Sixty years of the Northern Cricket League
In 1951 the Ribblesdale league had 18 clubs which meant that the clubs could only play five clubs twice.
At the 1951 AGM it was proposed that there should be a Western Section comprising of Blackpool, Chorley, Darwen, Fleetwood, Lancaster, Leyland, Leyland Motors, Morecambe and St Annes along with Kendal and Furness
The proposal was defeated on the casting vote of the President resulting in the nine clubs resigning from the League.
There were 11 clubs starting the season in 1952 with Preston joining for the 1953 season
The first chairman was Bill Blackledge of Chorley and it was through his connections with Sir Donald Bradman that the great Australian cricketer became the first President of the League.
Contrary to other Leagues the Northern Cricket League decided that there would be 8 balls in an over and not the usual 6.
The League changed to 6 balls an over in 1981
Furness resigned from the League in 1958 with Netherfield taking their place. In 2000 we became an accredited Premier League with the ECB.
In 2004 Barrow CC joined the League form the North Lancashire League and were followed in 2006 by Carnforth CC also from the North Lancashire League.
Unfortunately 2006 was the last season for Leyland Mortors who amalgamated with Leyland & Farington CC to form the now Leyland CC.
In 2010 the Lancashire Colts joined and played each club once and the results counting in the normal way towards the championship.
St Annes were the first champions being undefeated for season 1952, this feat was repeated in 1953 with Furness. Blackpool won the next two then Kendal and Lancaster.
Furness in 1958 won the League in a play-off match against Darwen at Blackpool with substitute professional Bill Alley. Kendal were the final winners of the 1950's.
Blackpool were the team of the 60's winning the championship 7 times once jointly with Preston,.Leyland in 61, Darwen 66 (after being bowled out for 6 in the first match of the season) and Morecambe were the other winners of the decade
Preston won in 71 followed by Fleetwood's first championship, Leyland Motors winning their only League 1 title in 73, Blackpool then Fleetwood before Lancaster dominated the rest of the decade taking the title in 1976 - 79 being undefeated in 1977.
Blackpool were again the top team of the 80's winning the title 4 times , the other winners being Chorley, Leyland, Preston, Fleetwood and Darwen.
The 90's provided 3 teams that won the championship twice, two Kendal and Netherfield won in consecutive years, Kendal 93 and 4 (94 unbeaten) and Netherfield 97and 98. Morecambe took the title in 92 and 95. Leyland won in 92 with St Annes 96 and Darwen 1999 the other winners.
The Millennium started with Netherfield champions in 2000 and 2001 and 2008 with Darwen winning in 2002 and 3 Fleetwood, Morecambe, Leyland and St Annes taking the title in alternative years, 2005, 2007 , 2009 and 2011.
In the last 60 years there has been some outstanding professionals playing in this league but space is limited and I can only touch on a few.
Bill Alley was Blackpool's professional for 4 seasons scoring 4845 runs for an average of 115.357 making 19 centuries before going on to Somerset and a successful county career
Bob Entwistle was professional for 4 clubs from 1967 - 1986 and score 15647 runs for an average of 51,43.
Terry Hunte (Kendal ) with 1351 runs broke Bill Alley's 1953 record of 1345 in 1994. Terry's record stood until 2008 when Callum Ferguson (Netherfield) made 1381 runs
Colin Hilton (Morecambe) in 1968 took 113 wickets followed by Shane Harwood (St Annes) in 2005 with 100.
Michael Staziker was Lancaster professional for 15 years and his career figures of 9304 runs for an average of 28.02 and taking 1052 wickets for 15.34 show what an influence he had on the League and club
There have been some good quality overseas professionals in the League but in looking back over the years I think that it is only right to mention a few professionals who could be described as home-grown - Terry Ashcroft, Keith Eccleshare, Bob Entwistle, David Halliwell and David Higham. Each of them was a respected player who served their Clubs well and consistently produced the performances expected of a professional.
Terry Ashcroft began his professional career in the League with Leyland Motors then moved on to Leyland and finished his career with Chorley and at all three clubs he was a good team man who never gave less than his best. He had a "best of season" in 1960 with 8-32 including the hat-trick against Kendal and also in 1963 with 8-31
Keith Eccleshare came into the League from the Bolton League when he joined Chorley as their professional and he equalled the professional record of Oliver Demming with 88 wickets in 1980 in a season when he topped the bowling averages taking 5 or more wickets in an innings nine times; he also holds the amateur record with 69 wickets in 1992 and has a "best of season" in 1992 with 8-12.
Bob Entwistle gave outstanding service to Netherfield where he held the professional batting record for a time, to Fleetwood where he twice created a new professional batting record and to Darwen where he also created a new professional batting record. In his time he made 8 centuries in the League
David Halliwell was a player who gave 100% at all times and sometimes his temperament showed this in his fast bowling. He moved from the amateur ranks at Leyland to become the professional where he holds the professional bowling record with 93 wickets in 1975 when he took 5 wickets or more in an innings on eleven occaisions. Twice he took the most wickets in a season
David Higham began as an amateur with Preston and moved into the professional ranks with Preston and Blackpool, and played as an amateur with Fleetwood and Blackpool. He shares the amateur bowling record at Fleetwood with 66 wickets in 1970 when he took 5 or more wickets in an innings on five occaisions. David showed he had lost none of his ability when he turned out for Blackpool in 2001.
The clubs of this league have produced many outstanding players and due to the limited space can again only touch on the talent seen throughout the years.
There are 8 other players like Bob Entwistle who have scored over 10,000 runs and they are:
Terry Hunte was professional at Kendal from 1987 - 90 and has been playing as an amateur ever since. He holds the record for scoring over 19568 runs so far in his illustrious career for an average of 42.45
Graham Fisher started his career at Blackpool before moving on to Morecambe in 1982 and made 13806 for an average 30.68
Adrian Darlington is still playing Division 1 cricket playing for Preston ,Blackpool, St Annes and back to Blackpool and has accumulated over 13813 runs. His average being 27.03
Grahame Clarke scored 13021 for Netherfield from 1983 - 2007 with an average of 34.17
David Heywood played for Lancaster from 1987 - 2011 making 12054 runs for an average of 33.58
Gareth Cordingley scored 10751 for an average of 33.39 for Darwen CC from 1987 - to-date
Martin Pickles played for Blackpool (2 years with Morecambe) from 1982 - 2005 and scored 10092 runs for an average of 28.03.
Lastly David Makinson who started in the Northern League In 1978 at Leyland CC and to-day in 2012 is captain of Leyland CC. David went to Lancashire CCC from 1985 - 1988 and was professional at Leyland in 1984 and then 12 years with Leyland Motors .
When he was not a professional he has been an amateur at either Leyland or Leyand Motor s CC a true servant to Leyland cricket.
David is the only player to have scored over 10,000 runs and taken over 1000 wickets. His figures are 10801 runs for 25.24 and 1186 wickets for 19.02
Three other players have taken over 1000 wickets, David Higham - 1348, Keith Eccleshare - 1138 and Michael Staziker 1052
In the past 60 years there have been many players who have given entertainment, excitement and those magic moments that live forever.
Here is a list of players who have provided such moments, I must apologize for any names missing but there is only limited space for this article.
Barrow - Ian Allington and Raymond Mowat Robin Adams, Iain Kermode Daryl Wearing, Jonathan Miles and Liam Livingstone.
Blackpool - Tom Incles, Tommy Dickinson, Jimmy Andrew, Jack Armstrong, Arthur Laycock, Roy Booth, Norman Lanfield, Alvah Haslam, Vic Maley, Geoff Clarkson , Nobby Lawton, Robin Hood, Martin Pickles , David Cresswell , Paul Danson, Richard Gleeson and Steven Croft
Carnforth - Ryan Nelson Adam Hornby, Darren Nelson , Atiq Uz Zaman, Adam Cowperthwaite, Ben Hornby and Darren Moore.
Chorley 's Joe Blackledge was Lancashire captain in 1962 and later Club President. Albert Mocket, Frank Hery, John Kearsley - 885 runs in 1980 still the club record, Geoff Shaw, John Mawdesley , the Rossall brothers John and Dougie, Bob Yardley (Holder of highest score by an amateur 151no) Neil Bannister, Nigel Heaton, John Fazackerley , Neil Senior and Roland Horridge an inspiring captain. Andrew Holdsworth and Tom Smith.
Darwen - Keith Harwood, Jack Lightbown, Ted Friend, Colin Riley, Stuart Sharples,KB Smith, John Clarke, Geoff Eccles, David Bonner, The Cordingley brothers Gareth, John and Neil, Chris Lowe, Graham Parkinson, Graham Ainslie, Simon Painter, Andrew Mercer (Bowling Record holder with 79 wickets), Christain Davies. Recently Jordan Clarke and Alex Davies
Fleetwood - Harold Wilkinson, Jack Armstrong, David Higham, (David and Jack co holders of bowling record 66 wickets), Tom Scott, John Staves, Bill Snasdell, John Kettlestring, Geoff Harris, Pat King, John Wright, Nobby Lawton , Robin Bracewell (holder of batting record with 1032 runs), Keith Hargreaves, David Fish, Neil Gregson , George Wilkinson Nic Coultas and Michael Clinning.
Kendal - Guy Willatt (A captain of Derbyshire), Phil Smith, Eric Mays, Maurice Williams, Shaun Stuart, Brian Evans, Alan Spiby, Malcolm Beaty, Kevin Barnes Derek Holdsworth, Kevin Howarth , Chris Miller (only the 2nd player to take all 10 wickets in a Division 1 match) and Terry Hunte who has been the scourgr of the opposing bowlers both as a professional and amateur.
Lancaster - Michael Speak, Geoff Bates, Malcolm Hall, Trevor Glover, the New Zealander Trevor Franklin who later represented his country , Shaun Higgins, Brian Phillips, Norman Andrews, Brian Charlesworth, Visant Palwanker, Arthur Diamond, David Duncan, David Heywood, Tim Barry, Jamie Heywood and Ben Simm
Leyland - Terry Ashcroft, Norman Willacy, The Milnes brothers, David Wareing, John Pallett, Alf Alker, Graham Brown, John Pallett, Brian Tennant, Bill McKittrick, David Bowen, Ken Brindle, Norman Brown Peter Wareing, Ray Lee, David Makinson , Henry Thompson, Luis Reece, Andrew Makinson, James Rounding and Daniel Lamb
Leyland Motors - Denis Porter, Harold Wardleworth, Derek Dell, David Makinson who joined the county, Prima Mahawatte, Derek Leadbetter, Kevin Hart, Maurice Holdsworth, Dougie Melling, George Rounding, Ronnie Bootle and Albert Yates
Morecambe - Charlie Clough, Ian Hamson, Ray Jagger, Frank Wilkinson, Graham Fisher, Phil Thornton, Roger Sandham, Bob Mashiter, Gulam Maje, Faruk Patel, Peter Stephens, Paul Dennison, Mark Woodhead, Lewis Edge, Gareth Pedder
Robert Haynes and Colin Hilton carried all before him with 113 and 88 wickets respectively and in 1969 took all 10 wickets in a match.
Netherfield - Cliff Airey, Colin Graham, Terry Lindsay, Steven Neighbour , Alan Wilson, Colin Dalzell , Ian Heath, Hughie Evans, Richard Ellwood, Grahme Clarke, Scott Clement, David Wheatman, Craig Walmsley, Simon Dutton, John Moyes, Ben Haddrick, Marc Hadwin, Chris Parry, Tommy Prime and Simon Little.
Preston - Ken Brothwood, Geoff Hill Don Gregson, Graham Horrex, Steve Berry, the Lavery brothers Chris and Peter, Doug Green, Jim Dootson, Bernard Gladwin, Bob Reeves, Adrian Robinson, Graham Robinson, Anthony Sullivan, David Wilson, Glenn Johnstone, James Anyon, Roger Kaye, Manoj Parekh, Sajid Patel and Charlie Williams
St Annes - Fred Pescott, Les Sigsworth, Ronnie Grundy, George Diggle, Brian Standing, Bert Watts, Alan Dobson, Barry West, Chris Johnson, Frank Hardman, Ian Hesford, Bob Hesford, Keith Oliver, Jim McKenna, Jim McKenna Jnr, Harold and Eddie Feather, Gepff Spring, Nigel Buffham, the Bradley brothers Neil and Russell, Adrian Darlington, Brian Tennant, Stephen Twist, Sean Bickerdike, Ian Austin , Atiq Uz Zaman and Duncan Whalley
In recent years more players from the Northern League have been involved with county or minor county cricket Andrew Flintoff, James Anyon, Tom Smith Steven Croft Jordan Clarke and Alex Davies all playing county cricket, Jonathan Miles, Daryl Wearing, Chris Williams, Toby Bucock, Ikram Ullah and Richard Gleeson playing for Cumberland.
The League and its clubs have done well in competitions outside the league
In the National KO Chorley appeared in three successive finals from 1994 - 6 winning the first two. Blackpool won in 1990 and Kendal were runners up in 1992.
Clubs from this League have won the Lancashire KO on 19 occasions and been Runners Up on 6
The League team won the Lancashire Inter- League Competion on 9 times.
The League would like to thank the Umpires for their high standard of umpiring over the years.
The League cannot survive without help of those who give their time as League and Club Officials together with the Groundsmen and the work of these people over the years is very much appreciated.
Congratulations to the winners of this season's competitions
Division 1 Champions - Fleetwood , Runners up - Barrow
Division 2 Champions - Leyland, Runners up - Barrow
Division 1 Readers Cup Winners - Kendal, Runners up - Fleetwood
Division 2 Readers Cup Winners Leyland, Runners up St Annes
TWP Wealth Twenty/20 Cup Competition - Winners - Fleetwood , Runner up - Lancaster
A special note of congratulations should be made to Alex Davies of Darwen CC and also Luis Reece of Leyland CC, who have both been given professional contracts at Lancashire County Cricket Club.
