BEST PART OF 50 YEARS BETWEEN CAISTOR'S ERN AND YOUNG TEAM-MATES

Fifty years between them playing for Caistor 3rds in Lincolnshire League Division 4 – left Olly Barrick and right Ernie Allison who marks 50 years with Caistor Cricket Club this season. They are pictured with Dave Gowshall Club Chairman (centre).

PICTURE AND REPORT COURTESY OF PETER THOMPSON

Peter Thompson Rural News, Caistor  pthompson@ruralnews.orangehome.co.uk

Caistor Cricket Club is much respected in local cricket circles for producing a string of young players. But some of the old’ uns keep going too meaning that there can be quite an age gap in their Saturday teams. 
rnie Allison, captaining Caistor 3rds at the age of 64 this season, is also marking 50 years spent  with one club. Olly Barrick (14) is just starting out in the game and there are 50 years between the when they take the field.
Ernie recalls that his first match was in 1962 in a friendly – but cannot recall who the opposition were that day. One highlight though has not been forgotten in the passing years:
“In 1997 the 1st team won the Lincolnshire Premier League, that was a big one looking back  over the years. I still enjoy playing. I used to keep wicket, now I bowl a few overs.”
Olly had some positive words for his captain – fifty years his senior. The left arm spinner with a useful Chinamen said: “I started with Caistor when I was ten years old. I learn a lot from Ernie as captain about how he sets the field.”
Club Chairman David Gowshall said: “Ernie has made an enormous contribution to Caistor Cricket Club. It’s not been just on the field of play. He has done so much as our groundsman and on the committee as well.”