IT’S not a bad effort reaching 500 Lancashire League games, although I must admit I didn’t actually know until a couple of days later.

How does it make me feel? Old!

I started in the first team in 1989 so that’s nearly 30 years, and apart from two years as professional at Prestwich and three years as Whalley professional, when it comes to being an amateur I’m very much a one-club man.

It was the way we grew up - a big group of lads who were all mates, went to the same school together and played cricket at Haslingden.

We’ve enjoyed plenty of success over the years too. But in a way my favourite season was the one that got away in 2009. We bottled it in the last three games and blew the title on the last day. But it was the best cricket and the most fun cricket that we played, regardless of the outcome. Apart from the end, it was a great season. A highlight and lowlight all rolled into one.

Opening the batting with my dad, Bryan, was pretty special too, as well as captaining the club for seven years from 2007.

Hopefully there are more memories to make, although I shouldn’t think there’ll be another 500 appearances.

I’ll be honest, 50 overs in the field is getting a bit more difficult nowadays, although it’s easier when the sun’s shining like last weekend.

I still love the challenge of batting and trying to keep myself on top of some of the best bowlers.

When you get to my age (44), every winter people say, ‘Are you still playing next year’.

Ultimately I still really enjoy it and I’ve been lucky to play with and against some of the best players in the world in the Lancashire League - like Phil Simmons. Early on in my career he was a big help and it’s nice that we can still stay friends.

In 1994 a few of us stayed with Phil in Trinidad when England played there.

There have been influences all around, like Brad McNamara. The way he played he was a true, typical Aussie - he played hard on and off the pitch.

Haslingden Cricket Club has been a big part of my life for a long time, and it’s great now we can take our kids down there.

I’m overjoyed I’ve been quite heavily involved as league representative at Haslingden and attended the meetings for the expansion. I’ve been a big supporter of it.