Saturday October 22nd 2005

Retiring Lancashire League Secretary Lionel Cooke presents Zed Afzal with the website Player of the Year Award

Zahir Afzal became the first player to retain the www.accringtoncc.co.uk Player of the Year Award at the club's Annual Presentation Night. Retiring first team scorer and Lancashire League Secretary Lionel Cooke presented the awards in a well attended evening.

Zed also retained the Chairman's Cup as Player of the year for another successful season during which he scored 484 runs and he also took 30 wickets. Zed was also voted Players Player of the year on the night.

Tariq Hussain was awarded the Boardwell Cup for taking most wickets (37) and he also won the supporters award, the Heavenly Choir Trophy. Team Manager Ian Wilson also singled the all rounder out as the winner of his champagne moment for his match winning innings at Nelson.

Lionel with the Wilson brothers, Matt and Adam

The Wilson brothers also picked up trophies with senior skipper Matt winning the Seddon Cup for best batting average and Adam picking up the County Cup for the outstanding performance in a winning game for his career best knock of 46 against Haslingden in July.

Graeme Sneddon retained the Jack Douthwaite Trophy for the best overall performance by a player under 19 in the first team for hitting 216 runs and taking six wickets and six catches. The absent Mohsin Ahmed also won two awards, the President's Cup for hitting most runs (573) and the Holden Cup for taking 9 catches.

Lionel with Waqas and the Duncan Warburton Trophy

Waqas Ahmed capped a fine season by picking up five awards. The young all rounder was the outstanding player in the seconds picking up both Bruce Francis Cups for most runs (364) and most wickets (33). He also won the Duncan Warburton Trophy for best performance. Skipper Steve Juliff had the best bowling average (12.8) and Sagawat Hussain (27.9) the best batting average in the seconds. James Ormerod was named Player of the year.

James also won two trophies in the thirds, picking up the Alven Burrows Cup for most runs (214) and the JR Wilkinson Cup for best batting average (35.7). Skipper Zed Hussain won the Peter Westwell Cup for taking most wickets (16). Matthew Schofield picked up four awards, the JR Wilkinson Cup for best bowling average (22.7), the Ashwell Trophy for most improved player, the Thompson and Partners Trophy as Player of the year and also the Gerry Braithwaite Cup as Junior Clubman of the Year.

Waqas Ahmed picked up the Under 17s Player of the year Award and the cup for most wickets with his skipper Andy Greenwood winning the prize for most runs. Sagawat Hussain also had a double with the cups for best batting and bowling average.

Linda Finney won the Michael Rigby Award for Club Person of the year for her work on the Ladies Committee which also included organising the Bonus Ball Draw which netted the club over £1000 during the season.

Simon Hanson won the Edwin Airey Trophy for Junior Player of the year and James Ormerod stepped up again to pick up the Leslie and Margaret Martin Trophy for Club wicketkeeper of the year.

Lionel with his wife Maureen and Duncan Warburton

And finally Lionel's wife Maureen was presented with a bouquet of flowers by Assistant Lancashire League Secretary Duncan Warburton, who also presented Lionel, who has been first team scorer for the past nine seasons, with a DVD player.

Lionel's retirement leaves a void in the scoring department so if anyone wants to take over the important role as first team scorer please contact Chairman Rod Kenyon on 01254 387864 as soon as possible.

Full list of awards: