Derek Anderton -updated

It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Derek Anderton passed away this morning the 31st January.

Derek was one of Ormskirk Cricket Club's finest members and will be sorely missed by many.

Our thoughts, at this difficult time are with Barry, Lee Janet and families.

Derek's funeral is 12:00 on Monday 22nd at West Lancashire Crematorium. There is a limit of 30 attendees in person however the service will also be streamed online. Further details will follow when available.

Derek made his début for the Brook Lane club's 1st XI at Oxton in 1959 and continued to his final appearance for the team at Northern in May 1984 when he hit an unbeaten 50.

He was a key player of the teams that were L&DCC champions in 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977 and 1980. He was captain of the club in 1980 and 1981.

Derek made 489 appearances for Ormskirk's 1st XI across four decades. A hard hitting left handed batsman, he scored 5121 runs with a highest score of 133 at St Helens Recs in 1962 in his 51st match when he was 19 years old. He also hit seventeen fifties.

Later in his career, his off spin bowling became his stronger suit and in terms of wickets taken post war, only John Sumner (808) took more for Ormskirk.

Derek took 707 wickets with a best of 7-25 at Chester Boughton Hall in 1976, one of four occasions when he claimed seven wickets in an innings and one of twenty-two occasions when he claimed five wickets or more in an innings. He also took 195 catches.

Ormskirk's current President, Sandy Tittershill, described Derek as "A great club man, loyal and completely dedicated. He was a member of the most successful bowling combination the club ever had post war, John Sumner, Dave Brighouse, Dick Powell and Derek who were at their best in the 1970s."

Elected a Life Member in 1995, Derek was one of Ormskirk Cricket Club's finest members and will be sorely missed by many.