Date: 29th Mar 2024
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JOHN ARMSTRONG CALLS TIME

Date: 30th May 2016

JOHN ARMSTRONG CALLS TIME

A Paul Edwards copyright exclusive for L&DCC Official Website.

Ormskirk run machine decides to retire.

Cricketers in and around the Liverpool Competition were shocked and surprised over the
weekend to hear that the former Ormskirk skipper John Armstrong retired from
the game after his side's match against Northern on Saturday.

Armstrong, who played in four sides which won the Liverpool Competition and
scored over 10,000 first team runs during a career spent entirely at Brook
Lane, resolved during the match at Moor Park that he was going to retire and
told his father, Walter, of his decision before informing his team mates.

"I've been lucky enough to play 1st XI cricket for Ormskirk for 22 years,"
he said in a statement on Facebook. "I've given it my all. For a while now
I've genuinely felt I've been playing out of habit as opposed to playing for
a love of the game.

" On Saturday, before the game I knew that I'd run my race. I want to thank
everyone involved at Ormskirk CC for giving me some of the best life
experiences anyone could wish for. I've been lucky enough to spend my entire
career playing for what I feel is the best club around.

"We've been very fortunate to win the odd trophy whilst also remaining a
very local team. To everyone I've played with and against I can't thank you
enough.

"I'd like to thank all of my family for their support and all the captains
I've played under, especially Ian Robinson. To Tim Dickinson, who is the
driving force of the club, I can't thank you enough. To Bill Hartley, thank
you for all your help on the bowling machine at 7am on Friday mornings for
the last three years.

"To the youngsters at the club, let me assure you that there is no better
place to play. Give it your all. To all of the spectators, you've got us
over the line on many occasion. To have the support we have means that we
know we are very lucky to represent the Blue and Gold."

The generosity of Armstrong's statement is entirely characteristic. For more
than two decades he has been one of the very best batsmen in the Liverpool
Competition. Yet he did more than contribute to the success of one of
England's finest cricket clubs.

Armstrong played the game with a degree of integrity from which others could
learn. Fiercely loyal to Ormskirk on the field, he never let that loyalty mar
his respect for the game's highest values.

If any members of Ormskirk's flourishing junior teams wanted an example to
follow in their own careers, they were well advised to watch the skill with
which Armstrong batted and the manner in which he conducted himself on the
field. Any young cricketer who does things the John Armstrong way is never
likely to go far wrong.

 

The Liverpool and District Cricket Competition echo's Paul Edwards words and would like to thank John for his outstanding contributions both on and off the field whilst representing the league and playing in our Competition. He is an example to us all.  

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