VETERAN Settle skipper John Seedle says he still loves the rush of the start of each new cricket season – even though he is celebrating an anniversary few senior players see.

When the bowler led his Dalesmen out for the opening game of the season on Saturday it marked the 40th anniversary since his first team debut.

And Settle didn’t let him down on the big day as they won well against Edenfield at Gincroft Lane.

“I am still loving playing,” said Seedle. “I have seen a few winters go by and quite a few starts to a season.

“It’s 40 years this year since I made my first team debut for Clitheroe and I wouldn’t change much.”

The 53-year-old veteran was just a 13-year-old up-and-coming talent when he played for Clitheroe and he developed into a stalwart across the Lancashire League thanks three spells at East Lancashire, as well as with Accrington, Rishton and Church.

He also has more than 220 Ribblesdale League wickets to his name thanks to spells with Ribblesdale Wanderers, Read and Blackburn Northern.

And he has high hopes in his second season at Settle.

“Times do change,” said Seedle. “We had all of our players available in pre-season and then it comes to the first game and people were away on a stag weekend.

“But that’s how it is now. We also have a few lads who play rugby and they can miss a lot of games.

“But we have a good pro in Mansoor Amjad and overall we have decent hopes for the season.”