Joe Blackledge

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Joe Blackledge (1928 - March 19 2008) was a first class cricketer who played for Lancashire County Cricket Club [1]. He played for just one season -1962- captaining the team as an amateur in the year before the players and gentlemen distinction was formally abolished.

A fine all-round spotsman at Repton, he joined the Army and played much cricket for it in Germany. On leaving the Army, he was a successful batsman for Chorley in the Northern League and captained Lancashire's second XI.

The team he led was one of the weakest in the club's long history and finished second from bottom in the table, losing 16 matches. He averaged 15 with the bat over a full season and returned to running a textile business at the end of the season.

He later served on the committee for many years and was President of the club in 2001.

He was the uncle of the former England rugby union captain Bill Beaumont.