IN this series of articles we have looked at how the Association and its various competitions have evolved and the achievements of clubs.

But what about the players? Who have been the main contributors as batsmen, bowlers and those who sometimes never get the credit they deserve, the wicketkeepers?

Early records of the Association are sketchy, so the contributions of families such as the Tyldesleys (Westhoughton) and others are impossible to verify but some records compiled by Ernest Grant survive in the Association handbooks.

A trawl through those handbooks reveals that the batting record for most runs scored has been held by professional Ernest Dickens with 7,524 in 15 seasons to 1928 with Heaton and Egerton.

Billy Greenhalgh amassed 9,435 for East Lancashire Paper Mills between the years 1932-1947.

No doubt he was assisted by playing half his games at the picturesque but small ground at Radcliffe.

The 1988 handbook reveals that Alan Thomas (Clifton & Farnworth Social Circle) had raised the figure to 10,616 (1970-1986), although my records credit him with a further 120 runs in 1987 for Clifton.

The figure of 10,000 runs was decided as benchmark and it should be stressed that all reference here are to runs scored in the league games only.

I had now become the Adlington scorer and the statistic bug had got a hold of me.

A chance remark some time later suggested that Mike Davies of Edgworth (1969-2008) might be approaching the record.

Painstaking research proved this to be the case and by the time of his retirement from 1st XI cricket he had achieved a staggering total of 16,231, all scored for Edgworth as an amateur, and is still racking up the runs for the villagers 2nd XI.

Surprisingly, there are only two centuries amongst that total, separated by 20 years, 102* v Spring View in 2006 and 104 v Roe Green in 1986. Compare this with the 10 scored by Greenhagh.

For some time, Davies was run close by Geoff Griffiths, dividing his runs between spells as professional and amateur at Little Hulton and Clifton.

In his fledging career, there was confusion between father and son, recorded only as G Griffiths, but verified runs for Geoff amount to 12,383.

The record holder was finally confirmed after Clifton and Griffiths moved to join the Central Lancashire League in 2006

Another one club amateur player to join the elite was Phil West of Atherton. Debuting in 1987, West contributed 11,759 to Atherton’s cause and would have added more before moving to Roe Green in 2009.

He scored six centuries and came within 10 runs of the magical 1000 in 1996.

At the other end of the spectrum are Tony Kelly and Howard Brooks. Kelly is third in the all-time list with 12,215 before this season, making his debut as professional at Astley & Tyldesley in 1993 and still adding to his runs at Standish.

Brooks (1980-2006) makes the list in sixth position with 11,145, Standish being the only common factor as together they have represented 12 clubs.

The golden age for batsmen was the later years of the 20th century.

More games were played and pitches were better prepared. In some years, the Association teams played 28 games as against the norm of 22 for many years.

During this period, there were also several players who just missed out, but if Cross Cup and Vimto Trophy games were added to the mix, they would have comfortably exceeded the figure, but that is maybe for another day.