Lancashire League: End of an era as East Lancs pair quit (12 Sep 1998)

12 September 1998

End of an era as East Lancs pair quit

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

East Lancashire will witness the end of an era tomorrow when Ian Haworth and Phil Mooney play their last senior games for the club at Accrington.

Between them they have taken over 800 Lancashire League wickets and following the recent retirement of Dave Pearson, East Lancs are losing three players with almost 50 years service to the club between them.

Haworth is fifth in the list of all-time Lancashire League wicket-takers after coming into the side on a regular basis for the first time in 1982 and then taking the new ball the following season.

Having started his career at Darwen, Haworth, who works in the finance department at Blackburn with Darwen Council, made the switch to Alexandra Meadows when it became his local club.

And having started out with the hope of just playing a few first-team games, went on to share in two championships and four Worsley Cup successes, including one this summer.

However, Haworth has not been able to bow out on the ultimate high with another League title - despite the strength of the current side which has been edged out by Nelson.

"Looking back this is the best amateur team I have played in from one to 10, taking out the professional. It's a bit sad that we haven't won it and I can't put my finger on it. It might have been different if Brad Young had been able to stay," he said.

The 46-year-old said he had taken the decision to stand down earlier this season and will play second-team cricket next year before hanging up his boots.

"I had no time to practice in March and April and it didn't feel right. For the first time ever I have not enjoyed putting my cricket bag together on a morning.

"It's just got to the point where I think it's time one or two at the younger end of the team got to pull their weight.

"They should bowl my overs and I don't want to hold the team back," he added.

With Haworth, Mooney and Pearson calling time on their careers, and skipper Mark Lomas looking for a professional's post, East Lancs will have some major gaps to plug next season.

And while Haworth, who is also vice-chairman of the club, says there are some irons in the fire regarding replacement he is keen to stress that there is a golden opportunity for players to join East Lancs with the chance to make an impact.

Mooney, 10 years Haworth's junior, has also made a massive contribution to East Lancs and ends his career on a symmetrical note.

"We won the Worsley Cup in my first season and again in my last and a few in between and it's something similar for Ian.

"We have played a lot of cricket together and we are bowing out together," he said.

Mooney, a teacher at St Augustine's in Billington who had a season as professional with Leyland in the Northern League three years ago, will be looking to add to his tally of 31 league wickets this season before bowling his final delivery at Accrington.

He will then reflect on a career which has given him the highlights of representing the Lancashire League, playing alongside Australian Test players Tom Moody and Paul Reiffel and bowling against West Indian legend Viv Richards when he played at Rishton.

Accrington won't want to make it a happy farewell party, however, as they must win to have any hope of overhauling Burnley to avoid the wooden spoon.

At the other end of the table, the only issue to be resolved is the battle for third place. Ramsbottom and Bacup could both overtake Haslingden if last season's champions lose at home to Church.

However, Ramsbottom will have to beat Nelson who have skipper Duncan Spencer back from honeymoon to lift the championship trophy.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Accrington v East Lancs, Bacup v Colne, Haslingden v Church, Lowerhouse v Rawtenstall, Nelson v Ramsbottom, Rishton v Enfield, Todmorden v Burnley.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)