LYMM Oughtrington Park Cricket Club, celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, invited former players to return to play a present-day XI at the annual “President’s Day” which rounded off a week-long cricket festival.
The “Old Boys XI” put up a spirited performance against their younger counterparts, restricting them to 198-9, Chris Ray 48 and with veterans Norman Jackson taking 3-24, Julian Knowles 1-14 and Mike Cullen 3-33.
The Old Boys replied with 167-9, with Martin Boffey hitting a swift 60 not out to be named man-of-the-match.
During the President’s Day, a specially commissioned watercolour painting was unveiled by life member and former groundsman David Jackson.
The club has also published a new history entitled “125 not out” which gives a fascinating glimpse of cricket at Oughtrington Park from 1884 to the present day. It has been edited by former chairman Bob Dougall, with statistics and photographs by president John Pye and former player Chris Bone.
Lymm Oughtrington Park started as St Peter’s Oughtrington and was founded by the then vicar, the appropriately named Rev WG Knocker! It was largely under the influence of the Dewhurst family, who lived at Oughtrington Hall.
Over the years a number of famous cricketers have played on the ground, including the Lancashire and England batsman J.T. Tyldesley, who scored 73 centuries in his career but could only manage 11 against LOP!
The Pakistani Test player Hanif Mohammed did rather better when he visited in 1958 and scored 105 and took five wickets for 22 runs.
The club history – which includes comprehensive statistics – is available from Bob on 01925 753003 or email [email protected]
Pictures: the match in progress and David Jackson unveiling the painting, watched by chairman Paul Henbrey.
