A FORMER successful captain of Earby Cricket Club has lost his battle against cancer.

Mike Wiseman, 52, played for several years and was captain when the side were Ribblesdale League champions and Ramsbottom Cup winners during a successful spell in the 1970s and 80s.

He also played cricket for Colne in the Lancashire League and was captain of the Ribblesdale League team for several seasons. Born and brought up in Earby, he was a keen footballber in his youth and played for Earby, Gisburn and Colne Dynamoes. He worked as a welding engineer at Rolls-Royce, Barnoldswick, for several years and later for Burnley Engineering Products until the firm was taken over. He recently moved back to Stoney Bank Road, Earby from after a short spell living in Derbyshire, where he played for the county's over-50s team.

Mike overcame a battle against cancer 13 years ago and continued to play high-level cricket at a high level, but the illness returned earlier this year.

He leaves a wife, Jackie, and two children, Cheryl and Vicky. His funeral is expected to be at St Peter's Methodist Church, Earby, on Monday.

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