Lancashire League stalwart retires

[ClaretTony]

It's not a bad record. Make your debut in the Lancashire League in 1950 and umpire for the last time in 2017. A total of 67 years in 7 different decades.

It's former Burnley off spinner Jack Schofield who has decided to hang up his umpire's coat for the last time at the age of 85.

I've known Jack for years, since the 1960s, I was a very good friend of his son Paul who sadly passed away some years ago. He is always quick to tell you that he was such a good bowler that in 1964 he and the pro shared 175 wickets between them. He doesn't always mention that he got 31 of them with the pro (Charlie Griffith) getting the other 144.

Enjoy your retirement Jack - I think it is fair to say you've deserved it.

[Claret Kitch]

Is that the Jack that every player looked to the Heavens, when the ball hit there pads?

[ClaretTony]

Is that the Jack that every player looked to the Heavens, when the ball hit there pads?

That I don't know but he did umpire a game years ago that I was playing in and turned down a catch behind that I'd taken when the batsman had clearly got a thick edge.

[Claret Kitch]

Sounds like the Jack I remember. Top Fella doing all those years and games.

[get stuck in tracy]

Jack never game me out LBW once though I might have been, another always gave me out though i might not have been. Nice bloke Jack.