Following the AGM last night we are delighted to announce that club legend and stalwart Stephen 'Herbie' Hipgrave has accepted the committee's invite to become the new club president.
With the sad loss of our highly respected previous president Michael Chapple last year Stephen was the unanimous choice of the committee to take over in the role.
Stephen is well known within the cricketing community and with the 2024 season well under way he is playing his 50th year in senior cricket after making his debut back in 1974 as a 13 year old.
Apart from a five-year spell playing at Colne in the Lancashire League between 1983 and 1987 Stephen has played all his senior cricket at Earby and during this time he has won four Ribblesdale League Titles in 1982, 1988, 1991 and 1996 as well as being a Ramsbottom Cup winner in 1991. Stephen has also been captain of the 1st and 2nd teams during his playing career, and he was the captain of the 1st team in the famous double winning team of 1991. Despite being a true Yorkshireman Stephen has also played for Lancashire over 50’s and 60’s as well.
Speaking after the appointment Stephen has said:
‘When I was asked to become the new president of Earby Cricket Club it was an honour to accept. As an Earby lad who has grown up close to The Applegarth it was a privilege to follow in the footsteps of our former presidents.
2024 will be an exciting year with much to look forward to both on and off the field and even though I will continue to play for the 2nd team I intend to have an active role as president, and I look forward to hosting fund raising events including a president’s day during the season’
We would like to wish Stephen all the best in his new role and details of the fund raising events will be announced in due course.
New President Stephen Hipgrave
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