A Chronicle Of The History Of Nelson Cricket Club
The Championship Returns
A relatively unknown South African, Eric Simons, came to Nelson in 1986 and proved to be a wonderful cricketer and clubman. He scored 747 runs and took 72 wickets and inspired the amateurs to reach their potential. Ian Clarkson, skippering the side for the first time, made over 650 runs whilst young Paul Garaghty matured and did likewise. Pat Calderbank was a model of consistency and took over 50 wickets for the ninth time. The team was never out of the top three all season and a win in the final match at home to bottom club Bacup would have given Nelson the Championship. But Bacup won and Todmorden came level with Nelson at the top of the table. A play-off was necessary and this was arranged to be played at Turf Moor one week after those final fixtures. One unfortunate feature was the fact that both clubs had to appoint substitute professionals as neither Simons nor Scott could change their flights home. As it happened both clubs were able to engage former professionals. Neil Radford (with Nelson in 1982) and Rod Estwick (with Todmorden from 1982 to 1984) were the men called upon by the respective clubs.
Todmorden invited Nelson to take first knock and were rewarded with the early wicket of Ian Clarkson. Paul Garaghty, however, produced a sound innings of 51 which was augmented by an enterprising knock from Chris Hartley who finished on 52 not out. Nelson recovered from 112 for 5 to a final total of 171 for 5. Todmorden's innings started badly and they were soon in trouble at 64 for 4. Gallant efforts by the later batsmen were in vain as the innings closed on 158 for 8. Radford and Peter Cockell had bowled unchanged and had returns of 2 for 71 and 5 for 61 from their 23 overs respectively. Nelson had clinched the championship - their eighteenth title.
The club had a decent cup run in 1986 as well but only one tie was at home. Burnley were beaten at Seedhill when Eric Simons produced one of his all-round performances, taking 5 for 75, in Burnley's innings of 198 for 7, and hitting 51 not out. Ian Clarkson scored 66 and Marcus Phelan 42 as Nelson replied with 199 for 4. Howard Lonsdale was run out for 83 in the next round as Nelson compiled 198 for 7 against Enfield. Then it was Pat Calderbank's turn to star and his 5 for 46 from 22 overs restricted Enfield to 158 for 9.
The semi-final at Todmorden was a disaster and, replying to the home side's 166 for 7, Nelson got off to a terrible start from which they never recovered. The third wicket fell with the score on 7. The largest stand was the last one which saw the score move from 54 for 9 to 67 all out.
One of Australia's most promising young batsmen, Steve Waugh, became the club's professional in 1987 and he delighted the Nelson followers with some classic stroke-play. Although four matches were abandoned without a ball being bowled, Waugh scored over 850 runs at an average of 56.73. Ian Clarkson hit three more centuries and totalled 809 runs. His 130 at Todmorden was one of the best, if not the best, innings ever produced by a Nelson amateur - it was certainly the highest! He batted for 116 minutes, faced 110 balls, hit 7 sixes and 13 fours, and was third man out with the score on 179 - only eight runs short of victory.
With Paul Garaghty also scoring over 500 runs again, the team was always in contention but a lack of penetration in the bowling department again meant that Nelson had to settle for third place. Steve Waugh collected 69 wickets but the amateurs could only pick up a further 88 wickets between them. Pat Calderbank (41), Peter Cockell (21), Peter Gildea (16) and Ian Pickles (10) were the bowlers used.
Ian Clarkson's successes in the Lancashire League encouraged Earby to offer their former player a professional engagement and he, temporarily at least, departed from the Seedhill scene in 1988. Anton Ferreira from South Africa was the Nelson professional but, despite a dramatic 10 for 45 feat at Accrington, he failed to show consistent form and only collected 62 wickets all season. Mick Bradley took eight catches behind the stumps - a new League record - on the day Ferreira took those ten wickets; Paul Garaghty passed the 700 run mark and Chris Hartley scored over 500 runs for the sixth time; but the team still slumped to eleventh place. It was in the final fixture of the season, in front of a home crowd, that Pat Calderbank claimed the wicket which gave him 1,000 League wickets and he was presented with the match ball by the club president, Mr. Colin Simmonds.
A brilliant batting display saw Nelson progress into the last eight of the Worsley Cup with a good win at Accrington. Chris Hartley was bowled by the Accrington professional, Tucker, when only four short of a maiden century but his partnership with Ferreira, who remained unbeaten on 108, was worth 160 runs. Tucker responded with 95 as he led the assault on the Nelson bowlers but Ferreira, with 6 for 73, had the last laugh when Accrington's final wicket fell 25 runs short of victory.
Enfield were dispatched for 119 in the next round, the spin combination of Pat Calderbank (4 for 33) and Peter Gildea (3 for 26) doing the main damage. An unbroken stand of 70 between Paul Garaghty (32 not out) and Ferreira (38 not out) took Nelson to 120 for 2. Needing 152 to beat East Lancs. in the semi-final, Nelson started well enough and had 55 on the board before the first wicket fell. Unfortunately wickets fell at regular intervals and Nelson were eventually all out for 148 - four runs short of their target.
The team's league form was no better in 1989 despite the brilliant batting of the new professional, James Brayshaw from Western Australia. Brayshaw, the son of Bacup's 1968-69 professional, broke the club record by scoring four league centuries in one season and he also eclipsed Larry Gomes' record of aggregate runs, finishing on a magnificent total of 1236 and an average of 53.74.
Brayshaw also hit a quite magnificent 135 in the Worsley cup-tie at home to Haslingden. Sharing partnerships of 122 with Paul Garaghty (54) and 66 with Paul Beech (25 not out) he helped to push the Nelson score up to 252 for 5. Haslingden made a spirited reply and with Brian Knowles making 93 they only just fell short with a score of 234 for 9. Nelson's progress came to an abrupt end at Todmorden when they were dismissed for 84. The Nelson bowlers, however, almost pulled off a surprise but Todmorden edged home on 86 for 9.
The 1990 choice of professional, Joe Scuderi, gave backword due to injury and the Nelson committee found themselves in the all too familiar role of finding a last minute replacement. They finally signed another up-and-coming Aussie but, once again, it was a batsman who bowled a bit when the club really needed a bowler who could bat a bit! Brendan Julian was a young Western Australian who had captained the Australian Academy team and he showed his obvious talent with some creditable innings, notching 463 runs by the half way stage. History will prove Julian to be a Test bowler who can bat a bit!