JJ Smith by Nigel Stockley

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Player:

JJ Smith

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DateLine: 11th April 2012

 

Former Rishton and Enfield all rounder Jimmy Smith has passed away at home at the age of 86.

 

Jimmy was captain of Rishton's double winning team of 1955 when Fergie Gupte was professional. The same year he broke the club's amateur batting record with 805 runs at 44.7. Jimmy made his first team debut in 1942 at the age of 17. He was professional at Padiham from 1950-1952 and he also played professional football for Blackburn Rovers at inside left. Subsequently he played in the Lancashire Combination with Padiham, Clitheroe and Barnoldswick.

 

James Joseph Smith, known as JJ, played for Rishton between 1942 and 1969, scoring 7785 runs at 21.2 with a highest score of 110 against Church in the golden summer of 1949. His slow floating off spinners took 519 wickets to make him a formidable all rounder.

 

Jimmy's many partnerships with another cricketing footballer Jackie Chew earned the pair the nickname of the 'Terrible Twins.' Jimmy's brother Bernard, who also played for Rishton said: "Jimmy was a loving brother. He was my mentor and we never fell out."

 

In 1970, Jimmy joined Enfield where he scored 996 runs and he took 51 wickets before joining Ribblesdale League side Whalley in 1974.

 

Jimmy's funeral will take place on Monday 16th April at St. Charles R.C. Church, Station Road, Rishton at 10am followed by cremation at Accrington Crematorium.