David Schofield

January 2019

Record-breaking Rochdale cricketer dies aged 65

David Schofield hailed as 'the best amateur cricketer that has ever played in the Central Lancashire County Cricket League'

Tributes have been paid to a record-breaking cricketer who has died aged 65.
All-rounder David Schofield died at his Wardle home last Monday.
 

He began his career as a 16-year-old with the now defunct Castleton Moor Cricket Club in 1966 , and went on to be named as the club’s professional 10 years later.  In his Castleton Moor career he scored 10,011 runs and took 581 wickets, a club record for an all-rounder.

From Castleton Moor David joined Werneth, before moving on to Littleborough Cricket Club in the mid-eighties.

His son Steven said: “My dad was my hero - I grew up watching him play cricket.
“Unfortunately I was never as good as him - I would say he was one of the best in the league.  He was quite humble.  He always had a story to tell - there were thousands.”
Scott Kershaw, who played with David at Littleborough, said “He lived and breathed cricket. He loved it.
In my opinion he was the best amateur cricketer that has ever played in the Central Lancashire County Cricket League.
“He was a marvellous cricketer - he was opening batsman and opening bowler. I couldn’t tell you which he was better at.
“He was a really great bloke. Everybody knew Dave and nobody had a bad word to say about him.”

A contemporary of David at Castleton Moor, Mike Yates, who now lives in Australia, said “We first met when Dave played for our Under 18s and he scored a ton in his first match.
“We were both in the first team together for some years and I always believed he had the ability to make it in First Class cricket.  He was such a great down-to-earth bloke and was undoubtedly one of the greatest players ever to have played for Castleton Moor.”

David was also head coach at Rochdale Cricket Club from 1994-1997 - the boys loved his coaching and his sense of humour

A big loss to local life.