Tributes to Rawtenstall sports stalwart Jackie (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Tributes to Rawtenstall sports stalwart Jackie

3:04pm Wednesday 29th February 2012 in Sport By Tyrone Marshall, Reporter

A KEEN follower of local sports teams who was mentioned in David Lloyd’s autob-iography as died at the age of 77.

Jackie Barnes was described by former England Test cricketer and Lancashire League stalwart David ‘Bumble’ Lloyd as the ‘Rawtenstall Heckler’.

Jackie, from Waterfoot, earned the nickname for his habit of barracking batsman on their way out to the crease.

He was well known as a fan of local Cricket, football and darts teams and could always be seen watching Rossendale United and Rawtenstall Cricket Club.

Friend Chris Woods said: “He was well kno-wn throughout the Valley for his love of sports and followed local football, cricket and darts teams. He also travelled all over the country listening to his other passion, brass bands.

“Jack made many fri-ends through the spor-ting venues and pubs where he followed many of the darts teams.

“He was also quite well travelled, his last big adventure was when he went on a tour of Ame-rica with his close pal, the late Paul Whitney.”

Jackie was the only son of James and Rachel Barnes and lived in Waterfoot. He spent most of his working life at Smith and Nephew at Cloughfold.

Bacup Borough man-ager Brent Peters, who was also manager of Rossendale United, says that Jackie will be sadly missed around the Rossendale Valley spor-ting scene.

“Whether it was football at either Bacup or Rossendale United you would see Jackie at games and he was a recognisable figure for everyone,” said Brent “He was a fixture at Rawtenstall cricket as well and everyone there knew him well.

“He would go all over the place to support teams and he would often walk to matches.

“Brass bands were his first love and he was regularly at festivals in the Upperhill and Delph area and whoever met him had good things to say about him.

“He had a great mem-ory of players from the past and was a real character and the Valley is that little bit darker now that he has died.”