THE Bolton League paid tribute to one of their most loyal members when they presented former Little Lever cricketer Alan Lansdale with their highest award.

Alan is the third member of his family to receive the Hubert Pendlebury Memorial Award for outstanding service to the league, his father Billy Lansdale and sister May Barlow being honoured in past years.

Alan scored over 8,000 runs for Little Lever and as wicketkeeper claimed a total of 390 victims. In 1970 he set a new mark by claiming the most victims in a match, seven, a figure that has only been equalled once, by former Westhoughton wicketkeeper Mike Bentham in 1998.

When Alan decided to end his first team career he moved into the second team at Little Lever - as a bowler - and in one match took all ten wickets.

Since his retirement from playing Alan was manager of the highly successful Little Lever junior team, a member of the committee while keeping the club's ground and machinery in good order.

May, who received her award in 1991, 14 years after her father received his, said: "It's a fantastic award because it recognises a lifetime's achievement in the sport and work for the club.

"He has always been the kind of sportsman who wants to win and who would never stand for second best."

Other major awards went to champions Kearsley and Hamer Cup winners Greenmount and were presented by Stephen Lyddon, son of former League Preident Denis Lyddon, who died last November.

The batting prize was won by Kearsley's Australian amateur Jason Swift, who was also named as batsman of the season, while his Springfield Road team-mate Mel Whittle collected the bowling prize. Tonge's Ian Taylor was the bowler of the season with Rick Northrop, also of Tonge, the top wicketkeeper.

Gary Garner of Heaton was the Romida Player of the Year and Greenmount's Saeed Anwar the Professional of the Year.

Tim Rees of Eagley, who played in Tests for England under 15s during the year, was named the Most promising Young Player.