THE daughter of a former Wanderers forward has followed her father in performing at the highest level, but in cricket not football.

Kate Cross has just returned from international duty with the England Ladies team in the West Indies where she made an impressive senior one-day international debut.

It has put the 22-year-old from Walshaw in line for a pick for the women’s Ashes which take place alongside the men’s series next month.

And dad David, who had a brief spell at both Wanderers and Bury at the end of a 19-year professional career that saw him pick up an FA Cup winners’ medal with West Ham in 1980, could not be prouder of Kate’s achievements.

He never got the chance to play for England despite being a first division golden boot winner in 1981 with the Hammers.

But the Cross family genes have obviously been passed on to Kate and she looks to have a bright future for both Lancashire and England.

Dad David, 62, said: “I am so pleased for her – it is a reward for all her hard work.

“She has been involved in the England set up for many years and now she is getting to wear the Three Lions on her shirt and compete at the top level.

“Playing for the country is something I never did, but then I never considered myself good enough when there were so many top footballers around in my day.

“I scored a lot of goals in the first division and made a good career out of football but I did not see myself getting an England call.

“Kathyrn (Kate), however, has that chance and it is fantastic for her.”

Kate may not have followed her dad into football but sport and, cricket in particular, is a family affair for the Cross’s.

David, who now works as a match assessor for Blackburn Rovers, used to play before his football career took off at the age of 18 and son Bobby also played for Heywood Cricket Club with some distinction, as well as being involved with Lancashire.

Both Kate and sister Jennifer have also played for the county at some level.

If that is not enough, mum Christine has also been a scorer to complete the cricketing family theme.

Kate said: “Cricket has always been a big thing in the family.

“My uncle played for Heywood and dad played there as well.

“It has been something I have been involved with since I can remember.

“My brother Bobby was at Lancashire for a while, as was Jennifer, my sister, but she does netball now. “Bobby is an opening batsman, I am an opening bowler and Jennifer was a wicketkeeper so you can imagine how things went in then back garden when we were kids.”

Things have come a long way from that Bury back garden for Kate and for women’s cricket in general.

The national team now has recognition alongside the men’s side, while the drip-down effect has seen more girls getting into the game with both the Bolton League and Bolton Association seeing stand-out performances from several girls playing for first-teams including Astley Bridge (Shachi Pai), Egerton (Megan Fairclough) and Walshaw’s Chloe Wallwork.

Kate added: “The women’s game is going from strength to strength.

“There is not as much money as there is in the men’s game but it is more recognised than ever.

“We play alongside the men in the Ashes and players, like our skipper Charlotte Edwards are well known.

“It can only be good to encourage more young girls into the game early and it is great to see that happening locally.

“Lancashire is thriving; the girls team recently played three matches at Leigh Cricket Club.”

Kate is proof of what can be achieved after starting out as a 10-year-old and now shining on the international scene.

She took four wickets in the second one-day international against the West Indies in Trinidad in a game she regards as her full ODI debut after the washout of the first match.

She does not yet know if she will head Down Under for the Ashes with a squad announcement imminent, but her displays make her a good bet for a spot on the plane next month and she is excited about the prospect.

“It has been absolutely brilliant so far,” she said.

“People keep asking me what I feel and it’s hard to put into words.

“To be playing for England in the Caribbean – it’s surreal for a young girl from Lancashire.

“Playing alongside players like Charlotte Edwards and Sarah Taylor is amazing.

“I can only gain from their experience and they are fantastic to be out there in the middle with.

“To play 20-20 then get four wickets, and the first three West Indian batsmen, on what I class as my debut was amazing.

“I am keeping my fingers crossed for the Ashes now.

“It would mean Christmas is put on hold but what better reason than to play in the Ashes in Australia.”