Bob Ratcliffe by Nigel Stockley

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Player:

RM Ratcliffe

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DateLine: 29th August 2023

 

Former Accrington player Bob Ratcliffe has passed away at the age of 71.

 

Bob made his senior debut for the club's 3rd XI at the age of 13 in 1965.

 

Bob showed early promise as a bowler taking 47 wickets for the 3rd XI in 1966, but it was his batting that earned him a place in the 1st XI and eventually a career at Lancashire.

 

In 1970 Bob was a member of Accrington's Worsley Cup winning team.

 

In league matches Bob scored 274 runs at 22.8, making his maiden senior half century in the same season.

 

His bowling developed at Lancashire where he played from 1972 to 1980, taking 205 First-class wickets at 26.4 and 85 wickets in the Sunday League at 20.5.

 

Bob was a member of the Lancashire team that won the Gillette Cup in 1975.

 

Following a two year spell as professional at Perth in Scotland, Bob returned to the area as professional for Cherry Tree in the Ribblesdale League until 1986.

 

In 1987 he continued as an amateur and was due to return to Accrington as 1st XI captain in 1988 when he was offered a position at Marlborough School as cricket coach.