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Youth Devlopment Officer's Report for Season 2008
It was generally felt that the 2007 season was as wet as it could get, but I am certain that records will prove that 2008 was as bad, if not worse. This meant that any aspiring young players, hoping for county representative cricket, had their chances to express themselves at the higher level considerably reduced.
The Lancashire Federation Under 19 XI season was, from the weather point of view, an absolute disaster and was a great disappointment for the Northern League players who made the squad. Chris Clarke (Darwen), Daniel Milligan (Lancaster), Josh Tolley (Chorley) and Luis Reece (Blackpool) all hoped to impress, but of the seven matches scheduled, five games were brought to a premature end by the weather, two without a ball being bowled. It was deeply disappointing especially for those players in their final season of Under 19 cricket.
In the Northern League season, many young players of 20 and under turned in performances which confirmed that their clubs were justified in giving them a chance in the premier division.
Josh Tolley was probably the most notable young player with six scores of over 50 when opening the batting for Chorley, striking up an excellent partnership with another young player Nigel Eastham. Josh also had big scores in the 20/20 competition, for the M.C.C. and a score of 86 for Lancashire Under 19's against the "old enemy" Yorkshire at Todmorden.
Another 18 year old who performed well for Lancashire at Todmorden was Blackpool's Luis Reece. with 67, and he topped the bowling averages in a season which was hardly conducive to the quicker bowlers. Leyland reaped dividends by giving two young players, Chris Parkinson and Karl Cross the opportunity to open the innings, and much of the club's early season success was built on the excellent foundation formed by these two promising players.
In 2007, Chris Miller took 40 wickets at an average of 17.33 for Kendal, being third amateur bowler in the league. In 2008, however, the highlight for Chris must certainly be his 10 wickets in an innings against Carnforth for Netherfield which equalled the only previous 10 wicket haul in the history of the league by the professional for Morecambe, Colin Hilton in 1969.
Barrow are justifiably proud of the young players who feature prominently in the first eleven. Jonathan Miles and Liam Livingstone had several outstanding performances to their credit throughout the season. Along with Daniel Milligan, Lancaster's Jamie Heywood and Michael Walling have performed consistently for so long now that you imagine them to be veterans, but they are 19 and 20 years old respectively.
Tom Blundell of Fleetwood has represented Lancashire at Under 19 level in recent years and ex Chorley leg break bowler Gurav Dhar and ex St. Annes left armer Michael Baer have set our young players an example for what can be achieved by becoming members of Lancashire's Academy.
In recent years, Leyland Motors players Duncan Catterall and Chris Liptrot joined the Worcestershire County Club. James Anyon and Andrew Miller of Preston are established players at Warwickshire and Lancashire County have Andrew Flintoff (St Annes),Stephen Croft (Blackpool and Chorley's Tom Smith on their staff.
We are all well aware of Andrew Flintoff's achievements and are rightly proud of them. Blackpool's Stephen Croft must be congratulated for becoming Lancashire's 2008 Player of the Year and it is to his credit that when available he returns to Stanley Park to play with his old team mates. These seven county players have shown what can be achieved by young Northern League players when given the chance. I am sure there will be several more youngsters like Jonty McDonald of Preston who will spring to prominence during next season and I look forward to reporting their successes in next year's handbook.
Clive Henderson
Youth Development Officer
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