Lives in Cricket No 48 - Maurice Leyland

Introduction 8 else I could to just warm up a bit, I spotted a frail old man in glasses shuffling towards me clutching a stick in one hand and a bag in the other. He was just heading to the shops nearby but I briefly interrupted his journey. “Excuse me,” I said, “have you lived around here for long?” “Oh yes,” he replied enthusiastically, “Seventy eight years.” “Ah, so you know whose house this was then,” I continued - pointing at the high gable wall of number 2. “Yes, it was the Russells,” came a swift, matter of fact, answer. “He was a cab driver you know.” “And Maurice Leyland lived here,” I prompted, quite taken aback by the oversight. “Oh, I know, he married the daughter,” said the old man. “What was her name?” “Connie,” I offered. “Yes, Connie,” he finally recalled. “I used to play along here when I was a little boy.” Then he quickly made his excuses and went on his tentative way - desperately trying to keep his feet on the icy road. I think Maurice would have enjoyed that conversation had he heard it. There was he, a man who had represented his country at cricket on four continents and for 25 years had been part of the most successful era in Yorkshire County Cricket Club history. Yet, he is remembered by his neighbours as the son-in-law of Sydney Russell the cab driver! This is the story of that Maurice Leyland and , as I said, I think it is a tale that just had to be told.