Fletcher looking for way forward

NEVILLE FLETCHER: New chairman of the CLL.

NEVILLE FLETCHER, a lifelong supporter of local cricket, is the new chairman of The Lake Garage CLL.

The 61-year-old from Royton believes it is important, while maintaining the traditions of the CLL, to explore ways of taking the league forward.

Mr Fletcher is keen to embrace innovations such as the Twenty20 game which has breathed new life into the sport in recent years.

He said: “There have been a number of proposals put forward to change the format and structure of the league.

“That is something the management committee will have to explore bearing in mind the escalating trend towards the increase in competitions, especially Twenty20 cricket.”

Mr Fletcher is also keen that the CLL continues to promote youth in the hope of emulating those who have gone on to greater heights, such as Geoff Pullar, Harry Pilling, Jack Dyson, Peter Marner and John Sullivan - and more recently Paul Gill, Darren Shadford, Steven Kirby and Steven Cheetham.

Having been deputy chairman of the CLL since 2006 and served as umpires appointments secretary for the last eight years, Mr Fletcher is also a member of the Lancashire Cricket Board, representing the interests of umpires in the county, and he is keen to encourage the advancement of young match officials.

Mr Fletcher was a top sportsman in his youth, excelling at both cricket and football.

He made his first-team debut for Middleton in the CLL at the age of 16 in 1963, playing with the likes of former Lancashire and Essex player Eric Price and South African Basil D’Oliveira.

An opening batsman/wicketkeeper, Mr Fletcher captained the Manchester Boys cricket team and played for Lancashire Boys alongside the likes of David Lloyd and Frank Hayes.

Mr Fletcher, a former Lancashire trialist, also played for Oldham and Royton as well as representing the Lancashire constabulary in many national competitions while serving as a police officer.

After retiring from playing through injury in 1981, Mr Fletcher had a 12-year break from the game before taking up umpiring and progressed to officiating in a number of first-class games including a Lancashire v Yorkshire Roses friendly and the Lashings World X1 against Lancashire at Old Trafford.

Mr Fletcher, who is married to Dorothy and who has a daughter Joanne, was also a talented footballer.

He was an amateur on the books of Manchester United and kept goal for them in the FA Youth Cup in 1963 at Sheffield Wednesday where the Reds’ side included George Best, David Sadler, Bobby Noble, Barry Fry, Willie Anderson and Eamon Dunphy who all went on to have successful professional careers.

The following season he played for Athletic in the FA Youth Cup at a time when former keeper Fred Ogden coached the team.



OLDHAM’S Chris Mayer has been elected to serve on the CLL management committee while Mel Whittle, also from The Pollards, has been voted on to the ground committee.
John Cleary, from Royton, has been re-elected president of the CLL for a fourth year.

The league has yet to find a new deputy chairman to fill the vacancy caused by Neville Fletcher becoming chairman in succession to Howard Dronsfield, who has stepped down after five years.