When Micklehurst reigned supreme

CLASS OF 1960: Colin Heap (back row, left), Trevor Harrison, Norman Chamley, Doug Sheard, Alan Marlor, Geoff Barlow. Phil Kippax (front row, left), Ken Radford, Ben Taylor (captain), Eddie Morris, Phil Broadhurst.

Cricket memories: Unless you’re a homesick Eskimo or a polar bear who has taken the wrong turn, the summer months can’t come quick enough.

Cloudless skies and those long, warm days (please, let it happen this year) means only one thing to many of Oldham’s sporting fraternity — cricket.

The new season is only three months away, and teams are already beginning their preparations with indoor net sessions.

But rather than looking forward, let’s go back.


HALF-A-CENTURY ago Micklehurst were the kings of the Saddleworth and District Cricket League.

The class of 1960, captained by Ben Taylor, won the double in a period of complete domination for the club.

From 1952 until 1971, they tasted division one title success on six occasions and were in the top three in all but the 1953 and 1964 seasons when they finished fourth.

Micklehurst, who are now members of the Huddersfield League, were also the masters of the Tanner Cup in that spell, with five wins from nine appearances in the final.

A member of that team was Trevor Harrison, the current Saddleworth League secretary, and he has fond memories of those heady days at Richmond Hill.

He said: “We were a well-balanced side and in Alan Marlor we had a brilliant pro.

“Alan taught me a hell of a lot and would talk you through an innings. He was also as hard as nails. He used to say ‘hit me in the stomach’ and when one of us did, he never flinched.
“He was primarily a pace bowler, who could also mix it up and never bowled two balls the same in an over.

“Unfortunately, he was forced to retire in the end because of injury problems.”

Oldham-born Marlor was a true sporting all-rounder, and appeared for Athletic after the end of the Second World War.

A full-back, he once replaced Charlie Hurst, father of Geoff, England’s hat-trick hero in the 1966 World Cup final, for a match at Crewe.

He also played football in Australia, before coming back home to take up the role as cricket pro.

Marlor produced one of the bowling performances of 1960, with eight for 21 against former club Austerlands.

He also claimed five for 30 in the Tanner Cup final of that year.

Marlor’s display overshadowed that of Sonny Ramadhin, the West Indies great, who recorded figures of two for 36 for opponents Chadwicks.

The Micklehurst side also featured Norman Chamley and Doug Sheard, who opened the bowling, slow left-armer Phil Kippax and off-spinner Ken Radford.

The main men with the bat were Phil Broadhurst, Geoff Barlow, Eddie Morris, Marlor, who came in at four, Harrison.

Micklehurst were skippered by wicketkeeper Taylor, who went on to become secretary of the club. He was also the league secretary until 1984.

“Ben was quite a character,” said Harrison, who is still a member at Micklehurst.

“Unlike today, he would set a field and was up to the bowlers to bowl to it. He wouldn’t change it after every delivery and he would soon let them know, in no uncertain terms, if they weren’t putting the ball in the right place.”