Ribblesdale League: Lomas signs as Northern professional (25 November 1998)

25 November 1998

Ribblesdale League: Lomas signs as Northern professional

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph

Mark Lomas has quit East Lancs to become the new professional at Blackburn Northern.

The Ribblesdale League outfit beat off a number of clubs to lure the 28-year-old to Pleckgate Road after he signalled his intentions to turn professional during the course of last season.

The move brings to an end Lomas's 20 year association with the Alexandra Meadows club, where he has played first team cricket for the past 11 years, the last four of which as captain.

"It's obviously a big wrench to leave after being at East Lancs for so long," said Lomas, who will take over from South African Ryan Maron.

"I put out a few feelers and got a pretty good response. Horwich, from the Bolton League, and Blackburn Northern both offered me terms and I spoke to three or four other Bolton League sides.

"But Northern offered me the best deal cricket-wise because they want to do what I want to do, which is build up a side like I did at East Lancs." Lomas captained East Lancs to runners up spot in the Lancashire League behind Nelson last season, despite losing professional Brad Young for the second half of the summer.

But the retirement of veteran trio Ian Haworth, David Pearson and Phil Mooney at the end of the campaign, and the urge for a new challenge, were crucial factors in his decision to quit.

Lomas, who scored over 600 runs during the summer, faces a tough battle to turn around his new club's fortunes after Northern finished rock-bottom of the Ribblesdale League last term, winning just two out of 26 matches. Mel Gillibrand will remain captain.

Peter Usher has left Read to play with brother David at Baxenden next season.

Promising Western Province slow left-armer Claude Anderson is keen for a professional appointment next season. For more details contact (01254) 889931.

Source :: Lancashire Evening Telegraph (https://www.reednews.co.uk/let/)