1,000th game for Isel Cricket Club

Isel cricket club will play their 1,000^th fixtures this coming season when they contest their second game.

It might be the last season for the club, which was launched in 1987, but there’s little doubt they wouldn’t have got this far without one man – John McGuffie.

A founder member, along with school pal John Gate, he has helped guide the club through some tough times and it’s partly for his dedication to Isel cricket that he was awarded a Lifetime Achiever award by Cumbria Cricket Board.

John, who is now 60, says: “I knew I had been nominated but it was the section with the most nominees so I was really surprised to win the award.”

When he was young John suffered a bad injury which virtually ruled out contact games like football and rugby, but of a sporting nature, cricket was doable and it has provided him with many years of pleasure.

“We got together in 1987 and formed a team after a match in which we had 22 players all from the parish of Isel. That was the start of it all.

“Gradually, of course, players fell by the wayside and we had to bring in players to make up the numbers, but we had some great years.

“We played in the West Cumbria Midweek Cricket League which later became West Allerdale and Copeland Cricket Association, and I was secretary for both,” he recalls.

He was also a very keen statistician, providing facts and figures for the Leagues. and it was perhaps not surprising that within two years of him standing down the League folded.

But cricket is definitely in the McGuffie blood and he was instrumental in starting a seven-a-side league, in which Isel took part.

But even that is becoming difficult now and on more than one occasion last season Isel had to concede because they couldn’t raise enough players.

John is ready to hang up his whites but insists that Isel will play at least two games in 2022 to get to 1,000 and he intends to play in the second one.

John started his career as a quick bowler but soon decided it wasn’t quite for him and reverted to spin, an art which has served him well over the last 34 years.

“I have taken over 1,000 wickets during that time and have twice taken a career best 5-8 but the enjoyment of playing the game and encouraging others to has been the most satisfying part,” he says.

Awards

Connecting Communities

Keith Gibson (Cleator CC)
Also nominated: David Todd (Appleby Eden CC)

Inspired to Play

Mark Davidson (Carlisle CC)
Also nominated: Simon Murphy (Milnthorpe CC)

Rising Star

Adam McFadzean (Appleby Eden CC) and Tom O’Donnell (Furness CC)

Game Changer

Georgina Milburn (Lindal Moor CC and South Lakes Maidens) and Joe Schofield (Developing Cricket Across Barrow)

Unsung Hero

Heather Anderson (Cartmel CC) and Karen Reid (Lanercost CC)
Also nominated: Carl and Gillian Medhurts (Netherfield CC), Michael Strong (Caldbeck CC), Pauline Smith (Appleby Eden CC), Steve Wilson (Netherfield CC)

Growing the Game

Ryan Airey (Burneside CC)
Also nominated: Phil Babbins (Appleby Eden CC)

Lifetime Achiever

John McGuffie (Isel CC)
Also nominated: Ian Heath (Netherfield CC), Kevin James (Milnthorpe CC), Owain Oxenham (Ulverston CC), Alan Smith (Lanercost CC)