NEW experiences are vital in any youngster's development.

The chance to spread your wings and broaden your horizons are all part of growing up. And in Clive Hubert Lloyd's case, it helped turn him into a superstar.

Lloyd battled the internal politicals that had so hampered West Indian cricket and turned them from also rans into the dominant force in world cricket and captained them to World Cup wins in 1975 and 1979.

He also helped his adopted county, Lancashire, to numerous trophies in his 27-year Old Trafford career.

Now in his 60s, the former Lancashire and West Indies captain has been there, seen it and done it.

But despite his famous thick moustache and afro now greying slightly, the eyes still twinkle when he thinks about his time in the Lancashire League.

Born in Guyana in August 1944, Lloyd forced his way into the West Indies side for their tour of India in 1966.

It was on that tour that the possibility of turning out in the Lancashire League, with the help of Wes Hall He said: "Wes had turned down the chance to play at Haslingden and spoke to me about it. He had played in the league as had Roy Gilchrist, Charlie Griffith, Lance Gibbs and Garry (Sobers) had played league cricket in Lancashire.

"They encouraged me to come over because it was something different, it gave you a chance to hone your skills and your technique because the conditions were so different than what I was used to."

He added: "It was a real culture shock when I first got there because it was pretty cold. It was windy and raining and I hadn't been that cold in my life.

"It was my first time in England on my own and it was quite interesting. I used to keep my electric blanket on all the time and Mrs Cook, who ran the Woolpack pub where I was staying, wasn't too happy.

"She would say You can get electrocuted if there's any lightning about' and I'd say Well, at least I would die warm and happy.' "I was soon introduced to long-johns when I was playing because it used to be quite windy up there but apart from that everything was nice. The people were friendly and looked after me quite well.

"John Entwistle, who was the president of the club, was a tremendous guy. I was very fond of him. He made me feel quite at home. He took me to Blackpool and things like that.

"It was really sad when he passed away. He did a lot for me and a lot for Haslingden Cricket Club too.

"He helped me to get my first car, a Vauxhall Viva. It was about the size of me! But it was just great to have a car and get around."

But it wasn't just off the field that the young CH Lloyd was learning new things. On the field, the West Indian all-rounder was playing cricket, but not really as he knew it.

"The wickets weren't hard and fast like the ones I was used to in Guyana!" he said.

"After a while, you worked things out. It wasn't the fast bowlers that gave you problems, it was the dibbly-dobblers' that were hard work."

But despite the not-so-sunny climes, Lloyd started with a ton at Enfield and turned the West Indian star into a box-office smash.

"Once word had got around that I was doing well, people would really come in," he said.

"I remember we played at Church and it had been raining hard. They were going to call the game off but their chairman said Call it off? We've got a full house and we've got our best gate of the season so get out there and try and get a game on!' "And funnily enough, we played because it was their best gate and they didn't want to lose their gate money."

He added: "We had a good team spirit even though we weren't that successful.

"They were certainly good drinkers. And I soon realised that when you got a collection you took part of it, but the rest you put behind the bar to buy drinks.

"I wasn't a big drinker but it was all in good fun."

But aside from the conditions, the West Indian legend recalled a couple of things have stayed with him -things he admits he'd never seen before.

He said: "I'd never seen a guy have a pee in a sink before! The guys had these little quirks. The toilets were outside and it was probably cold and thought What the heck'. It was very funny.

"And I always remember Nally. He was a short guy who used to follow Haslingden and Lancashire around.

"I remember we played Nelson and I was giving Neil Hawke a bit of stick and he kept shouting Come on, bowl him a bloody boomerang' and lots of other things.

"And Hawkey ran after him! He chased him over the turnstiles and out of the ground.

"Nally was a real supporter and anybody who came, and we were doing well against them, he would give them some stick."

Lloyd topped the averages in both his seasons at Bentgate, scoring 861 runs in his first season and then 1226 runs in 1968.

And he freely admits what he learned in the Lancashire League stood him in good stead for the future.

"The decision to come to Lancashire changed my life for ever." he said. "I decided to stay here and I just commuted to play for the West Indies.

"I got married here and my children were brought up here. I also have some family in London so we were down there quite a lot.

"At 22, I was quite young and very enthusiastic but it gave me some sense of responsibility.

"We used to play on uncovered wickets in those days, even at Lancashire. I think your technique improves all the time when you play in those kind of conditions.

"You were constantly trying to work things out.

"It helped you to become a bit more responsible and to take on tasks. I captained Haslingden a few times when John Winter was away. When I went out, I opened the batting because we wanted to bat until late because we were playing time cricket.

"I had a very good relationship with John Ingham because we batted together a lot. He was an old pro before and he helped me along quite a lot. He was a tremendous cricketer too.

"At a young age, that was a good thing for me. I had to think about the game tactically, in conditions that were alien to me and that helped me in my later years.

"I still think that maybe it wouldn't be a bad thing for any cricketer to experience, whether you're a bowler or a batter.

"It gives you some good life experience as well. It gives you a sense of responsibility because you have to behave and perform properly."