“I don’t really know how I got the job at Rawtenstall, I sort of fell into it!”
live in The Rossendale valley at the foot of The Pennines, one of Lancashire’s rainiest areas. This coming season will be my fifth as groundsman to Rawtenstall Cricket Club, my home town side. They play in the Lancashire League, reputedly one of the best leagues in the country. Former Rawtenstall professionals have included West Indian Franklyn Stephenson, Australians Colin Miller and Michael Bevan, South African Andrew Hall and, this season, the paid man is Indian all rounder Sanjay Bangar. Professionals who have plied their trade in the league have included Sir Viv Richards, Peter Sleep, Chris Cairns and Kartik Murali amongst many many others. I don’t really now how I got the job, I sort of fell into it. Four years ago I was reading the local paper when I saw an impassioned plea by the Club Chairman. The groundsman had left the club just before the start of the season after being offered a similar position at his home town club, and local rivals, Burnley. The new season was looming and this was a cry for help. I knew the chairman
I
slightly, one of my sons had played at the club years earlier. I offered my services on a part time, voluntary, temporary basis! I knew the ins and outs of a Mastiff, had a little spare time and agreed to cut the outfield. My offer was somewhat misinterpreted. Within days I was offered the groundsman’s job on a part time, hourly paid, basis. Despite my protestations - I had never even played cricket let alone maintained a square - the Chairman and his committee insisted I was the man for the job and asked me to give it a try. I was given little alternative but to agree and, for a couple of weeks, a local firefighter and former groundsman gave me some tutoring and advice, I was then thrown in at the deep end. I spent hours reading up on wicket
preparation, I even bought a second hand PC so I could gain the relevant information from the Internet - another learning curve, as I knew little about computers as well! The former
groundsman, Derek Carter, was a great source of advice, and still is, despite being with rivals Burnley. A now retired groundsman, Gordon Horrocks, also offered very good advice. Gordon had worked at several cricket clubs, including Rawtenstall, and was a former head groundsman at Gigg Lane, the home of Bury FC. Following an IOG level 1 cricket course at Middleton CC I acquired another mentor in the form of Ian Brewster-Mather, the Middleton
71
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100