Everton star goes back to his roots

Everton captain Phil Neville is planning a career in league cricket when he retires from football. 

Neville, an ex-England defender and midfielder, played for Lancashire seconds at the age of just 15, and he was tipped to play Test cricket before he chose to pursue a career at the other Old Trafford with Manchester United.

He was a batsman alongside brother Gary, who also chose football with United, but was seen as a far better prospect. He captained England under-15s before playing alongside Andrew Flintoff for Lancashire’s under 19s.

Now aged 36, Neville plans to return to Bolton League side Greenmount, where he used to play alongside overseas stars Matthew Hayden and Mark Taylor, when he hangs up his boots. 

“One hundred percent, I will play cricket again in a couple of years if my career ends,” Neville said when he returned to Lancashire’s Indoor School earlier this week as an ambassador for a new scheme promoting cricket for all.

“That is the first thing I am going to do, I am going to get back doing something I love. Greenmount is my club, and will always be. People sometimes fear retirement but I am looking forward to it because I can go and do something I love.”

Neville is an ambassador for a new scheme called the Lancashire Way, which promotes inclusivity and aims to raise participation levels in cricket across the region. Other ambassadors from outside cricket include goalkeepers Joe Hart and Adam Bogdan from Manchester City and Bolton Wanderers.

“Lancashire were obviously looking for ambassadors that had a link to the club in a high profile position that could help with spreading the gospel of what the club do to get people into cricket,” he added.

“When I was asked, there was no hesitation because this is my first love. To get the chance at my stage in my life to get back involved with Lancashire is great because I love going to Old Trafford to watch. It brings back so many special memories.”

Meanwhile, Lancashire’s first-team squad head out to Dubai on Monday for a ten-day pre-season tour. They will play in the Fly Emirates T20 competition on Thursday and Friday alongside Sussex, Warwickshire and the MCC before playing against Sussex in a 40-over and two-day match.

Lancashire suffered a season to forget last year when they became the third county since the turn of the century to win the Championship and get relegated the following year and they have made no secret of the fact that promotion is their number one goal.

Coach Peter Moores, who will have new signings Wayne White and Kabir Ali in his travelling party, said: “We want to be a Division One side again, and my priority is to be promoted. We had an exceptional season in 2011 but it didn't work for us in the Championship in 2012. You have to learn from both experiences. The difference in performance isn't massive, but it's enough.”

Date: 15/03/2013 10:34:51 by Graham Hardcastle
In: Today | Lancashire | England |