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Peter West's Tribute To Ian Birtwistle
Sunday March 20th 2016

Ian Birtwistle
Ian Birtwistle
©Nigel Stockley

Birtie must have been a couple of years older than I am - or at least he was in 1961 when I first arrived at Accrington Cricket Club. 

He was already established there in the all conquering U.18s of those days (even then he would score match winning runs coming in late in the innings) and the Second Xl.

That is to say that I've no recollection of playing with him in the 3rd Xl although I know he had the same baptism as I and many others in the North East Lancs League playing on Highams Playing Fields (certainly a misnomer in cricketing terms) against the likes of Hospitals and English Electric.

In those days Ian also played tennis and it was not unusual for him to come to or go from cricket practice from/to tennis. He was a fit boy then and had already developed his long curved run up followed by the ball that seemed to float out of his hand and take forever to get to the other end of the pitch.

The two of us played some 2nd XI and then 1st XI together over the next few years but not much as he was a little ahead of me and first Ian and then I went off to university.  Ian went to Lampeter reading English - not pornography and dirty books as Eddie Robinson would have it!

Whilst I was away my university team always toured or hosted Welsh universities and after the games when conversation turned to where you came from and which teams you had played for everyone instantly recalled "this little chap from Accrington with his great, long (but slow) run-up" and "the ball that just floated out of his hand".

When I returned Ian was an established first team player known (and feared) throughout the Lancashire League and the next few years were for many of us at Accrington Cricket Club some of the best of our youth. Ian met and married Elaine and in due course along came Steven. Our former all conquering U.18s were now (with the signing of Alan Worsick as Pro) the all conquering U. 30s (with the exception of Terry Neville) playing limited overs cricket as we had known it "since we were lads".

Ian was vice captain for three years before taking over the captaincy in 1976. There was never a better, more loyal vice captain and he deserved better than his "double" (runners up in League and Cup) as captain. 

As my family came along in the mid 80s I ceased playing at Accrington but over the previous 15 years (making 25 in all) Ian and I had played, practised and trained (in winter also) alongside each other. For some years we played football together for the cricket club in the local league (back to Higham's again). With his spindly white legs and long black shorts he looked every inch a footballer from an earlier (Corinthian) generation. Don't take my word for it - ask Duncan Warburton, Alven Burrows, Alan Richardson et al.

But if Ian was an all round sportsman it didn't come easily. From an early age he was plagued by arthritis and an abiding memory will be of him being the last to leave the field after practice completing his exercise regime to stave off what are commonly referred to as "the ravages of time". He was a fine example to any young sports man or woman of how hard one should work and was never once heard to complain.

Throughout his time at Accrington Ian was first and foremost a clubman. From the outset he had involved himself not only in playing but also in the running and administering of the club. For many years he lived very close to the club but even after his retirement and move to live in Great Harwood he was seldom away from the club.

The big question that everyone always asked about Birtie was "What was the secret of his bowling"? Every opposition batsman wanted to know. Every captain told us stories of batting pros sitting in the dressing room and seeing Birtie come on to bowl - their eyes would light up and they would immediately want to be next man in regardless of the batting order. Despite dire warnings they would come dancing down the wicket from the first ball only to be "castled", stumped or caught in the deep.

What do I know? Bowling I did not do and certainly in the nets I was as incapable as any other batsman when it came to facing Birtie. But I do have a theory. It's derived from many years of fielding at mid off and being the man who (when weather dictated) applied the sawdust to Birtie's run up. Nearly all bowlers make a hole where their front foot lands (it's over this foot that the body and arm swivel when the ball is projected from the hand). But Birtie dug a hole with his back foot. I think, therefore, that he released the ball early in the action, from ever so slightly, further back and with less forward momentum than expected. Satisfied? Or just as confused as all those other 811 Lancashire League batsmen?

Your secret's safe now Birtie. Rest in Peace.

Peter West.

 

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