Worsley Cup Draw: Colne - Home - 29th May

Big Duncy Warburton and his mates have shuffled the balls and done the draw.

And it’s a mini-derby!

Worsley Cup

Burnley v Colne

boohoo.com Turf Moor

29th May 1pm

NEWSFLASH! The LCF Cup: Burnley vs Bawali Shreef - 23rd May at boohoo.com Turf Moor

NEWSFLASH!

The LCF Cup game versus Bawaly Shreef will now be played at boohoo.com Turf Moor, on 23rd May. It’s a 45 over game and stumps are pitched at 1 o’clock.

Our Third XI have a rearranged game at Todmorden that day too.

Joe Fletcher Funeral Details (including webcast login info)

Whilst many of us would love to pay our respects to our dear friend, the roadmap out of lockdown still only allows 30 attendees at a funeral.

If you would like to bid farewell to Joe Fletcher, here are a couple of ways to do so on Tuesday 11th May:

Funeral Procession

The procession will leave Highfield Avenue at 1pm. It will pass Burnley Cricket Club at approximately 1.10pm on the way to Burnley Crematorium for a service with family.

Accessing the Service Online

You will need to visit the following link on Tuesday 11/05/21 at 13:45.

https://www.wesleymedia.co.uk/webcast-view

Login / Order ID: 94351

Password: yyuqgxfd

If you experience issues, please call 01536 314 890.

If you’d like to contribute to Joe’s obituary, please leave a comment on this page.

Joe Fletcher Obituary (1940-2021)

If you’ve played at Burnley Cricket Club in the past half a century, there’s no doubt you’ve been influenced in some way by Joe Fletcher. The club’s leading wicket-taker, who died, this week, after a long battle with illness.

To be more accurate, rather than just if you’ve played down the club; if you’ve ever enjoyed watching an exciting spell of seam, swing or pace bowling by someone in a Burnley shirt; that bowler will most-likely have benefited from Joe’s influence.

Be it close management and coaching for those who were looking for it, or the odd word here and thoughtful question there; Joe was always around. Ever-looking to help people improve their game.

His authority was unquestionable.

With 703 wickets, Joe is the club’s leading amateur wicket taker. What’s more, they were taken at a very miserly 2.69 economy rate.

His skill is legendary. In fact, those who watched and played with him said he would have had even more wickets, if only the amateur batters had been good enough to get an edge on the ball more often.

Growing up at BCC as a bowler trying to learn the art of swing and seam bowling, Joe was the benchmark to strive for.  Not that many achieved it, of course, perhaps a certain James Anderson.

Joe said that, ‘Too much swing is a bad thing. It’s better to move it by only half a bat’s width. That’s how you get them caught behind.’ Which explains why ‘Caught Richardson Bowled Fletcher’ was such a common scorebook entry, over the years.

When he was bowling in tandem with Charlie Griffiths, there can’t have been many better opening partnerships at club level, anywhere in the world.

Joe, end of the back row, on the right, in the 1964 Lancashire League title winning side.

Keeping the game simple was his approach.

As a child, he’d draw a small circle on the wall at the height of the top of off-stump and bowl a tennis ball at it until he hit the circle six times in a row. Again and again. Honing his metronome consistency that would pay off in later years.

As a coach and Third XI manager, his mantra was ‘hit the top of off’ and ‘bat the overs.’ When he won the Third XI league title as manager, in 2006, the single game that his team lost all season was also the only time it got bowled out. It was also the only game Joe was absent, due to attending a family event.

But all these statistics and stories, impressive as they are, still don’t tell the full character of the man. Stubborn and steadfast when he knew he was right on what would improve your game. Dedicated and hard-working to help you get better and improve, if you showed an ounce of willing.

But all this doesn’t show the fun-loving and humorous side of Joe. The passionate and caring coach, stood behind the nets or down at third man. Always wanting to help anyone who loved cricket and his beloved art of bowling. Especially the next generations.

If you were a youngster looking to make your way into the senior teams, he’d willingly cast his eye over your game. Pulling you to one side and offering advice. Ever willing to do a drill or even throw down some balls if you asked.

Or even just share one of his countless tales from yesteryear, laughing with that amazing toothy smile.

All the stories that have been shared about Joe on WhatsApp, this week, have a consistent theme.

Just as likely as he was to teach you how to respect the game and the opposition, he’d also teach you to respect yourself. To not get carried away when things were going well and how to pick yourself up when things weren’t going too great.

That’s why he doesn’t just leave behind a rightly proud son, Andrew, and the rest of his family; but generations of his extended family down at the club.

Great spell, Joe. Have a rest.

Should you wish to share your condolences, please leave a comment below…

THE TEAM SHEETS ARE IN (AND INFO ABOUT SPECTATING)

Cricket is back and it looks like the snow isn’t going to scupper us like last weekend. You might have caught them on Twitter but here are our teams for a bumper opening weekend of the season. Below that, important information for if you’re looking to attend the best beer garden in Burnley this weekend…

Team news

Ron Singleton Trophy vs Darwen (H) | Saturday 17th April 1pm

1. Pickup

2. Burton

3. Tripathi

4. H Tomlinson

5. Marshall

6. Shah

7. Lalor

8. Bailey

9. Lamb

10. Brunt

11. Erasmus

3rd XI vs Enfield (A) | Saturday 17th April 1pm (meet at noon)

1. Whittle

2. Sutcliffe

3. Harrison

4. Metcalf

5. Holding

6. Hepke

7. Clegg

8. Greenwood

9. Syed

10. G Scott

11. Rebanks

Lancashire League 1st XI vs Rochdale (A) | Sunday 18th April 1pm

1. Pickup

2. Burton

3. Tripathi

4. CJR Holt

5. Marshall

6. H Tomlinson

7. Shah

8. Lalor

9. Roberts

10. Bailey

11. Erasmus

Lancashire League 2nd XI vs Rochdale (H) | Sunday 18th April 1pm

1. Thornton

2. M Tomlinson

3. Lamb

4. Whittle

5. Hargreave

6. Tate

7. Holding

8. Brunt

9. Zore

10. Wasi

11. Sutclife

Important information for people wanting to visit the club this weekend

We are working in line with ECB directive:

✔️ you can come on as long as you use our hospitality (tea room, bar) with TABLE SERVICE ONLY for all hospitality
✖️you cannot bring your own refreshments
✖️ you cannot watch from your car
✖️ NO spectators allowed.

Know a junior who wants to get into cricket? (Sign-up info here)

Interested in cricket? We welcome boys and girls aged 5-8 to introduce you to cricket. Sign up on the below link and look forward to seeing you in the summer. ️

https://ecb.clubspark.uk/AllStars/Course/61c87def-4607-4e7a-a9a4-00a95801edf1

Are you aged 8-11 and want to try cricket? Please sign up here for any boys or girls interested. We already have our first Dynamos sign ups!

https://ecb.clubspark.uk/Dynamos/BookCourse/34e4f88f-6a4f-4b91-9055-a28f57f07281

Thanks

Brunty

We've got a new club shop

We’ve got caps, tracksuits, bench coats, polos, fleeces, WATER BOTTLES and even some cricket kit. Including helmets and ladies-cut playing shirts.

Big thanks to Ribble Wealth Management for sponsoring our senior match shirts and Boohoo for sponsoring our junior match shirts.

Here are some of our favourite bits you can buy from the club shop…

A mask to show the world you’re not a moron because you keep yourself and others safe AND support the best cricket team in town.

A very smart looking polo shirt. That’ll look good in the bar.

A tech fleece. Whatever that means.

One of those trendy baseball caps for all the absolute ballers out there.

Buy your BCC merch, kit and teamwear over on the online club shop.

Please note: Senior players should buy the Ribble Wealth Management shirt and Junior players should buy the Boohoo shirt.

Senior players, buy this one with Ribble Wealth Management on.