A POPULAR cricket stalwart who took more than a 1,000 wickets for Accrington Cricket Club has died at the age of 70.

Ian Birtwistle, known as ‘Birty’ to his friends, played for the club’s senior team in the Lancashire League for more than 30 years.

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His family said he died while sat with his wife, Elaine, 72, at their home in Great Harwood on Saturday after suffering a suspected heart attack.

The right-handed batsman and medium pace bowler was born in Accrington in July 1945, and had been part of the club for more than half a century, after joining in the late 1950s.

The former Accrington Grammar School pupil rose through the ranks and made his Lancashire League debut in 1964 against Bacup, and played for the senior team until he was 51.

Towards the end of his glorious career, one of his teammates was Australian legend Shane Warne, who was Accrington professional in 1991.

Dozens of tributes have been paid about the man who his son, Steven, 44, a former first team player for the club, said could only be described as "a gentleman".

He said: “My dad was one of the nicest men you could have ever met.

“He loved the cricket club and the cricket club loved him back – everyone knew him there and he was a big part of the team.

“He played until he was 51, which is a phenomenal achievement, and he then went on to manage the social club and ran the bar for countless years.

“The support he’s had from everyone has been tremendous, and the family thank everyone for all the wonderful things that have been said about him,” he added.

Graeme Fowler, a former England cricket international who was nurtured by Mr Birtwistle, said: “A man instrumental in my early years of cricket, and my growth from boy to man, has passed away.

“Ian Birtwistle. Birty, you were a gentle man.”

The Accrington legend worked for English Sewing Ltd and at MD Foods in Blackburn before joining the Department of Health and Social Security.

Rod Kenyon, chairman of Accrington Cricket Club, said: “Birty was such an integral part of this club and there will not be many people who don’t know him.

“He was a fantastic bowler, he couldn’t bat for toffee but he could definitely bowl.

“I joined the club in the early 1960s and I have known him since then, he was more than just a player, he was a friend.

“We give our deepest respect to Elaine and the family, and we want to pay tribute the man who gave so much of his life to the club,” he added.