TALKING TO A OLD UMPIRE

By Brian Sanderson,

The forecast for to-day had been good for a number of days so I decided to visit Bacup in the Lancashire League.I have heard on numberous occasions not to visit Bacup if it is cold.

So picking up Peter Mann we sent off over the moors to Hebden Bridge.Near to Howarth I passed a horse rider walking her dog.Another first.After a excellent lunch we sent off up the hill for about two miles to Bacup.The sun was shining and they were playing Lowerhouse.The ground has brillent views on to the hills and sheep on the slopes.
Bacup were bottom of the league last season and had signed Jon.Jon Smuts from South Africa. Lowerhouse had signed Franceis Haasbroek from the same country.

Bacup batted first gradually worked their way up to 168. There were no programmes so it was hard to tell who the players were. However announcer did give some names out.
The batted was nothing special with te pro getting out for 20.During the first innings we meet Geoff who is a umpire for a number of years in the Bradford and Airedale Leagues. We talked of some the player we both knew.

Lowerhouse start their innings and were soon losing wickets. A left -arm bowler called Joe Sipocz collect figures of 9 for 22 with Lowerhouse been bowled out for 46.
Another low score ,similar to yesterday.

Moving on down the hill to Burnley against Rawtenstall.The ground is next to the soccor pitch Turf Moor.Burnley were batting with two wickets down for 120. They were chasing a total of 296. Somebody must have batted well.

In the next seven overs they lost 7 wickets. The spectators were complaining that Burnley were up against it as the Professional had not turn up yet. That is the problem with the Lancashire League ,the clubs depend on the professional too much.