard, 23 clubs have so far entered the new NatWest Under 19s T20.

Fostered by Lord’s, the competition is designed to give more opportunity for competitive cricket to older junior players and will be played in mid-week later in the season For further information contact mike.woollard@cheshirecricketbord.co.uk (tel. 01606 871 200).

O BY March 25, a total of 70 Cheshire clubs had been registered to take part in Cricket Force weekend on April 1 –3. This compared to 102 in 2015.

Groundsmen make plans

MEMBERS of the Cheshire Association of Groundsmen met at Timperley on March 14 for an interesting ECB/IOG training presentation involving umpires and pitch markings.

This was followed by an open forum with a group of County League Umpires & Scorers Association members.

An all-day Foundation A course is to take place at Warrington on Tuesday, April 5 starting at 9 a.m. costing £20 for affiliated clubs. There will be a Foundation B course at Bramhall on Tuesday, September 6 restricted to 10 people with a maximum of one candidate per club.

The CAG AGM is on Monday, October 25 at Timperley

Secretary Brian Jarrard urges members who need advice on their squares to contact CAG Pitch Advisors Nick James (mobile 070808 723 110) or Paul Agar (mobile 07801 300 614). Their services are free and Cheshire is fortunate to have two such excellent men available, he says. They are also fully qualified to provide a spraying service at competitive rates.

Secretary Jarrard points out that some clubs are going outside the county for help, not a course of action he supports.

Meanwhile, CAG are also offering a free survey of club squares with a personalised programme on how to render improvements. Any club interested should contact Messrs. James or Agar or secretary Jarrard (e-mail brian.jarrard48@)

Further information about this excellent organisation can be found on line at .uk

APRIL NEWSLETTER: p5

The Cricketer to carry more club news

THE Cricketer magazine have announced plans to give more space to club news next season.

They want to hear about any notable individual or team performances, interesting snippets, wonderful tea ladies etc. to fill out a specialty enlarged section following views offered to them in a membership questionnaire.

Clubs should either send this information direct to the magazine’s Editorial Assistant at owen.riley@ or leave it to Newsletter to pass on the information for them, as The Cricketer receive weekly/monthly copies of activities in the Vivio Cheshire County League together with 25 other organs of the local, regional and national press .

O Cheshire County Premier League cricket is also covered in The Cricket Paper, a weekly magazine available at bookstores every Friday.

Chester’s high hopes in Echo knock-out

CHESTER Boughton Hall will be attempting to win the Liverpool Echo knock out for the third time in four years in 2016. They, together with Neston and Oxton, are the only three County League representatives in an entry of 33 clubs. The competition is in its 43rd year and is now being organised by Merseyside-based journalist Paul Edwards.

The Group D regional draw, games to be played by June 5 is: Port Sunlight v Oxton; Chester Boughton Hall v Parkfield Liscard; Caldy v Birkenhead Park; Neston v New Brighton.

Pink balls are permitted in any match prior to the final as long as both teams aggree and it is hoped to involve umpires from the County League in matches involving clubs from that league. Coloured clothing is not encouraged.

Regular news of Cheshire County League cricket will be covered by Paul Edwards in the Echo next season in liaison with CCL Press officer MTB

Two well-known Competition personalities, Chris Rimmer of Ormskirk and former Merseyside Umpires supremo Mike Dixon have been appointed 1st and 2nd XI scorers respectively by the Lancashire County Club.

SENTINEL SUPPLEMENT

THE Stoke Evening Sentinel plan to carry a 32-page Cricket Supplement in their issue of Tuesday April 12 which will highlight the close-season activities and prospects of clubs in the Cheshire County and Cheshire Leagues and the Cheshire County Club.

Cricket writer Chris Travers, a long-term professional associate of the Newsletter editor, reports that the Sentinel now has a new cricket facebook page which can be visited throughout the season at; SentinelCricket.

The Sentinel receives a copy of the League Newsletter throughout the year and regularly carries news of our activities

Indoor play-off?

KINGSLEY AND Oulton Park have finished joint top of the Vale Royal Indoor League, possibly alongside Weaverham.

Fixtures end on April 7, when a decision will be made about the winners.

The League is run by Oulton Park’s Peter Robinson with Andy Bennion doing to website legwork. All matches are played at St. Nicholas HS, Northwich on Tuesday evenings.

TABLE TO APRIL 1

P W L Pts.

Kingsley 14 11 2 33

Oulton Park 14 9 3 33

Alvanley 14 9 5 27

Weaverham 12 9 3 27

Winnington Park 12 5 7 15

* Appleton 12 3 9 7

Winsford 12 2 10 6

Oakmere 12 1 11 3

* Appleton 2 pts. deducted

APRIL NEWSLETTER: p6

Cheshire Seniors to tour Jamaica

FOLLOWING their successful tour to St Lucia last November and December, Cheshire Seniors are planning another trip the West Indies trip next autumn when their destination will be Jamaica. Reportedly the twin-centre tour is already a sell-out with all 30 places snapped.

Tour organiser John Edwards of Cheadle Hulme missed the Seniors AGM at Grappenhall on March 9 as he was in the Caribbean island arranging fixtures, flights and hotels.

The four-match trip last year by 30 players, partners and umpires resulted in two victories and two defeats and thanks were expressed to John Edwards at the AGM for his fine work arranging that tour.

In reviews of the 2015 season given at the Seniors’ AGM at Grappenhall, Steve Yates reported a low 50s success rate due to shortage of players and poor availability. Recruitment for 2016 was being pursued and Phil Catterall, who had recently played for England in Sri Lanka, had been appointed captain. Steve Yates is to be chairman and Paul Freedman secretary, Chris Moore treasurer and Tim Jackson team manager.

Cheshire Over 60s resume was given by Andy Hurworth who reported a successful season, winning the Northern group. Availability and morale had been high.

Picked for England O70s

Skipper Jim Wilde reported on the 60s 2nd XI success in winning the National championship in a tight final against Surrey.

The meeting congratulated John Edwards on his selection for England Over 60s and Ted Williams and Chris Lees for their selection to play for England Over 70s, Chris as vice captain.

A trophy cabinet is to be assembled and displayed at Grappenhall CC at the instigation of Nick Sharp.

Gary Hambleton was re-elected Cheshire Seniors chairman and Graham Coull and Paul Freedman are to continue organising the annual dinner.

Thanks were expressed to Cheshire Cricket Board for grants of £500 for the Over 50s and an increase to £750 for the two Over 60s teams.

Mike Talbot-Butler was thanked for regularly reporting on Seniors events - such as this one - in the League Newsletter.

FIFTIES’ FIXTURES

CHESHIRE’S Over 50s fixtures in 2016 (all Wednesdays, 1.30 p.m.) are as follows:

May 11: Shropshire (at Wem, Cat Trophy); May 21: Notts at Alderley Edge; May 25: Durham at Toft; June 1: Yorkshire at Elland; July 15: Derbyshire at Widnes; June 22: Cumbria at Warton; July 6: Northumberland at Grappenhall; July 13: Lancashire at Chorley.

Last 16 play-off on Sunday, July 31; Quarter-finals on Sunday, August 14; Semi-finals on Sunday, August 28; final on Sunday, September 11.

ON-LINE HELP FOR CLUBS

CLUBS who need help finding a fixture to fill an open date, find themselves a player short player or need a second ground for any reason, should be aware of a new free online play.cricket service which has become available.

The service can be found through the admin. section of clubs’ play- site or via the National Cricket Conference (NCC) service helpline tel. 0208 973 1830.

O Find a Fixture aims to help teams wishing to arrange league and/or cup/friendly games at home or away

O Find a Ground will enable clubs to post their ground availability, enabling other clubs to arrange a fixture and hire their facilities. Alternatively, it will make them aware of other grounds available should they need one at short notice.

O Find a Player helps to make contact with players who are looking for a game and for clubs who need players to complete their teams at short notice.

NOTE: League regulations regarding the use of grounds and players’ qualification will have to be taken into account in all these cases.

APRIL NEWSLETTER: p7

FINAL CLUB NEWS ROUND–UP

SPRUCE-UP AT BARROW

BARROW chairman Phil Guest informs Newsletter that club members have been busy improving facilities at their Station Lame ground.

A new scorebox is currently being installed by volunteers and will be ready for the season’s opening game (at home to Upton), while moving a groundsman’s hut has enabled the tea room to be increased in size by 50 per cent. Home and away players will also be pleased with refurbished dressing-rooms

HANCOCK LEADS DAVENHAM

NEW skipper at Davenham is spin bowler Danny Hancock, who succeeds Mark Greaves.

Steve Bliss returns from Middlewich and is joined by his brother Jason.

During a trip to Cape Town to watch the South Africa v England Test match, chairman Bob Floyd met his club’s newly-registered overseas player Givon Christian, who lives and plays in that beautiful city.

There has been much winter work done at Butcher’s Stile including refurbishment of the nets, hedge laying and a new cycle shed. Grants have been obtained to develop a disabled car parking bay, which will be completed in the autumn

DIDSBURY RECRUIT BRAINS

DIDSBURY have been busy recruiting including Michael Taylor from Ballymena in Ireland, who has played two first-class games for Cambridge University. Michael was in the last University Challenge-winning team on BBC tv.

Also arriving is off-spinner Jake Roach from Bradford & Bingley, plus Matt Gregson, a slow left-arm spinner/batsman, the current Manchester University CC captain who played for Shropshire last season. James McDougall arrives from Bowdon, Nick Reid from Cheadle and Sam Leach, the Cheadle Hulme wicket-keeper/batsman

Josh Beal leaves to captain Glastonbury and Jonny Fawcett to bowl for Hornsey in the Middlesex premier league.

Pre-season friendlies will be at Melton Mowbray against Stuart Broad’s former club Egerton, for 50 overs and T20 games

GRAPPENHALL BUSY

INTERESTING new signings at Broad Lane include batsman Peter Barnes, the Lancaster University captain who has moved to live in Warrington, formerly with Knaresborough in the Yorkshire League. Also wicket-keeper/batsman Dan Osborne from Sale Under 16s who will take over the 1st XI gloves from Liam Parkinson, with Adam Roylance appointed club captain. .

All-rounder Ryan Ninan, currently starring in the Victoria Premier League for Hawthorn-Monash Hawks, is to be overseas player

Former Newcastle United defender John Beresford spoke at the Sportsman’s Dinner on March 7

Pre-season friendlies include a 40 overs challenge match at Urmston on Saturday, April 16

The newly-laid outfield is in excellent condition.

PCA STARS @ HYDE

WERNETH Low is to stage a match between the star-studded PCA England Masters XI and a Hyde Invitation XI on Friday, August 19 .

Committeeman Rob Brierley says the major event will help the club raise funds for ground and pavilion improvements and invites potential match day sponsors and applications for hospitality to contact him at bobbybrierley@yahoo.co.uk

Timperley put on a similar game against a PCA team containing nine former England Test stars at Stockport road last season and attracted a crowd of 800 on the same night that Lancashire and Yorkshire were meeting in a T20 derby at nearby Old Trafford.

ROB PORTER LEADS MACC

PLENTY going on at Macclesfield where long-serving all-rounder Rob Porter is to captain the 1st XI.

After scoring 703 Premiership runs last season, Aussie Nick Bertus will be back as overseas player. Nick recently scored 138 not out for Parramatta against Fairfield Liverpool in the Sydney top grade. He recently had trials for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash.

Now playing for Notts, Tony Moores, son of ex-England coach Peter, played for England in the recent Under 19 World Cup in Bangladesh, enjoying scores of 86 and 47.

APRIL NEWSLETTER: p8

Macc club news contd …

The excellent new electronic scoreboard is up and running, as is a smart new groundsman’s hut.

A partnership agreement has been reached with Macclesfield based firm GF Holding to provide finance for an ambitious three-lane net facility on the site of the old tennis courts. MD of the firm is former Macc cricketer Simon Holding. Club chairman Simon Millington says he hopes the new facility, when completed will provide a major fillip for the coaching staff and promote more interest among young players.

As enthusiastic as ever, seam bowler Barney Cutbill plans to play more in 2016.

Subs in 2016 are £165 for senior members (£150 if paid by April 14); £115 for students; £36 for Over 40s and social members.

OPTIMISM @ MARPLE

ACCORDING to Club Newsletter editor Mark Brook, there is a great optimism that relegated Marple can bounce back into the Premier League at the first time of asking under new skipper Paul Wood. Especially as last season’s top batsman Andy Hall,, whose 2015 feats are reported in detail, plans to continue. A pre-season friendly at Bramhall will be staged on Sunday, April 16

Ground improvements have gone ahead at pace and the first major event of 2016 will be on Sunday, April 24 when it stages the annual Junior Girls Festival.

ADELAIDE STAR FOR TATTENHALL

TATTENHALL’s overseas player is to be Brett Siebert, a top order batsman from premier grade cricket in Adelaide. Siebert recently won the Jason Gillespie award for the Best Young Cricketer in the Region.

OLD PICTURE FOUND AT TIMPERLEY

DISCOVERED by Timperley archivist Gary Fisher in the clubhouse at Stockport Road is a picture dated 1977 produced by The Framery, of Gatley . Players named in the caption are R. Standeren, K. Wright, A. Turnbull, K. Warburton, R Macnamara, P. Wild, S Finerhan, T. Corless, P. Riley, G.Wild and P. O’Neill.

Gary assumes the picture was left behind by a visiting team many years ago and would like to return it to its rightful owners or club. Recognise the names? … in which case, contact him on 07767 383 998.

UPTON PLAN MARQUE WEEK

HIGHLIGHT of the 2016 season at Upton will be a Marquee Week in mid-July, which starts starts with a Boxing Night on Wednesday, July 13 followed by a Sportsman’s Dinner with snooker star Willie Thorne on Friday, July 25 and a Summer Ball the next evening. Tickers are available from the club chairman: jezlamb@

A pre-season friendly has been arranged against North Wales premiership club Mochdre on Sunday, April 17.

The main ground sightscreens have been completely refurbished sand look excellent.

Overseas player is to be Nat Saliman, a batsman currently playing for Belvoir in Sydney grade cricket

URMSTON RECRUITS

URMSTON have acquired two young recruits they expect to make an impact for their promoted team.

Lancashire Academy all-rounder Sam Oldham, 17, joins from Leyland. Sam captained Lancashire Under 17s last season and is in the North of England Under 18s squad this summer. Based in Manchester, 21 year-old St. Kitts and Nevis-born batsman Bervis Burke has also been enlisted. He has played for Leeward Isles Under 21s.

Meanwhile, Callum Parkinson (535 runs and 31 wickets) and Brad Yates (485 runs and 31 wicket keeping victims) have helped Mount Waverley win the Victoria sub grade Grand Final for the first time.

WILDEN BACK FOR WEAVERHAM

WEAVERHAM are cock a’hoop at news that Antiguan all-rounder Wilden Cornwall has agreed to return to play at Wallerscote road for a fourth season.

Forty-plus ‘Willo’ has been their star turn with bat and ball since his debut in 2013, last season scoring 833 runs and taking 58 wickets.

APRIL NEWSLETTER: p9

Obituaries

RICK DAVIS , A GREAT LOVER OF GAME

THE League have suffered another major loss with the death at Macclesfield General Hospital on March 19 of Alderley Edge Match and Fixture secretary and one-time panel umpire Rick Davis. He was 59.

Rick was admitted a week earlier with a blood infection and was later placed on a life support machine.

Unmarried, Rick lived with his mother Zena in Macclesfield. His father Johnny – a colourful character who was chairman of Macclesfield Town FC when they won the FA Trophy at Wembley – died some years ago.

Rick taught French, German, History and Divinity at Beech Hall, a small private school in Macclesfield and was well liked by staff and pupils. He had also taught in Somerset.

After being involved with Cheshire Schools Cricket Association in his younger days, Rick spent many seasons on the League Umpires panel. He also help to run the Cheshire Cup and served as the Umpires Appointments secretary before handing over to Jon Hacking. Hanging up his coat in 2012, he took on a multiplicity of tasks at Alderley Edge, whose ground he always considered one of the finest in the country.

Chairman’s tribute

Alderley Edge chairman Andy Fluck said in tribute: “This a really sad time for us all. He was a great supporter of the club and lover of cricket who gave an exceptional amount of his tie and effort to all aspects of life here”.

Close friend and former umpiring colleague Chris Smith: “I was among Rick’s last visitors in hospital and took him a little raiio so he could keep in touch with the world outside, such as the football scores while he was severely debilitated. As many people knew, he had been unwell for months, but this sudden end came as a shock”.

Another long-time friend was Allan Sherratt: “Rick and I spent many happy hours on the boundary seats and in the pavilion at Macc talking about football, cricket and life in general. He was a really good scout”

Rick was widely travelled, especially to Thailand where he ran the popular Chiang Mai Sixes for some time”.

His funeral at Macclesfield Crematorium on Thursday, March 31 was well attended by family, players and friends

DEATH OF TRISH VALLANCE

WI FE of League Junior Section secretary David Vallance, Trish has died after a long and plucky fight against secondary cancer.

A major figure in the success of junior cricket in the league for more than 10 years, David said Trish passed away with her family around her.

His wife had enjoyed cricket ever since being taken as a small child to Hightown CC near Southport. “She actively encouraged our three grandchildren to take up the game and always supported me in my many endeavours”, he said.

EX-BOWDON’S DAVID GREEN DIES AT 76

FORMER Lancashire and Gloucestershire batsman David Green, who played Manchester Association cricket for Bowdon in his younger days, has died aged 76.

Welsh-born, David was brought up at Timperley and enjoyed playing for Bowdon when not required by Oxford University and Lancashire from 1959 – 68. A man with an acerbic character, Green fell out with Lancashire commnittee, and moved to Gloucestershire before retiring in 1973. He then became become a successful author and journalist, writing on cricket and rugby for the Daily Telegraph. An accomplished RU player, he turned out for Sale and Cheshire.

Green, who never played for England, attained distinction in 1969 when he was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year after scoring 2,000 runs in a county season, becoming the only first-class cricketer to achieve this feat without scoring a century.

MTB writes: Green made the biggest hit I have ever seen in club cricket when he smashed Winnington Park’s star fast bowler Trevor Gibson over the top of the massive ICI building at the Recreation Ground in 1967, on a day off from Old Trafford They never found the ball.

APRIL NEWSLETTER: p10

Remember Brooklands’ Keith Walker?

THOSE with long memories may recall the superb swing bowling feats of Keith Walker at Brooklands in the County League’s early days when he and team mates Allan Barratt, Peter Gresty, Jeff Marland, Jim Attenborrow and Derek Dooley et al made the Georges Road club so hard to beat.

Keith has been in touch with Newsletter to ask for assistance in compiling some cricket records and to talk about his life since those heady days when he topped the League wicket-takers in 1975 (with 56 victims) 1976 (48), 1977 (58) and 1978 (51), the club going on to win their one and only title in 1979.

Work for NatWest Bank took Keith down south where he played for Reading for three years before an ankle injury ended his cricket career. He went on to live at Woking for 24 years, then in 2008 moved to his present home at Wexford in the Republic of Ireland.

Now firmly on the Newsletter circulation list, Keith wonders if anyone who remembers him during his 14 years at Brooklands might like to make contact on-line at keithwalker9167@. or by the more intimate method of telephone on 00353 924 7562.

WEBSITE UPDATE

LEAGUE supporters and all others interested in keeping in touch should note that the League’s excellent Pitchero website administered by Richard Fennah, now carries all current events and pictures, records and key documents including this and previous issues of Newsletter.

The address is .uk/

The Play- website run by Darren Sutcliffe, with the new assistance of Stuart Hayes now becomes a purely results facility.

NEXT ISSUE:

PRE – SEASON ON MONDAY, APRIL 18

Mike.t-b@: Monday, April 4, 2016

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