FARNWORTH are believed to be the first club in history to sign the son of a previous Bolton Cricket League overseas player.

The Lavender Road club have recruited West Indian fast bowler Dominic Drakes as their overseas amateur for the forthcoming season.

His father, Vasbert – a former West Indies international – also played for Farnworth whose captain Simon Booth believes the father-and-son connection is a first for the league.

"Vasbert played in the Bolton League and now his son Dominic is going to play in it and we think that's a first," he said.

"Dominic is only 19 but the Bolton League won't come as a surprise to him because his dad knows all about it from when he played here."

Drakes Snr was a world-class player who represented the West Indies in 12 Test matches and 34 one-day internationals and also played for Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire and Sussex.

He was one of the many top-class overseas players to play in the Bolton League.

Around 20 years ago the league changed its rules to allow only professionals from abroad to play for clubs and not overseas amateurs.

Many believe that has had a detrimental affect on playing standards over the last two decades.

The rule has been changed back for this season, allowing clubs to once again sign another overseas player in addition to the UK-based or overseas professional.

And Booth believes they have a star in the making in Drakes Jnr.

"From all reports he's as good as his dad was at the same age, if not better," he said.

"He bowls absolute rockets and we're told he'll blow Bolton League sides away.

"I've wanted to get a real fast bowler back in the league for a long time and by all accounts Dominic is just that.

"He won't be fazed by the Bolton League either. Although he's young he's played quite a bit at a good level and he'll know all about what to expect from his dad."

And if the teenager does need any advice his father will not be far away to ask.

"Vasbert is the head coach of the West Indies women's cricket team and he'll be based in Manchester so we expect him to come down and watch when he can," added Booth.

Farnworth have also signed Kamran Younas as professional and this week recruited Jon Kerrigan from Little Lever and Danny Higham from Westhoughton.