Bowling over a club milestone

LINTON Cricket Club’s first eleven is celebrating bowler John Stuart after he took his three-hundredth wicket last month.

Stuart is the third cricketer in the history of the club to achieve the 300 milestone and is now approximately 10 scalps away from setting a new LCC record.

“I’ve played roughly 230 games for Linton, I became a life member in 2018, and I have always been a bowler, never much of a batsman,” he said.

“It was brilliant to reach 300 wickets. I didn’t know that I’d ever get there. I’ve missed a lot of cricket due to injury as I’ve gotten older, so it was nice recognition.”

A plumber by trade, Stuart is a lifelong Linton local who has been involved with his hometown Club since 2004.

He is proud to service, and be supported by, a community group which is almost 160 years old.

“Alongside my parents, the Linton Cricket Club was heavily responsible for helping me grow up. Every Saturday, heading down to the cricket was the done thing, right from when I was 16,” he said.

“I love everything about cricket. I love watching it, I’m lucky enough to have been a reasonable player, I love servicing the Linton Cricket Club, and I’ve made lifelong friendships through cricket.

“I love the Club for what it’s done for me, helping me become the person I am today. I’m not sure I’d still be playing cricket if I was elsewhere. Hopefully at some stage I can have children and continue the name at Linton Cricket Club.”