Category: News

To read the latest newsletter from our friends at the Sussex Cricket Society click here>>

The latest newsletter from the Cricket Memorabilia Society is available to read online.

<<Click on this link to read>>

The Lancashire & Cheshire Cricket Society AGM is on Monday 26th October 2026 at 12.15pm in the 1864 suite, Emirates Old Trafford and will be followed by our meeting with guest Duncan Hamilton at 1pm.

Click on each of the following links to view downloadable copies of the Agenda, previous AGM minutes and accounts.

Also, click on the following link to view a downloadable copy of the Proposed amendments to the rules of the Society which indicate the changes envisaged.

We look forward to seeing many of you at the AGM.

We had a great meeting with Sir Clive Lloyd with over 160 in attendance at Emirates Old Trafford.

Sir Clive spoke movingly about The Great Catch charity which is raising money to combat prostate cancer in the Caribbean, and £1200 was raised on the day with 60 people buying Sir Clive’s recently republished biography ‘Supercat’ .

We have spare signed copies available from Malcolm Lorimer at Max Books and these can be bought online by clicking here.

Sir Clive spoke really well, stating his main aim as Lancashire President was to make sure Lancashire regain their status as a Division One club – where he felt they should be.

There were some hilarious tales about his life at Haslingden County Championship where he was their professional on arrival in England. It was so cold his landlady gave him an electric blanket which he got in trouble over after leaving it on all day and night!

What shone through was his loyalty to Lancashire – a place that had made him so welcome and he never wanted to leave and play for another county.

He spoke warmly about former Lancashire teammates Harry Pilling, Jack Bond and John Sullivan among others.

How a spectator from Yorkshire called the Lancs players ‘dirty b……..sts’. Sullivan asked the spectator to repeat the remark and when he did, the former ABA boxer flattened him with a right hook.

Sir Garry Sobers was his favourite player and running out Geoff Boycott his best bit of fielding.

He was castigated for slow over rates by the West Indies fast bowlers and replied that he could have speeded things up but didn’t want to finish the matches too early!!

New Lancashire Chief Executive Richard Kenyon stopped by on his first day at the club and Dave Taylor introduced him to the audience.

He was given a really warm welcome was given by the members and they were really impressed by him.

Early days, but it looks and feels Lancashire have chosen well.

Next meeting: Monday 26th October, 1pm with Duncan Hamilton who will be talking about his latest book on Sir Garry Sobers. David has also written biographies about Brian Clough and Harold Larwood.

Click here to read the latest newsletter from our friends at The Hampshire Cricket Society

Click here to read: Cardus Goes to School – and is Reborn – by Bob Hilton

JIM LAKER -19 WICKETS 70TH ANNIVERSARY LUNCH
Thursday 23rd July, Emirates Old Trafford

It all started with one of Jim Laker’s daughters Fiona e-mailing Emirates Old Trafford and asking what we were doing to remember her father’s great bowling feat 70 years ago in taking 19 wickets in an Ashes Test Match?

Her e-mail was picked up by our new Heritage Manager Alex Cropper and along with Rev. Malcolm Lorimer they set about organising a special lunch in August to remember Jim Laker’s Test world record.

Over 70 people were present at the lunch, including Jim’s two daughters Fiona and Angela and their partners. They brought with them some memorabilia as well as two scrapbooks concerning the match. One contained all the telegrams Jim received from all over the world. There was a special toast to Jim and his two daughters who were rather flattered to have to sign some of menus afterwards.

Alex Cropper brought an original scorebook and a cricket stump from the Lancashire Cricket Collection which had been presented to Rev. David Shepherd, along with other scrapbooks and photos. Neil Robinson, the Heritage and Museum manager from Lord’s, brought the two balls used by Jim Laker in the match.

Malcolm Lorimer provided a special menu and a scorecard for each person with an intriguing photo of two young boys sitting on the outfield having their lunch. We are trying to trace these boys from their school badge from Hulme Grammar School.

There was a seventeen-minute film of the Test Match played on the large screen in the room with interviews from some of the players who had played in the match.

Cricket writer Stephen Chalke spoke about Jim Laker, reflecting on the man, the match and its place in cricket history. Also interviews with Fiona, Angela and Patrick – Jim’s grandson – who had played cricket at the Oval and hit two sixes into the Lock & Laker stand!

An excellent three-course meal was enjoyed, everyone spoke highly of the event and one which should be repeated. There is only one problem! – we need another historic match to celebrate.

Rev Malcolm Lorimer
Heritage Team Volunteer
Emirates Old Trafford

Footnote: On the back of the menu there is a photo of two young boys around 12 or 14 enjoying lunch on the outfield. They would be around 70 or 80 now, both we think from Hulme Grammar School. We would like to track them down, do you know who they are?

THANKS TO THE LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE SOCIETY FOR HELPING TO SPONSOR THE EVENT

We have received the May Newsletter from our friends at the Worcestershire Cricket Society.

To read the newsletter please click on the download button.

We have received this message from Simon Turner.

I wanted to message you to express my thanks and appreciation for the Society programme of 2025-26.

I really enjoyed the speakers and am aware that a huge amount of work takes place for each one, much of it unseen by the average member.

A friend of mine is a new recruit this season and my brother in law has come twice as a guest and will join next year as a full member.

I wish you well for the new cricket season, as we hope Lancashire are promoted. In addition, I hope you get the speakers you are hoping for in 2026-7.

Thank you again
Simon

Our final speaker meeting of the season saw Paul Edwards and Graham Hardcastle speak about their new website “Lanky Lanky”, a relatively new subscription based website that covers all things Lancashire.

As Paul stood up to great applause he wondered whether that applause was for him standing up or Malcolm Lorimer, who introduced him, sitting down. It is important to note that this website will be independent comment, and will cover league clubs on occasions in Lancashire.

Why County Cricket? Why not regional? There were rumours circulating after the Strauss review that there were “smaller clubs” that were in danger of being excluded from first class cricket, “get rid of the weakest six” was the war cry heard. So this season past (2025) who was promoted from the second division, ahead of such clubs as Lancashire and Middlesex? Leicester and Glamorgan. The defence for not culling lies in the ECB’s opportunity for all; inclusion, diversity and equality. They are trying to attract more people into the game via this strategy and if we give them less opportunity to do so by limiting the number of places on offer, then they are defeating their own objectives, plus lessening the chance of finding the next Hameed of Bethell. Paul recommended the book on Brearley and Arlott entitled Arlott In Conversation with Mike Brearley:
“All test cricket is done well as a spectacle, but I love a County game at Neath or Ebbw Vale, hearing the players talking to each other …..”

Most cricket supporters have great loyalty to their county as well as their country, mostly due to the place they were born. (We have a L&CC society member who lives in Dudley but is a life member at Lancashire. His grandfather from Bolton when he was born enlisted him as a life member at Lancashire.) Paul fondly remembered his first county cricket match where Lancashire played Derbyshire in 1965, which took place at Trafalgar Road, home of Southport and Birkdale Cricket Club. Paul lives within walking distance of the ground and to this day it is still his favourite ground. Cricket involves community, and it is as much about passing on knowledge as much as playing and supporting a club. The example of James Anderson and Nathan Lyon being at Lancashire in 2025 must have buoyed both our seam bowlers and spinners. Lyon said for himself it was terrific to stand at mid-on and listen to Jimmy’s plans for his nest two balls. In turn they pass on their knowledge and experience. As an instance Paul quoted Ormskirk who have produced eight first class cricketers because they were coached by former professionals who passed on their wealth of knowledge.

Counter Press are the publishers responsible for the website. No local papers cover cricket anymore and the website is where you can read proper journalism about the county you love. Currently there are 16 websites facilitated by Counter Press, all county based and Paul believes it will be value for money.

Graham Hardcastle remembered his first foray abroad as a freelance reporter seeing Adrian Shankar’s biggest score in Barbados. Adrian, as we now know, was a bit of a Walter Mitty and he told Graham that he had played at Wimbledon, been on Arsenal’s books and signed for Toul Nadu (sic) and Graham reported it. A faultless introduction to his profession!

Graham has a £5 bet on Lancashire to win their league every year. He also puts £5 on them to be relegated as well! His only success has been 2011 so far, and he was overjoyed. At the beginning of that 2011 season he, along with Chris Ostick from the Manchester Evening News, got together with Malcolm Lorimer and decided that if Lancashire won the championship, not playing at Old Trafford due to the ground redevelopment, instead playing every home game at Aigburth, the home of Liverpool Cricket Club, then they would write a book. They duly diarised quite extensively every game and by the time they were at tea in the last game against Somerset at Taunton, they were still convinced that Warwickshire would beat Hampshire. But, as we all know, Croft and Brown saw us through and so the book was published, “Champions – About Bloomin Time”, is still available at all good book shops and some disreputable ones as well.

Graham is also the cricket correspondent for Yorkshire County Cricket Club as well. He recalls that in 2024, Yorkshire didn’t win their first 7 games but still won promotion. In contrast Lancashire in 2025 didn’t register a win in their first 7 games either, but the difference was that Yorkshire were in with a chance of winning in most of those games, whereas Lancashire lost 5 of their 7 games. We all know what happened next in Lancashire’s case and with the change of coach and skipper, Graham sees a good season ahead – will his £5 be safe?

Counter Press was started by Simon Moorshead who started a website about Swindon Town Football Club called The Moonraker, and it grew from there

If you wish to subscribe go to: –
Lankylanky.counterpress.media or Lankylanky.news and subscribe.

Don’t forget to obtain your 25% discount by entering Lanky Special on your application. Discount finishes on 28 March.