Brian Bowling by Nigel Stockley

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Player:

B Bowling

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DateLine: 2nd April 2025

 

Former East Lancs leg spinner Brian Bowling has sadly passed away peacefully in East Lancs Hospice at the age of 92.

 

Brian took 567 Lancashire League wickets at 16.4, playing in six title winning sides, including the double years of 1966 and 1980.

 

In The Worsley Cup, Brian took 45 wickets at 12.8, winning the trophy six times, including the classic 1971 final against fierce rivals Burnley.

 

After retiring from playing for East Lancs in 1985, Brian continued to bowl in the nets and he also played for The Forty Club until his late 70s.

 

Jim Kenyon paid this tribute to Brian in a 2007 feature for this website.

 

Brian joined the club in 1962 after a distinguished career that commenced at Leyland where he opened the batting with the legendary Leslie Warburton who gave valuable advice to his young partner that enhanced his game.

 

Eventually he became a professional with Stalybridge ultimately finding his way to Alexandra Meadows where after showing his considerable talent in the 2nd eleven he was promoted to the first team and many successful days followed in what was a grand and glorious career that saw him retire as the club's leading wicket taker.

 

His qualities within the team were many but he was certainly a partnership breaker floating up to batsmen what seemed to be innocuous leg spinners.

 

However the unwary batsmen would advance to find they had been defeated by the flight and Snowy had struck again.

 

Roger Sharp would frequently say "I don't know why we don't let you open the bowling it would save a lot of time."

 

Brian would just smile and get on with his bowling.

 

He also frequently found himself having to get a few runs after the top order had failed and those early partnerships with Warburton were put to good use.

 

A very capable bowling all rounder who always had a smile on his face no matter what was happening on the field.

 

A true lover of the game in every sense he has given magnificent service to the club on and off the field.

 

A collector of ties he bagged Bob Cowper's Australian tie to advance the collection before he left town.

 

Brian's funeral will take place on Tuesday 22nd April at 1.30pm at Pleasington Crematorium followed by a celebration of Brian's life at East Lancs Cricket Club.