TRIBUTES have been paid to Lowerhouse Cricket Club stalwart Alan Suthers, who has died after a short battle with cancer.

Mr Suthers, from Hapton, passed away on Sunday morning.

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The reigning Lancashire League champions’ cricket chairman, Stan Heaton, said Mr Suthers was ‘a father figure’ to all who played alongside him.

Mr Suthers, who worked for many years in the gas industry, represented the club’s first and second XI as an opening batsman and occasional bowler.

After he retired from playing, Mr Suthers spent a lot of time at his holiday home, before reigniting his involvement with the club through volunteering at the Neville Gee (Recruitment) Ground and sponsoring prize nights.

Mr Heaton said: “When I started playing for the second XI, I was barely even a teenager and, as a young boy, Alan was the perfect opening batting partner.

“He took a great interest in the juniors. When we played, we were a poor team, but the success we’re having now really enthused him. He played cricket very tough but my abiding memory will be the way he protected me as a young player, in an era when that wasn’t always the done thing.”

Mr Suthers, whose wife Betty died in May 2011, is survived by a son, Mark, and a daughter, Beverley.

In a statement, the Lowerhouse Lane club’s managing director, Matthew Stansfield, said: “It is with great sadness that we must pass on the news that former player and popular club member Alan Suthers has passed away after a short battle with cancer.

“A left-handed batsman, Alan represented Lowerhouse at senior level in the 1970s and 1980s. Alan remained a member of the club after finishing his playing days.

“In recent years Alan has helped the club both financially with kind donations and by spending countless summer hours refurbishing benches and assisting with other maintenance tasks around the club.

“Alan was also the sponsor of the Betty Suthers Memorial Trophy in memory of his late wife. This award acknowledged the club’s most improved cricketer and provided the winner with vouchers for the purchase of cricket equipment.”

“Our thoughts at this sad time are with all Alan’s family and friends.”