A UNIQUE piece of a family’s cricketing history will take pride of place at the club they have served for generations.

With cricket currently off limits for players and fans due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Curtis Anderton decided to investigate his family’s links with Little Lever Cricket Club after discovering a commemorative cricket ball awarded to his great great uncle, Charlie Hallows Snr, dating back to 1912.

“I wanted to find out more purely because my family has a long association with Bolton cricket and in particular Little Lever CC,” said Curtis, 31. “My grandpa played when he wasn’t working away, my uncle, Simon Anderton, had a very successful local career with Little Lever and Tonge only retiring last year, and I’ve been playing in the league all my career. My grandma also played rounders for over 50 years for Little Lever.”

With the help of Nick Chamberlain, chairman of Adlington Cricket Club, it was determined that the ball was presented to Charlie Snr following a remarkable match which also featured his teenage son, Charlie Jnr.

As Second Division champions, Little Lever had earned the right to challenge Adlington, the bottom club of the First Division, to a ‘Test Match’ with a place in the First Division the prize. With his side in trouble at 27-5,17-year-old Charlie Jnr scored 37 not out to see his side to 130 all out. In reply, Adlington were dismissed for 60 with his father recording figures of 13-3-22-8 to ensure promotion.

Within two years, Charlie Jnr would go on to make his debut for Lancashire, winning the Championship in 1927 and 1928 and entering the record books by becoming only the third player ever to score 1,000 runs in May. He would also play two Tests for England and died in Bolton in 1972 aged 77.

“We are now looking to get the ball re-engraved and cleaned up for it to be on show in the newly renovated upstairs lounge at Little Lever CC, added Curtis. “We think it’ll be the oldest piece of history the club will have on show.”