David Schofield - Legend

from https://www.littleboroughcc.co.uk/david-schofield/ 

I make no apologies for the length of this article because this week I have had a request to focus on a legend.

The word is misused so many times but this week the word is very much appropriate.

David Schofield was born In July 1949 and  in 1966 at the tender age of 16 he made his debut for Castleton Moor. By the end of the 1966 season David had scored 405 runs averaging a touch over 18 with the bat, and taking 40 wickets at 17.10 with the ball.

David remained as an amateur at Partington Street until the conclusion of the 1975 season, when he was offered the chance to try his hand as the paid man at Castleton Moor. This was not surprising, because as an amateur he scored 4,475 runs at 23.580 and also had 184 wickets 21.00 not forgetting 89 catches.

David took to life as a professional cricketer in his stride as runs and wickets continued to flow, between 1976 and 1982 he had scored 5,433 runs and taken 597 wickets also. Every season between 1972 and 1981 he scored over 500 runs in a season. In 1982 he scored 1,211 runs which included a high of 112*

Werneth came knocking in 1983 and he transferred to the Oldham club. In his two seasons as professional at The Coppice he scored 1,688 runs and took 136 wickets.

David transferred to Littleborough for the remainder of his CLL career. In his 5 seasons at Hare Hill the runs continued to flow as he scored 2,677 runs and took 130 wickets and 38 catches.

David finally ended his CLL career in 1989 after scoring 14,273 runs averaging 28.950 and together with 1,147 wickets at 14.660 a truly fantastic performance by anyone’s standards.  Scoring no less than 94 fifties ( second only to Jack Hunter who scored 98 ) together with six centuries.

He scored 50 or more on almost every ground in the league only missing out at Stockport and Unsworth.  Not forgetting his 68 five wicket hauls.

No other player has ever won the league batting and bowling prizes.

After Littleborough he played for Fieldhouse CC in the Lancashire and Cheshire league.

After retiring he was a regular spectator at all CLL grounds and was liked by players and spectators alike. He was mostly seen at Hare Hill, no doubt fondly reminiscing whilst watching the current crop of players.

Tragedy struck in January 2015 when David passed away, not long after his devoted partner.

He is still fondly remembered by all at Littleborough and his son Steve, and grandson Thomas are playing at Rochdale after a spell at Hare Hill.

He will no doubt be looking down on them as an extremely proud father and grandfather.

The cricketing world in both Rochdale and Oldham will never forget the legend

that is David Schofield.

May you rest in peace my friend.