Clarke the inspiration

DOUG CLARKE: popular figure

CRICKET: “A TERRIFIC player and a very genuine bloke.” is how former team-mate and Saddleworth and District Cricket League secretary Trevor Harrison described Doug Clarke, who has died aged 77.

The all-rounder, who returned to Barbados several years ago, played for Crompton, Royton, Moorside, Micklehurst and Delph, where his reputation was made.

It was at Delph where Clarke broke a Saddleworth League record, adding 339 with Phil Whitehead for the second wicket in September 1970. Clarke smashed an unbeaten 190 and Whitehead 152 against a luckless Austerlands attack.

Born in 1938, in the College Savannah district of St John’s, Barbados, he arrived in this country aged 19. His early cricketing career was spent in the CLL alongside Cec Wright and Roy Gilchrist. Employed mainly as a professional, he was a tremendously popular character among the local leagues.

He worked at British Vita and later Moorside Metals, but continued to play as a pro.

With his eye sight failing later in life, he returned to the close-knit community that is College Savannah, where he died.

A minute’s silence was held before the start of the Saddleworth versus Glodwick first-team game on the opening day of the season in honour of Glodwick bowler Bilal Malik, who died earlier in the year, and former Saddleworth player Frank Hall.

Hall, who passed away recently, was heavily involved in the bowls section at the club.

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