A FORMER East Lancashire cricket professional is facing deportation despite living in the UK for the last 29 years.

Hartley Alleyne, who used to play for both Colne and Haslingden, could be forced to leave the country after the Home Office refused to grant him a work permit.

Mr Alleyne, 50, who now lives in Canterbury, played as a professional cricketer at Haslingden from 1983 to 1986 and at Colne from 1990 to 1991.

Since playing at the East Lancashire clubs he has been working at schools, coaching the sport, but was told in May that he might be deported because he is not qualified to coach the sport.

He had been working at St Edmund's school, Canterbury for two years but the Home Office has turned down his request for a work permit because he does not have an NVQ Level 3.

Mr Alleyne said: "An NVQ cannot produce what I have gained from cricket over the years internationally and locally.

"I hope that the people who make the decision will allow me to stay in England and help youngsters and be with my family."

Both his former clubs are writing letters of support to the Professional Cricketers' Association as Mr Alleyne prepares to fight the ruling and other supporters are urged to back him.

Chris Aspin, secretary for Haslingden Cricket Club, said: "We have written a letter of support to the Professional Cricketers' Association for Hartley.

"He is a really nice man and it's such a shame that he faces deportation.

"We will be doing all we can to support him in his fight and wish him the best of luck."

Trevor Lonsdale Chairman of Colne Cricket Club said: "Colne club will doing all we can to support Hartley.

"He's a really jolly chap, he's always laughing and joking and he has the right to be here.

"He has never taken a penny from the State and has worked in his own right.

"He is highly qualified - he is a former West Indian cricketer, the Home Office telling him he's not qualified to coach the sport is a ridiculous."

  • Letters of support for Hartley can be sent to jratcliffe@thepca.co.uk by December 7.