Alan Worsick 1943-2023

Alan Worsick ©Garth Dawson

One of Accrington's finest ever cricketers, Alan Worsick, has passed away at the age of 79.

Alan helped Accrington win the Lancashire League title in 1975 with a home grown team and he also helped the club win the Worsley Cup in 1970 and the Telegraph Cup in 1986 when he was named 'Man of the match.'

At the age of 18, Alan won the Accrington and District Cricket League Bowling Prize for taking 40 wickets for 107 runs at 2.6 each helping Accrington 3rd XI to win promotion to the A Division in 1961.

Two years later Alan made his Lancashire League debut, taking 138 wickets for the club over the next six seasons before joining Burnley for the 1969 season.

After taking 45 wickets for Burnley, Alan returned to Accrington a different bowler. In tandem with Eddie Robinson the pair picked up 158 wickets between them in the league and also helped the club win the Worsley Cup for the second time. Alan's 83 wickets at 10.8 secured the Lion Brewery Award for the most successful amateur bowler, and his 8-53 at Haslingden also won him the 'Telegraph Tankard' for the best amateur bowling performance of the 1970 season.

After another superb season in 1971 when Alan picked up 75 wickets at 10.5, he signed for Read as professional for the next two seasons during which he led the club to the Ribblesdale League championship on both occasions.

After his tremendous success at Read, Alan was engaged as Accrington's professional for the 1974 season. This arrangement would continue until the end of the 1978 season and would cover one of Accrington's most successful periods in their history.

Alan's first season as professional yielded 69 wickets and 328 runs, which almost doubled his previous total of runs for Accrington in his eight previous seasons and he also took a hat-trick in the Worsley Cup semi final defeat at Church.

Accrington 1975 Lancashire League Champions

History was made in 1975 with Accrington winning the Lancashire League with a home grown team. In the final home match of the season against Colne, Alan took 5-43 to finish with 99 wickets at 10.8 each. He then hit the winning runs to secure a first title since 1961, finishing top of the Lancashire League bowling averages. It was the first time in history that a team had won the Lancashire League title with every member of the team being born in the town.

Alan put the success down to a tremendous team and club effort: "The season had started way back in December when the players started training, including five a side football and cross country running." He also gave captain Peter West credit for getting the team to play for him.

Accrington finished runners up in both league and cup in the long hot summer of 1976 with Alan taking 85 wickets at 15.5 and hitting 395 runs at 18.8. Perhaps the most memorable moment of the season was Alan's superb running catch to dismiss his opposite number Abid Ali in the final at Rawtenstall.

Alan took 81 wickets and hit 411 runs to help Accrington again finish as runners up in 1977.

1978 was Alan's last season as professional at Accrington. He took 56 wickets as the club finished in 4th place with 65 points. Alan also appeared for Lancashire taking 4-29 in the John Player League against Essex at Old Trafford. His victims included former England captains Mike Denness and Keith Fletcher.

Alan was signed by Rawtenstall as professional for 1979, taking 54 wickets at 15.2 and playing on for another season as an amateur before retiring at the end of the 1980 season.

With the return of David Parsons to Accrington as professional, Alan was tempted out of retirement to captain the team and to help to try and restore some of the club's former glory in 1983. There was no happy ending this time though with the club finishing in bottom place for the second season running in spite of Alan's 37 wickets.

Another old boy returned in 1984, David Lloyd coming back home as professional after an illustrious First-class career. Alan also turned back the clock with 59 wickets at 13.5 each to win the league bowling prize for most amateur wickets.

Alan stood down as captain at the end of the season but continued to play in 1985 taking 40 wickets at 14.4.

Alan Worsick catches Todmorden professional Darryl Scott ©Lancashire Telegraph

With former professionals Alan and David Lloyd still playing as amateurs, Accrington won the Telegraph Cup in 1986 with Alan's 6-55 earning him the 'Man of the match' award in the 3 wicket win over Todmorden.

The final match of 1987 at Nelson was to be Alan's finale. After a career spanning three decades Alan was to retire. Nelson won the toss and batted on a perfect pitch. At 80-0, Alan came on to bowl. After conceding 17 runs in 5 overs, he took himself off. The score was 172-4 in the 39th over when Alan came back for one last spell. Two wickets in his first over proved that the magic was still there. Alan finished with 5-22 in 9 overs, his second spell brought him 5 wickets for 5 runs. Alan was applauded off the field. Accrington needed a total of 201 to win. The score was 167-6 in the 42nd over when Alan joined Billy Rawstron at the crease to a standing ovation. Off his first ball, Alan scored a single. The next ball finished up in the car park as he seemed intent on going out in blaze of glory. Sadly it was not to be. Alan's last innings ended when he was bowled for 12. The crowd rose again and applauded Alan all the way back to the pavilion. The career of one of the club's best and most popular players was over. In his career at Accrington, Alan had scored 2,714 runs and taken 873 wickets in the Lancashire League. Once again Alan was Accrington's leading amateur wicket taker with 26.

Alan continued to support the club serving as President from 1988 until 1994 following his retirement.

Alan's funeral will take place at Accrington Crematorium at 11am on Friday 31st March, followed by refreshments at Accrington Cricket Club.

Donations in his memory are being received for the Lancashire Wildlife Trust c/o Hyndburn Funeral Services.