Where are they now

In this section we bring you news of players and supporters from our past.

Adam Worthington - recently dropped us an email from Australia, where he is travelling

'Hopefully i'll make the ''where are they'' section now, was devastated not to be included with the past greats.
just a quick message from down under, all is well on the travels so far. Had so many unbelievable experiences and seen some quite amazing things. im currently in Brisbane but soon to heading up towards Cairns. I recently visited our ex-overseas Kyle when I was down in Melbourne, he's apparently ripping up the ozzie scene this year with his rapido pace and wishes the team all the best for next year, as do I good look and I'll be seing you all the the end of the year.
 
all the best Worthy

We have received an email from Gerald Taylor who recently discovered our new website, his email is below.

This is a voice from the past in so far as I have been reading the well constructed and most informative web site for my one and only playing club, i.e. Bolton Villas.  I was shocked and surprised to see my father’s picture ( Ernest Taylor ) along with other stalwarts in the Critics Corner section** and in fact some references to me in Brent Shackleton’s review.  What a shock on a Sunday morning when I had only set out to try and see what “Bolton Vanillas – the ice cream team” as I would refer to the Villas in the past, had done yesterday, 4.8.07.  Unfortunately the league web site has yet to be up-dated so I now await the info in Monday’s T & A.

Reading through the historical records of batting, bowling and fielding was also enlightening added to which another former player, Ray Shepherd and I (with wives) undertook a nostalgic tour of Wrose last Friday afternoon including parking my car, as I always did, at the top of Kings Road and then climb the steps on to All Alone Road and viewed that sacred patch of green.  It appears Ray’s blue and yellow sign, announcing the entrance to Bolton Villas C.C. has faded away to dust having been created back in the 60’s.  Wonderful memories of yesteryear abound, including having a surprise 21^st birthday party at the club – initially unknown to me as I sat on the outfield mower going round and round in ever decreasing circles to cut the grass.  That would 4^th August 1965.   Granville Lawson & Tom Brown would be tending the square., Arthur Rooney would be spinning his magic in the nets, Brian Haigh would be organising somebody to dig a hole to empty the toilet elsan and the former police hut (Dr. Who’s) would be the home for all the cricket ground equipment.

I could go on and on but obviously the likes of the legendary Tom Brown and his opening bowling partner Brian Haigh will have conveyed many memories to the current supporters and players in the years since I “packed in” playing cricket only to emerge from the ashes as a Bradford Cricket League Umpire in 1992.

I must endeavour to call and in and watch a game but as you can imagine BCL games don’t usually finish early on a Saturday, at least mine don’t, so my chances of watching a game at a ground which is still very close to my heart, tend to be rather remote.

Please pass on my best regards to all that may remember me at the club and thanks for compiling such an enlightening website which has stopped me from cutting the grass, washing the car, doing some local shopping as “requested” (demanded) by my wife Pauline, who back in the 60’s was a very reluctant (volunteered) tea lady behind the bar at the back of then “new” wooden dressing room, with the former garage, cum dressing room at the back. By the way it was a genuine pub bar top being obtained from a relative who at the time was the landlord of the The New Inn at Idle.

Better stop now as I will be writing all day because memories, incidents, achievements and failures keep flooding back and the tasks that I planned to do just will not go away.

All the best from

Gerald Taylor

(former opening bat, slip fielder, very occasional lazy lob bowler, with the nickname of “strokeless wonder” – ask Tom, Brian, Brent and the others about that!)

 **PS - please note the “Critics Corner” group picture has one wrong name.  Top left on the back row is former player Colin Jackson’s father = EDMUND Jackson, not Ernest Jackson, our late and much respected captain.  Colin’s dad is still going strong living in Ridgeway at Wrose at the ripe old age of 94 and still smoking his pipe irrespective of today’s so-called “smoking ban”.

It would seem bowls is the next step for old cricketers

News of former player Winston Bull who last week was beaten in the quarter final of the Wednesday Merit Finals. He was beaten by the eventual winner Paul Gill of Clayton. Winston was selected to play for Bradford against Wakefield in the Yorkshire GCA Veterans Inter District League. 

Winston (Crowgyhll) is joined on the bowling greens of Bradford by a number of former players: Our President Brian Haigh (Eccleshill) Chairman Tom Brown (Lister Par) Brian Smith (Lister Park) Arthur Rooney (Peel Park) John Panton (Peel Park). We have also heard that former opponents Barry Jenkinson, David Danskin, and Brian Tordoff amongst others have taken to the game.

Former skipper rekindles old times

Former skipper Dave Tattersall, contacted the website to assure us he is alive and well. It would appear that David has gone back to his youth,   as a junior he was not averse to bowling a little seam up. It seems that   using his vast experience in sales he has been able to convince the skipper down at Apperley CC   that he can still bowl a little 'seam up'.   He and son Richard have been turning out   together for Apperley CC 2nd X1 on a number of occasions this season. David has not forgotten how to use the willow, having posted a nice little 50 against his name.    

1960s - 1970s

Gerald Taylor - Gerald is still living in Shipley and has recently retired. He is a prominent umpire in the Bradford League since 1992, sitting on the Umpires Association Executive Board. He is also a full member of the Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (ACUS)

Johnny Escoe - Johnny was in touch during the Summer and visited the club in mid season. The Bolton Villas legend is living near Ulverston in the Lake District. The Big John Daley of Bolton Villas 'Brownie' was invited by John to take part in a golf open day event at John's local club. Hopefully John will visit again but I will endeavour to keep a track of our former all rounder.

Ken Teasdale - The club was sad to hear of the death of former wicketkeeper Ken Teasdale, who passed away in his sleep aged 84. Ken was the club's first team wicketkeeper in the 1960's.